stopped self-settling 6 months

[mummytopoppy1]

My DD has been a good self-settler from 8 weeks old. We could pop her down awake, and she would grizzle a little and fall asleep on her own both naps and bedtime. In the last few days, she starts by rolling over in her cot and not trying to fall asleep at all. She then starts crying and it becomes uncontrollable screaming that does not stop. Eventually, after trying to sooth her every few minutes without taking her out her cot, I have had to resort to patting and shushing her until she's asleep. I do not want to start again with patting, rocking, shushing when she has got so far being able to fall asleep alone. She is definitely tired when I'm putting her down, and I get to her before she is crying with tiredness (she goes in when eye rubbing, yawning starts). Once she is finally asleep, she naps well, and at night time she sleeps 11.5-12 hours without waking.

I don't know what to do. I can't leave her to cry (it is serious crying, not grizzling) but I can't stand listening to her scream for half an hour three times a day. Any experience of this, and ideas for what I can do. Thanks

[rootypig]

tooth pain?

[mummytopoppy1]

I thought perhaps teeth, but she already has 6 teeth through and although they have made her a bit grumpy, it's not got in the way of her going to sleep. Maybe just a little phase we'll have to work through!

[rootypig]

6 teeth! how marvellous. DD is 6.5mo and I'm still waiting impatiently for the first one.

One of the reasons I clicked on your thread was because my DD, a self settler if we stayed by her cot, has gone a bit haywire in the last four weeks. More night wakings, nap resisting, lots of shouting that I also can't stand. I've noticed she can do a lot more now - is sitting, really going for things she wants, eating, picking up baby sign language - just generally seems a lot more cognizent. If that's a word. So wonder if it's a famed developmental leap.

Maybe someone wise will be along soon!

[lazzaroo]

I don't have answer as I was never lucky enough to have a self settler but I think it's probably developmental. If you haven't already come across the wonder weeks chart it's worth googling. It highlights when you can expect 'stormy' phases & is usually pretty spot on.

In terms of helping until the phase passes have you tried White noise? It works like magic when my DD is worked up. I have it on my I-pod & play while she settles. Worth a try?!

[mummytopoppy1]

lazzaroo thanks for that - I just looked it up and there is a storm cloud right over her current age (26-27 weeks)! I guess she is learning lots of new stuff (army crawling, eating, sitting) so lots of development happening.

Rootypig - hope your DD stops the shouting soon! how do you teach the baby sign language to her? re the teeth - was a bit freaky when they started popping through at 13 weeks!

[emstats]

Ds1 went through a stage when she was starting to become more able that she couldn't resist practicing it when we put her in her cot, no matter how tired she was. Then she'd get stuck/frustrated/way over tired etc, it was a nightmare. DP (not me!) Strapped her in her car seat in her cot!! Sounds awful but it worked a treat, she went straight of to sleep, almost like she was releaved not to have to keep trying to do these things, think with her it was trying to pull herself to standing on her bars/getting stuck stood up when she managed it!. (Obviously we didn't leave her in it! And sorry if that was nothing to do with the probs your having...)