Mel09 - You can teach them to self-settle without doing controlled crying. For DS I established a sleep routine (dummy, wrap, soft music, dim lights, etc) & stayed with him until calm (patting, stroking, "shhh"ing) then walked outside the room. I would let him have a grizzle, but go back inside if he actually started to cry (or get really grizzly - I started to be able to tell whether he would settle or not). I would stroke his forehead & put his dummy back in, then go outside when he was calm. If he cried, I went straight back in, then out when he was calm, etc etc etc. I kept doing this until he fell asleep.
This did work eventually - now I can just put him in the cot & he will put himself to sleep (and usually resettle after the 40min sleep cycle).
I wonder if you get the day sleep under control if your DD will get the hang of the night sleep too?
People in the gentle parenting forum might have some other ideas?.
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks