Is this "normal" crying?

[~Sarah~]

I know this is a dumb question, but DS was a Textbook/Angel and really did not cry much.  He had silent reflux, so if he did fuss it was normally b/c of that.

DD is a very happy 2mo and I am able to read her cues pretty well these days (except when her reflux is acting up).
The thing is, she gives a little cry to let me know she is ready to go to sleep.  I take her into her room, put her in swaddle pick her up and then she starts to cry.  Eyes closed and not a crazy howl, but kind of a steady cry for about 5-10 min and then she just kind of falls asleep. 
I am holding her and shh/pat...that does not seem to stop the crying, but does not make it worse.  If I take her into her room before she lets out the little cry she will fuss a lot longer and that will escalate.  She actually will work herself into quite a frenzy and then she may not fall asleep at all.

So of course my guess is this is normal.  Is this the Mantra Cry I have read about?

If this is normal now, how will it play itself in the future?  Will she always cry to put herself to sleep?  How will I know if she is cryg to settle herself or if she is really unhappy?  I don't want her to be CIO, but if that is how she falls asleep how will I tell the difference?

Sorry-with having a LO who did not cry to one who cried A LOT in her first few months of being alive has me kind of off kilter here.

Thanks a bunch!!
Sarah

[clazzat]

It sounds to me like it is a mantra cry, and you should be leaving her alone to fall asleep - that is the way she wants to self-soothe.  You will know if she is really unhappy mainly because you will just know, but the main thing is that the cry will escalate if she needs you, but won't with a mantra cry.

[~Sarah~]

So I should just set her in her sleeping wedge at that point and not shh/pat her?  Then if she cries more pick her up and shh/pat?
Sorry I need to be so specific-crying bub breaks my heart and as it is my LO's are only 12 mo apart so someone has to cry during the day at some point and it kills me to have them cry.

Without even knowing better I could never CIO with my kids-too much of a wimp I guess

[clazzat]

Yes - put her down and go.  Only go back if the crying escalates.  Trust me, if you let her do this, she will cry less in the long run because she will be able to self-soothe.  I think it also helps if you try not to think of it as crying - she's not unhappy, she doesn't need anything, she's making a noise to block out the work and help her sleep.