Please Help - 16mo DD nightmare to get to sleep!!

[Tilly'sMum]

Hi,

We have an Angel baby - Until 3 weeks ago, following a bout of teething and illness during which time we went running to every murmer (2-3x per night), let her fall asleep in our arms each time etc etc - bad I know.... Consequently she is expecting this constantly although her illnesses etc are better, albeit only 4 days.... 

I did the PU/PD tonight for the first time I have had to since boxing day 2005, 1 hour of constant screaming and Tilly attempting to stand up at every opportunity - and I was extreemly close to caving in - but we need our quality of life!!, but eventually, she went to sleep.  Our plan is to continue to do this each time she wakes up at night - with also giving her the option of milk - or should we just stop the milk also??

Any advice would be greatfully appreciated - I have read n some threads of a walk in / walk out method altho can't find any info on it - can you give me some hints as to what that entails and age best suited for etc.

Many thanks

Tilly's Mum

[brightside]

Personally I wouldn't give any milk unless you are 100% certain she is hungry as it will reinforce the wakings and you will have a new sleep issue to deal with.

I did PD with DS and it took 3 nights until he started to sleep again. The first night was the worst but after that as soon as he saw me get out of the chair he started to lie down again because he knew that was what I was going to do! LOL!

WI/WO is similar but instead of staying in the room, you go out and count to 5/10/15 before going back in and laying them back down. Even if they are still crying, you go back out and start the count again. I would try the PD first and then progress to WI/WO if that doesn't seem to be working.

The key is to be absolutely consistent no matter how hard it gets. Won't take long I'm sure. Good luck!

[Tilly'sMum]

So far it's going Ok, last night it took her just 10 mins to go down, then she slept for 1 hour - before waking - then it took her about 45 mins - and then she slept through the night!!

Just putting her down for her afternoon nap just now (She's still asleep!) it took 20 mins but wasn't screaming - just whining, I just sat in the room with her till she was asleep - altho, whilst she was whining, she was showing signs of teething - and now I feel bad that I am being cruel, putting her through this when she's teething - but is there ever a right time??

Please help - I don't know whether to stop now or to continue???

[brightside]

 I'd keep going. She might not be teething and you don't really want to give up now. If it becomes VERY obvious that she is teething then leave it but my DS often shows signs that he is teething but nothing materialises. What was she actually doing?

[yaya]

hi there !We had similar issues, its so hard to know whether its fair to attemp sleep training or not but my advice is go with your instict..you know if shes truly in pain, in which case forget the sleep training. If thats not the case, STICK WITH IT, we set ourselves up for disaster after persistent health issues and man is it hard work. Are you giving any pain relief? this may help.
It sound to me as tho shes responding really well, only 10 mins to settle..a dream! keep up the great work!

[Tilly'sMum]

Maybe she's not teething so much now - it's just that I caught her chewing on her cot - and had never seen that type of behaviour before!!  Seems to be going well, and not frightened of her cot any more!!

Thank you so much for your help and support.