Kellee I had a really hard time with settling Matilda, we tried everything. We tried rocking/patting/slinging/driving/pushing in the pram and she fought sleep.... (she still does) I went to Riverton in Brissy for a week and they did CC... I'm not that into CC but I figured a week out of Matilda's life wouldn't traumatise either of us and if it didn't work we could come home & do what we wanted to do. When we came home we modified CC and DH & I do things a bit differently, but we don't do CC. Thats our choice with Matilda. I know when Matilda gets tired, I know her signs, I know her routine (the one she decided on) so, when she gets tired & we are at home I give her quiet time for 5 minutes, reading a book usually and then I rock her in the rocking chair with a "sleeping prop" like her dummy and/or muslin wrap she sleeps with, and after 5 minutes she's usually asleep. I put her in her cot & most times she wakes up but I pat or rock the cot for a few minutes until she's asleep. If I'm tired or am not in a great place, sometimes I walk out if she's still crying and have a break for a minute and then I got back in and do it all over again. This is my modified CC....DH is more strict on it, but that works for him & Matilda responds to either way now. If we aren't at home or things are crazy here, its heaps harder, and somedays are bad days and it will take hours to settle Matilda no matter what I do. But today for both her sleeps its taken 5 minutes each.

So...I guess what I mean to say is that sleeping education places or classes can be really beneficial in helping you identify things with your baby, but you can change thing to suit your family as well. I gained heaps of confidence with Matilda by going to Riverton, and I would suggest it to anyone with difficulties in settling their babies, but at the same time they will say their way is the best way, and thats okay I just chose to go home & do what we want to do in our house.... iykwim? Good luck and hopefully you will get some help! Its so hard to see your little ones struggle to get to sleep!! Trust me, Matilda fights it so hard I'm often in tears myself.