No it wasn't gradual, it was me deciding enough was enough I suppose you could say it was gradual in myself though i had for a while been thinking of changes to make and how to do it and then it's just a matter or making the decision to do it. My DD can really seem to have a temper on her and i thought i'd have a real fight on my hands but it wasn't as bad as i thought. If your making the changes when she's tired and would be going down for a sleep anyway she may protest but be tired enough to just give in without too much of a fight She will get it in her own time with your gentle guideance When things start to be making some progress get your DH to have a go also so she can start to settle for both of you. It'll take a whole lot of pressure off yourself. I know when my DH would get up to her i'd still lay there awake listening to how it was going but the fact that i was having a break from doing it was the main thing.

With regards of when to feed do what your comfortable with, maybe 10min before if that suits? Now my DD knows she doesn't have a feed before a sleep so when it's sleep time it's only about that. Feeding is for feeding and sleeping is for sleeping. But having said that if for some reason she's a little upset and not going down well an occasional feed before a sleep isn't an issue, i can do it without it being a sleep associaiton.

Good luck i better clean the house up before visitors ox