Hi there... Thanks so much malibu_nikkus, for supporting Pear and offering suggestions. That's actually how the forum was designed... for members to support one another. Thanks again!
Pearceuccs- It's really weird but I've read and people have said that nap and night sleep are compartmentalized differently in the brain. Sometimes babies transfer their IS skills to the night from nap and vice versa, but sometimes it is two totally different tasks and approaches. So it seems like your DS still needs guidance to IS for the night.
Have you also ruled out the 6mo growth spurt? It lasts a few days, so if that window has passed then it could be due to the sleep prop.. It usually takes about 2 weeks for baby to get to full independent sleep. How long has it been since you started using techniques? I'd like to know what DS is doing when he wakes... does he cry, chat, play, etc... and how long does it take for him to go back to sleep? And finally, what times is he waking each night? Random times with crying indicate hunger, etc...
I would always wait about a minute or 2 before going in to help him go back to sleep in the middle of the night UNLESS he is crying hard.
WRT to the routine, what time is BT when you do 2 naps?