DD is 24 weeks old and once asleep sleeps very well at night.

But she can't get to sleep during the day or for bed unless either rocked or breastfed, have been trying controlled crying for 3 weeks now and although she doesn't cry for as long now she does still scream for about 5 - 10 minutes then falls asleep.

Is she too young? Will it stop?

Strange thing is she wakes for a feed about 2am and I put her straight to bed, fully awake, after this feed and she goes to sleep without a murmur in her own time what's that about?

To have 10 minutes of crying after 3 weeks of CC
is a possible worry but it depends on a few things.

When you say 'trying controlled crying' does that mean:
you have had a firm and consistant bedtime routine at roughly
the same time each night, with your dd being fairly sleep at that point
and you/dp putting her down and then going in at regular intervals?

She is not too young at 6 months as long as she has found her rhythm
and you are confident that she is actually tired when you put her down.

Routine and consistency are key (but you already knew that!)

Finally, what is she like during her waking hours?
Happy and sprightly - or not?

So that means you started when she was 21 weeks old...

far far too young IMO, and three weeks in you should realize that it was the wrong thing to do and abandon the attempt until she is quite a bit older.

Depends on the baby I think.
I CCed DD1 at 3 mo and it worked in 2 or 3 nights, great sleeper ever since.
DD2 is a lot older and still getting there.....

Is it actually 5 - 10 minutes by the clock or does it just feel like that?

Hello DaddyJ !

DaddyJ - yes we have had a consistent routine at the same time every night bath, book, breast. She is tired i.e. rubbing eyes, yawning when i put her down. going in at regular intervals. as for waking hours after a nap she is an absolute dream happy, smiley, very interactive but once she gets tired she's a nightmare - whiny, won't be put down but also won't go to sleep.

shitemum - it is 5-10 mins by the clock

emkana - i think you need to learn some tact, it is not very helpful to tell a new parent they are doing it wrong

That all said maybe it would be wise to give it a rest for a few weeks and try again when she is a bit older.

DaddyJ - what do you mean by found her rhythm?

I used rhythm as a synonym for 'her own routine'.

Seeing as she is a happy camper apart from the bedtime settling
I would stick to my guns for a while longer.
There are quite a few people on MN who have posted
that their babies almost seem to need a brief crying down period before going to sleep.

You and your dd have come a long way in 3 weeks.
If you are very concerned you could water down the CC
by staying with her for longer when you go in to check.

Course, if you find it easier to go back to the way it was before -
hey, whatever works!

Hola Shitey

thanks DaddyJ. I think she has found her own routine, for this week .

I like the idea of staying with her for longer I think I will give that a try for the next few days and see if that helps.

mum2oneloudbaby - why dont you try staying with her for as long as your both comfortable with and comfort her in the cot, go in and out but at very regular intervals so she isnt left crying on her own for long. Teach her that you are always there, but that when its time to sleep she is in her safe, happy bed and its ok to go to sleep - mammy will be there for her.

It tends to be a bit easier on both of you doing this and if after 3 weeks she is still crying for 5-10 minutes it isnt really working.

Saying that though, what kind of cry is it. A come here and get me right now this is horrible I need your help or a moan moan i know its time for sleep but im tired and not sure what to do.

When Im settling my 20 week old, if its an I need you now cry I always go straight in but if its not rising in intensity with pauses etc I will leave her for a bit.

Would you credit it after all this advice she proved me wrong and tonight went to sleep on her own after chatting and singing to herself for a couple of minutes.

I swear she is trying to make liar of me!

I'll just see what tomorrow brings and if need be try the suggestions here.

I'm sorry if I upset you.

Personally I don't think crying for 5-10 minutes is a problem so long as she goes to sleep after that and sleeps well the rest of the night. Some babies apparantly do cry just to sort of unwind before they fall asleep, tho I have always been a bit at that myself.
The main thing is that she goes to sleep fairly quickly and with the minimum of crying and is happy during the day.

Also, don't expect her to do exactly the same thing every night. (Sometimes I go straight to sleep, sometimes I read for a while or think...)

You will know yourself if anything is amiss with her.
Does she have a soft toy in bed with her? I have just introduced one and it has made a difference, DD2 seems to be transfering her need for a cuddle/comfort object to the toy!

We were told not to try CC until 5 months. DS1 used to moan cry and we left him. WE did CC at 5 months and it worked. First night he cried for 45 mins and we wnt in every five, next 30 mins, next 15 and then he slept through. You need to be consistent though, just go in stoke their backs or tummies dont say anything or give them eye contact and walk out. First night I stood outside crying myself but unless its a painful cry you need to lave them. DS1 them stared to sing himself to sleep. We were also told to try putting him down when he was nearly but not quite asleep so he would learn to sleep on his own. Do you have a consistent bed time routine?