Getting My 7 Month Old to Sleep in His Crib

Can you try sitting next to him, rubbing his back through the slats of the crib, singing, etc.....basically doing anything other than taking him out of his crib. We did something like this with my daughter at about this age or a little older. Granted, there was still some crying, but I was right there with her and eventually she did get the message that it was time for sleeping in her crib and that I wasn't going to take her out. Sometimes at first she would wake up again an hour or so later, and again I would go in and rub her back or tummy but not pick her up. I just kept repeating "it's night-night time"...that's all I would say. She's now just about two and has been an awesome sleeper for over a year (goes to sleep alone happily, never gets up, likes her crib, etc.). Maybe this is worth a shot? Good luck!

I did Ferber when my boys were 6 months. There was crying, but it wasn't just CIO. It took a few days of going in and reassuring him after five, then 10 then 20 minutes etc, but not picking him up. You'll have a couple of rough nights, but it shouldn't take more than a few days. The most important thing is not to give in and pick him up or take him to bed with you. Seven months is a good age to do it as it is harder as they get older.

So I know you said you didn't want to let him CIO. But, it does work and your child will not end up hating you for doing it. My 3 were all great sleepers, but we never let ourselves get into the co-sleeping thing. I am a light sleeper and it never would have worked for me, plus I think it is important for kids to learn to soothe themselves early on- so I don't have experience breaking that habit. That being said, my kids all did go through phases when they would not go to sleep, or got into bad sleeping habits (Ie. my son was hospitalized for a few days when he was 15 mos. and getting him to nap without rocking him after that was tough, and my older daughter went through a phase at 7 mos where she started to wake really early in the morning). We ended up using CIO in both those cases... we went in after 5 minutes, and patted their backs. Then we waited 10 min. and did the same thing... no talking, no lights etc. By going in, they know you are still there, but you teach them that they aren't going get attention. They will figure out how to soothe themselves without you holding, rocking them or being right next to them. It is rough, but it took 2 days and was done. The key is being consistant and not giving in. ps: you won't scar them for life, my kids turned out just fine and are loving, caring, sweet, social kids with no lasting effects :-) .... and they are good sleepers... Good luck no matter what you choose!

I let my first cry it out which took 4 nights in a row of crying 4 hours but then she slept through the night. I did not even go in but talked to her from the door. With my second I used the Ferber method - get his book from the library or Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Solve-Your-Childs-Sleep-Problems/dp...)
It addresses all kinds of sleep issue from nightmares to sleepwalking and sleeping through the night.
But if I were to do it again I would let the 2nd cry it out, since Ferber took about 3 weeks before she slept through. And neither child remembers anything about it since it happened for both at 7 months.
I would take a long weekend and let him cry it out. And don't give in, because then you have to start all over for either method.