The never ending sleep issue

A few posts go, I mentioned that we may start Cry It Out when Noah is 9-12 months.  Well that thought changed once we returned from Arizona last week.  Noah was up at least 8-10 times per night in Arizona and when we came home.  (This has been going on since the end of November)  Nick's and my relationship was slowing dwindling away with each sleepless night and Noah was getting barely any sleep with all the wake ups and nonexistent naps.  I started to worry about all the issues Noah could have down the road if this no sleep thing continued so we decided we needed to try letting him cry when he went down to sleep and for the multiple wake ups.  

When the doctors suggested letting him cry at 3 months, I was outraged.  I still think that is too young.  Noah is now 6.5 months and Nick and I feel it's still too young to let him cry but we have exhausted all options.  He slept on me for the past 3 months most of the night but he was still waking every 30-60 minutes and wouldn't go back to sleep unless he was bounced on the exercise ball.  

We decided to cut everything cold turkey and put him in his playpen awake (after his night time bottle) with no swaddle or bouncing to sleep. (I still do feed him once or twice throughout the night even though the doctors can say we can cut that out...we won't cut the night feedings out until a year old.)  The first night (and every one since then) was awful.  As you know, Noah is a very high needs child with extreme stubbornness.  I really don't think Cry It Out will work for him but we have decided to give it two full weeks and see what happens.  We won't do this for naps...we will continue to hold him/bounce him on the exercise ball....it is hard enough listening to the cries at night...I can't bear the thought of multiple times per day/night.  

Nick and I aren't proud of our decision to try this but like I said, we have tried everything and Noah just can't sleep unless he is bounced and bouncing all night is not a feasible option.

Since Noah gets so upset while crying, he has learned to roll over and sit up on his own in the playpen...which makes getting him to sleep even more difficult!  However, when he does sleep, he sleeps on his tummy which he has never done before!

On his hands and knees...another new trick

Notice the sound level...and Noah sitting up