First of all, welcome Anne :wave:

Kellee

I hope you've started to find some answers... the girls all have some good suggestions.

I just want to add that it's really important to modify the advice you're given to the personality and needs of your own child.

When my daughter was born, I had some friends really into the Controlled Crying techniques, and they pushed me towards settling Gabrielle in that way. But she wasn't a "routine" baby... she did things at her own speed, and rigid rules didn't work for her. She was a little snugglepuss (still is at almost 4yrs). For day time sleeps, I rocked her off in my arms until she was about 9 m.o and then put her into her cot. This usually took about 5 mins, as she used sleep props and as soon as that dummy went in her mouth she was out like a light.

My son, on the other hand, wasn't the cuddliest of babies... he only liked cuddles on his terms, and was highly offended if he thought you picked him up to cuddle him under false pretences (ie putting him to sleep). What worked for him was a loose routine, sleep at roughly the same time each day, and letting him settle himself in his cot, with a few pats every now and then if he was crying. And no sleep props for him, thank you very much!

I guess my point is this... each baby is different and will respond to sleep time in different ways. Keep experimenting until you hopefully find something that will work for him and you.