Gentle (ish) sleep advice please

[Roobear23]

My DS is 13 months. I normally sit next to him with him in his cot until he falls asleep although sometimes I leave the room if he is just continuously sitting up and playing. This usually works - he gets upset and then I come back in and sit with him and he goes to sleep.
I went away this weekend and ended up rocking him to sleep in my arms and this is what I've ended up doing the last two nights since we got back as the previous techniques were not working.
I find it really difficult to leave him to cry and don't like to do it. My sister helps sometimes as we live with her but I can't ask her to help every night.

The health visitor suggested patiently lying him back down each time however some nights this goes on for ages and ages it just doesn't seem like it will ever work.

Any advice would be great.

[Needsomeflapjacks]

He knows you are a soft touch. . I bet you sis could have him self settling in no time at all. .

[Mothervulva]

What does your sister do?

There's a book, The No Cry Sleep Solution. I have to admit it all sounded like too much hard work, but if you really can't let him cry at all it might have some ideas.

[golfmonkey]

Does he sleep through or does he continue to wake through the night? If he is sleeping then I don't see any harm in sitting next to him or even cuddling to sleep. However if he is up multiple times each night that's a different story and you'd probably want advice from someone other than me with a dd who was previously a very bad sleeper and I also couldn't leave her.to cry! Things are much better now btw and she is 15 months. I sit with her till she is fast asleep at bedtime and often cuddle her then put her down for naps but usually she goes through till 5.30am. She freaks out if I leave the room before she is asleep and it takes forever so I have stopped fighting it! X

[golfmonkey]

Oh and my only other advice would be to make sure he is tired at bedtime - ideally no late naps, up by 2pm etc.

[Roobear23]

My sister rubs his back until he has calmed down and then says goodnight to his teddies then lies him down and says goodnight and leaves. When I do the same he cries when I leave!

That is a good point about him being tired though. Usually his afternoon nap starts at 2 however he definitely needs a nap then. He also has a morning nap about 10. Sometimes these can both be an hour and a half. These naps are in the pushchair.

He usually wakes once and I think that's because I bring him into bed with me. I don't mind that however I know it will need to change at some point I'm just waiting until his dad can stay for a week to help out.

Thank you for your replies