7mo, discouraged sleep trainer

[locura]

Hi BW mums,

We got great help on this board when we sleep trained our now 7mo old LO a few weeks ago. We did get to the point where she fell asleep independently and nights were better. But then she started teething and we had to do all kinds of APOP to get her to sleep  Since then it seems she has forgotten her skill to fall asleep independently She wont settle unless we come in 15-20 min after we put her down and tuck her in (if she is really OT then we need to have a hand on her). That was our way of helping her settle in her crib while using PU/PD and now it seems as if she cant settle without it! Lately, when I have tried to remove my hand when she is calm, she wakes up and starts to cry all over again I guess I held my hand on her a little too long? But how can we break that and still help her settle when we do PU/PD?

Also, she seems to get a lot more frustrated by sleep training this time, is it bc she is OT a lot? And should we sleep train when she is OT or just help her get that extra sleep? It is really hard at this point to stay there while she is crying and crying (more often screaming) and it feels as if we get nowhere.

[~Emma~]

 Hi,


 Perhaps you could post your routine and we'll have a wee look for you. It could be a case of timings and a change in A time needed to help her settle back into it. If you have taught independant sleep before it will be in there somewhere, I promise! Just a wee setback....

 (((((hugs))))))

Emma xxx

[locura]

You were right! We have adjusted wind down a little and hold back a little longer when she does the mantra cry and all of the sudden she manages to settle for sleep by herself (!). Also we did have a stomach issue that now seems to be better. I have cut out milk the past few days and it has given us amazingly better nights (and therefore less OT).

We are still struggling to find those A times to get the long naps though. So a few comments on what we should be aiming for is very welcome. 

Today she settled by herself for three naps (!), but still only gave us 30 min naps. Here is what today looked like:

Wake up: 5.45
E: 7
S: 7.55

A: 8.25
E/solids: 9
E: 10.30
S: 11.10 (tried to watch her sleep cues, which never came, so this A time probably ended up way too long after a busted nap. Itīs hard to tell when I donīt really know what A time she can do anymore..)

A: 11.40
S: 1.30

A: 2
E:2.30
E/solids: 4
Put to bed 4.15, no nap (really hard to get a nap this late, but always try when weīve had a bad nap day)

A: bath
E: 6
S: 6.30 (early bed)

This is a typical bad day with short nap after short nap and in the afternoon; no nap. Canīt seem to find either the am nap (which always used to be good) or the shortened A time after a bad nap anymore. And bc naps are alle over the place, I just have to throw in feeding wherever I see it fit 

Any thoughts on what we should aim for?