Sorry Love, I have missed your posts. Things have been really busy here.
Firstly
Hiya, I just wanted to add that I went to the health visitor today to ask them what they thought. They said that it was behavioural and that I should do controlled crying or cry it out... She said that damage was only done to babies who are very young where your not meeting thier needs... Is this true - is it safe and necessary to do this with my 8 month old? I've not really found that pu/pd works - he still crys out for me. Thoughts please 
xx
IMO and the opinion of the ladies here the HVs comments are disputable. There is a lot of research which indicates contrary to her statement. Tracey was very much about respecting your baby/toddler and finding a way to teach independent sleep. The problem with CIO and CC is that your not listening to your babies needs. Baby steps crying not because he/she is always asleep but because they need to preserve energy and 'give up' on you coming. Both my boys were horrendous sleepers early on, they had reflux, food intolerances etc and I still managed to teach them IS without having to resort to leaving them to cry alone. Once they had learned the skills to sleep on their own even during regressions and illness they always seem to be able to go back to IS quickly following these bad patches because the feel safe and trust that we will come if they need us.
PU/PD didn't work to well for us either at 8 months. What I did was by some ear plugs and basally sat in DS2s room soothing with my voice and only PU for a cuddle if really stressed for a wee bit and rode it out. The first night took an hour. The second 40 mins, then 10 then he was able to go to sleep with me in the room in 5 mins on his own. Then I eventually got to leave the room (say on day 5/6) there was a bit of reerssion but nothing terrible and I was able to reassure him that i was here, but that he had to learn to sleep on his own.
Your LO will still scream, and cry. He will be mad, and tired. But not alone and not scared. this is much harder on us that CIO/CC as we endure it too, but I promise you if your consistent it will work.
What do you think? - Do you have support to do this for all naps and nights for say 5 days if you work out when to start?
In the meantime I would do set A times. Something like this would work
WU 6 (anything before this treat as a night waking and keep lights out etc)
A 3hrs15
Nap 9.15-10.30 or so
A 3hrs 30
Nap 2-3.30 or so
A 3hrs30
BT 7
Your LO may not need this much day sleep. At this age they really do start to need less day sleep if you want a longer night.
