I have just departed from DD's room where I held her for about 20 mins while she settled herself down to sleep.

She's never been a big feed-to-sleeper (dunno why!) but always seems to need to be held/rocked for her afternoon sleep and at night time. Sometimes, yes, it is frustrating and I have been bashed in the throat a few times when she's worked up (ouch) but when she's lying quiet, studying me, holding her little stuffed toy, then starts to fight sleep but eyes spring open to make sure I'm still there and still watching... then she snuggles in and goes to sleep and ahh, nothing like it in the world.