Gentle sleep training?

[Crimblecrumble1990]

Hi,

I know these threads have been done to death but I wonder if I am missing something re. Sleep training?

I have a 10 month old who is very good. Very early riser regardless of time to bed but usually sleeps through as long as teething not too bad. However for naps and bedtime I rock him to sleep and would like to teach him to fall asleep on his own.

He starts nursery soon and I want him to feel safe and confident about being able to do this.

Cry it out doesn't really make sense to me as he would just cry and cry until falling asleep out of exhaustion - does this really 'teach' them to fall asleep on their own?

So I tried the pick up put down method. But he cries the second I put him down, do I literally stand there picking him straight back up again for hours? He would instantly be nearly asleep when I'm holding him, the second he is down he is upset and wide awake. I think the whole thing just really confused him. Are you meant to leave say 5 mins between each pick up or literally as soon as they cry?

I think gradual retreat would really confuse him too. Although fully ready to hear that I just need to commit to it and stop looking for excuses.

Am also aware he is a very good baby and I'm sure I won't be rocking him to sleep when he is 10. He used to be able to get himself to sleep but we lost it in the 8 month sleep regression and I'm just worried I'm doing him a disservice by not helping him learn it again. I'm also wondering if it will help with the 4.30am starts!

Thanks for reading

[Ohalrightthen]

So, it's not generally classed as gentle, but we did CC with really short intervals, sometimes not even leaving the room.

Story, cuddle, song, baby in cot. She cries (cross, not miserable), i pat her on the back for a few seconds, and leave. AS SOON AS the cry goes from cross to upset i come back, more patting, when the cry is back to just cross, stop patting, leave. Repeat ad nauseam.

I never let her cry if she was actually upset, but if she was just frustrated and cross, I'd let her get on with it. The first night it took ages but she was settling by herself at the end of the week. This was at about 7m. Then at around 10m we did the same for night wakes.