Hey thanks so much everyone. Feel like I've made a leap here with the mantra cry since I've read this thread.
I've been holding back for the last couple of days and my LO has been putting herself to sleep without me for all 3 naps - woo hoo! For some reason, she is still escalating on the catnap and bedtime but it's enormous progress.
For the naps, her mantra lasts about 3 minutes. It really doesn't sound anything like the description in the book so maybe that's what was throwing me?? I thought it would be the same cry again and again but actually it is like a whining/frustrated cry that varies quite a bit. I guess the thing that cracked it was that she's not doing an all-out I need you cry.
She's still escalating at bedtime/catnap though so I'm still helping with that.
But thanks for clarifying everyone, cos it has helped a lot! I hope to get there with all the sleeps soon.
