Hi Jaci
When it took 1-2hrs to get her to go to sleep I would just stick it out, she was too old for PU/PD at this point and sleeps in a hammock so cant stand up in it so there was no chance to just use the PD part. I would just sit in her room with her reassuring with my voice, I would occasionally sit her up and give her a hug when she got really upset, found out too late its OK to use ear plugs
. I used to worry that what I was doing was no better than CIO but as I was there in the room with her she was not feeling abandoned, and I reassured her when needed, which is the whole ethos of Tracys sleep techniques.
I was determined not to resort to AP but what actually happened was she eventually became dependant on my presence to go to sleep and it started to escalate into her needing to be touched to go to sleep. I then had to do gradual withdrawal to get out of the room. Thankfully I now put her down awake and leave and she goes of no problem within 5-10mins. So you see AP can happen even when you don't realise!
In answer to bringing bed to 6pm and he possibly waking at 6am, yes this will bring your whole day forward, otherwise you would end up starting the day overtired before first nap. This is what I was referring to when I said I have relaxed with it. If she wakes at 6am first nap is 9am if she wakes at 7am first nap is 10am, and anywhere in between. You might think that this would result in the days just cycling backwards, starting and ending earlier and earlier, but somehow this doesn't happen. I did have a few days of 5.30am wake ups, not pretty
but it was just a couple. Somehow things just balance out and it has taken a few months but wake ups are getting more regular again. I would try to get a little catnap in if you can on the very early days, DD just wasn't having any of it tho when I tried that so after a while I just gave up on that idea.
I actually used PU/PD on dd for night wakings. Again it isn't much fun especially at 4/5 in the morning but once they don't wake anymore, wow what bliss
I would suggest trying W2S first before PU/PD, it's much easier on you, and as you are going to be woken up anyway you might as well give it a shot and get to him before he wakes. He does have to wake at the same time every night tho for this to really work. I would say the reason he is getting so upset when not going straight back to sleep and you are having to feed 2nd time is that this is how he thinks he gets back to sleep in the night and gets very angry to still be awake.
I really would try W2S first (if he wakes same time each night) you need to be successful 3 nights running to break the habit and if this doesn't work try PU/PD. Make sure you adapt it for his age, choose a good time for you to start, and once again stick with it. All you need to bear in mind is you need to be as consistant with the new technique as the old. Oh yes get some ear plugs.
Good luck
newmum
