Help with daytime sleeping? Am I creating a rod for my own back

[babymiracles]

Would love some ideas guys.

I have the most delightful 8 month old DD, and I am loving being a mum. However as I am sure you all know it can be really tough at times and we have had sleep and feeding issues from very early on. DD sleeps in her cot in our room and is doing pretty well now at night - goes to be about 6.30/7 pm - usually wakes for a bottle around 12 or 1, then comes into bed as unsettled around 4-5 and then up for the day around 6 am (has another bottle around 5-6 am).
During the day she has a half hour sleep around 9.30 am and then usually a 2.5 hour sleep starting around 1pm. The problem with that sleep is that firstly I have to settle her on me - and then I put her down but she wakes up crying after about 40 minutes. I then get her back to sleep on me (cos she is really tired and if she doesn't sleep longer than she is grumpy and hyper rest of day and impossible to feed). She then has a sleep on me for a couple of hours and if I try putting her down she wakes up and then I can't get her back to sleep. At times this is lovely but it means I can't get anything done.

She does settle herself to sleep usually for the morning nap and at bedtime, and I don't do controlled crying or crying it out.

Any advise re the long sleep would be wonderful

[Peach*]

It sounds like your doing a great job!
I know its hard hey with the sleep issue, it seems like they will never settle themselves. I have no amazing advice- I did pretty much exactly what you are doing now although my DD is now 16 months old. I still feed her to sleep during the day and sometimes she wakes up after 30 mins but alot of the time she sleeps for longer, I didt do anything major though I just kept doing the same thing and she gradually changed herself. Have you read 'The no-cry sleep soloution"?
Eventually your DD will sleep longer, give it time. My DD now sleeps through and self-settles, something I thought was literally impossible!
Best of luck

[onthefly]

They go through these phases sometimes, where they need extra reassurance and help to sleep. We tried all sorts of things at that age without much effect. I know it's a hassle when you have to hold them - the NCSS might help with getting her to go down sooner.
Do you have a carrier or something htat she might be happy to sleep in so you can do things?
Have you tried lying down with her on teh bed, then gently roll away when she's asleep? That's what we did for a long time. Worked quite well. She might be happier "sensing" you nearby (though you're not actually there).
Sounds like she's particularly tired at the long sleep, which might be a contributing factor to her needing you more - could you try getting her to sleep a bit earlier?
Anyway, sounds like you're doing pretty well on the whole

[babymiracles]

Thanks Peach - yes have got NCSS - great book. Might try and get her to sleep earlier but she doesn't show any tired signs until about 1 usually. Good to know your DD got it sorted in the end - that is reassuring

Marcellus - thanks so much for reply. She used to sleep quite well in carrier but that doesn't seem to work anymore and if she does sleep in it she will only sleep for 20 minutes and then wakes up and wont resettle. I like the idea of sleeping next to her on bed and then rolling away from her - only problem with that is I am worried if she wakes up when I am not there she will roll or crawl off the bed - have a rail but it doesn't cover the whole bed.

Thanks again guys

[onthefly]

Yeah, we used to put pillows on either side to stop him rolling off - but he never actually did when he was little. The other idea is a mattress on the ground - then there's not so far to fall.
all the best~~