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Crying It Out: Who Suffers More?
The Cry It Out (CIO) method, as many parents know, is not an enjoyable way to spend a night—whether it’s a Saturday or any other. Having navigated this challenging experience with twins a few years back, I thought I had seen the last of it. However, when I welcomed my unexpected third child in 2011, I quickly learned that parenting can always surprise you.
Last night was a stark reminder of the CIO experience, so for those who have yet to endure it, allow me to recount my sleepless adventure.
The clock read 2:39 a.m.—a crucial time that I would come to remember. I sank back onto my pillow, attempting to drown out the screams with comforting thoughts, like “If I cover my head, maybe I can fall back asleep.” The reality, however, was that the cries were piercingly loud, even beneath the pillow.
After ten minutes of relentless wailing, I got up to relieve myself. Why not? Sleep was clearly off the table. Perhaps the baby would quiet down while I was in the bathroom—oh, how naive I was! I stumbled and fell into the toilet because my husband had left the seat up, and now I was stuck with the unpleasantness of his oversight.
Upon crawling back into bed, I took a deep breath and reassured myself that the child could not possibly keep this up forever. Surely, she would tire soon. But then, around 2:59 a.m., I found myself wandering down the hall to check on my other children. Standing outside the CIO child’s door, I grappled with whether to enter and assess the situation.
I weighed the possible scenarios: a blowout diaper, vomiting, or a limb trapped in the crib. Meanwhile, the unacceptable reasons included whining for water or wanting another stuffed animal. Ultimately, I decided against going in, particularly since she kept crying, “THIRSTY!” like she had been lost in the Sahara for days. I returned to bed, still tossing and turning.
Feeling a hint of heartburn, I ventured downstairs in search of Tums. I grabbed my cell phone to catch up on some Words With Friends, a futile attempt to distract myself. My husband, blissfully unaware and snoring loudly beside me, incited a wave of resentment. Even the mini poodle was dreaming peacefully, and I couldn’t help but envy his carefree existence.
I kept checking the clock, wondering how long this could continue. Wasn’t she tired? I certainly was! When the time reached 3:39 a.m., marking a full hour of CIO, I flung the covers off and stormed into her room.
“What is going on?” I demanded, flinging open the door. There she was, tears streaming down her face, clutching her naked stuffed animal, Olivia the pig. “Olivia? Dress? Help, Mommy?” she sobbed.
This was the source of her distress? She had stripped her doll and couldn’t redress it? I snatched the pig and the tiny dress, weighing my options—dressing Olivia for a moment of peace or risking another long stretch of crying.
In a mere thirteen seconds, Olivia was dressed, and my daughter nestled into the corner of her crib, content.
Exhausted, I returned to my bed, hoping it would be the last time I had to do so before morning. Unfortunately, morning had already arrived, and it took me another half hour to unwind enough to finally drift back to sleep in the newfound silence.
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In summary, the Cry It Out method can be an exhausting experience for parents, as evidenced by a sleepless night filled with frustration and the simple needs of a child. Understanding the balance between the child’s needs and the parent’s well-being is crucial in navigating these challenging moments.