The standing in the cot doesn't make it more difficult, it just changes how you do PUPD
. The biggest thing to change is the mindset of 'I need to put her to sleep' to 'I need to let her go to sleep' which is a really hard thing to do when LO has always been reliant on you to settle. Crying is the other thing that can be really hard to deal with, and when you're in the middle of sleep training every cry can feel like an inconsolable awful cry. But this is one of those times you really need to rely on that checklist every parent has - hunger, cold, hot, clean nappy etc and trust that if you have dealt with all those things, the cry is not a cry of abandonment or fear, it is a cry of protest because you are changing things. One of Tracy's tips was to use earplugs when you're doing PUPD - not to ignore or drown out LO, but just to reduce the volume and intensity a little to help you stay calm and focused.
So as long as you're working towards an age-appropriate routine (absolutely key), then you would do your normal winddown routine and put her in the cot. Sit yourself down on a chair in the room out of her eyeline if you can. If she pulls to stand you ignore her unless she is crying an 'I need you' cry, at which point you would lie her down again and return to your place on the chair. Repeat repeat repeat. Use your voice to calm and soothe - it's ok baby, it's just sleep time, mummy's here etc etc. You don't pick her up at all unless she is completely beside herself and frantic - you'll need to think really hard about this as I said before because when you're in the stress of sleep training it can feel like this every time. But picking up should be a rare event at this age, and should only be for a moment before you put her down again regardless of whether she has stopped crying or not.
For naps you try for a max of 45 mins before taking you both out of the room for a break. Watch her for cues and at the next sign of tiredness try again for another nap. She may skip naps entirely for the first day or two, that's tough but ok and to be expected. At some point the OT kicks in and starts working in your favour. For bedtime and at night wakings you use the PD technique for as long as it takes for her to go back to sleep. Which she will eventually, but you can expect it to take upwards of 2 hours when you first start out.
Once she can go to sleep on her own in her cot with you in the room, you start working your way out of the room by moving your chair halfway and then all the way to the door, all the time continuing to reassure with your voice.
What do you think?
