How / when did you move from rocking to sleep to self-settling?

[Willow]

I did pretty much the same thing as Trish with my first two. Gently taught them to self settle over a period of time using the same techniques. DS1 was not a good sleeper as a younger baby although he did learn to self settle quite early - the issue was he had a lot of trouble resettling himself once he woke.

I've struck it lucky with DS2 - he has been self settling from very early on, probably about 6-7 weeks. It wasn't anything I did, I assure you! He has just always been able to calmly put himself off to sleep, I sometimes sit and watch him cause I'm so amazed by it! LOL.

[Kristin27]

Hope my ideas help....

When DD was younger like 6 months old we did this night routine-
Dinner
Bath
Walk
Into her room and read the same two books each night
BF then bed gradually putting her to bed more awake each night until she was wide awake after her feed into bed.

Now she's 18 mths old she wants me to put her straight into bed I hardly get a cuddle now the best thing we ever did was put a few books in her bed, so she reads before she falls asleep then when she wakes up and she loves the time to herself.

I don't think theres anything wrong with your bub crying in their cot if your there with them patting, singing or something. Sometimes they need to cry to just let out some energy and wind down before falling asleep.

Good luck - it will happen!