To put this here because I got no answers in "Sleep" and I would really like some help please

[B4Beatrice]

Not sure if CC is working, or am I doing it wrong?

DD 21 months, had never fallen asleep in her cot. Only ever bottle fed to sleep in our bed and we then move her into her cot.

Have been doing CC for 4 nights. Here is how I have been doing it.

Bath
Pjs
Milk and wind down (in our bed)
Move her to the cot.
Tell her "lay down its sleep time"
If she is not trying to sleep, and is standing up and playing, I leave her for 5-10 mins.
Repeat "lay down its sleep time" sssh/pat etc.
Leave her again etc etc.

We have been doing it for 4 nights. She has fallen asleep on her own without me in the room once, fallen asleep with me patting/stroking twice and has fallen asleep alone but with me sitting next to the cot once.

So I think it is working, however all 4 times it has taken nearly an hour. This is what I am a bit concerned about.

She only has a very short nap in the day, normally in the car, normally at some point before 2.30pm.

When I leave her she is crying but it is not constant and not hysterical.

Is it taking longer just because she is older, do you think?

Would love some help and opinions.

Thankyou

B4Beatrice if we could write one of those we'd be millionaires!!

I gave dd Piriton once when she was about that age. It turned her into a raving loon.

It won't always take this long, I promise you that! I now put DS to bed around 7:30 ish, and he'll be asleep by 7:40... If not, he's quiet.

But eveery baby is different. You might find you have it cracked by the end of the week, or it may take longer. Either way, you're doing incredibly well

I do have the Mumsnet guide to Toddlers... Oh my, that's been my saving grace sometimes!

Puffling- When the docter prescribed it he said that does happen! Luckily not us as she has to have it every night as she is allergic to enviromental things, well irritant at the vey least. If she didnt have she would just claw at herself all night.

Forcing a DC to drop a nap is not easy and not always a good idea, though I do sometimes talk loudly (shout) at my DS in the car - not always successfully!!

I think having her bottle in her room would be worth a try as the change to cot would be more subtle.

I also think that communication is important and that talking to her might help, though saying that, I have a 26 month old who can spend 30 minutes shouting MUMMY, while I not so patiently remind him it's bed time from outside of his door after agreeing that I will go outside and he will go to sleep without any more talking. I live in hope that one day he will morph into my DD who used to sing herself to sleep, often taking up to an hour to do so but on her own and happy (wistful emoticon).

As many have said, they are all different, both in nature and in their conditioning - DS is programmed / conditioned to communicate loudly and for a long time!!

The piriton may well be contributing to her "liveliness" in the evening. Not sure there is anything you can do (could you give it earlier?) but something to bear in mind and possibly accept if it cannot be changed.

But mostly, she has stopped waking in the night and sleeps from 9pm till 9am - I think you are doing very well especially if she has allergy and intolerences and has probably been uncomfortable alot at night so is used to disturbed sleep. You might get a shorter bedtime routine (I think you will!!) but accepting that she is not a child you can throw into bed and leave her too it and that that is not a bad thing may help you feel less "pressured" by it. It takes alot to move away from expecting everything to follow the rules and be black and white but sometimes it makes life easier to accept how things are rather than battle to change them!!

Just wanted to update and say thankyou to the lovely people who offered me tips, and more importantly, support, last night.

DD fell asleep for a nap this morning after 25mins and one re-visit into her room.

I did what people said and woke her up earlier (8.15 ish) this morning, and did milk and story in her room, and then put her down at 7.30pm. And........ta da da daaa....she was asleep by 7.45 pm!!

Have never had her fall asleep this early, with this little help from me.

Thankyou everyone who posted.

Now, just need to decide what do do with my evening!

Awwww, well done you! I think you deserve a nice glass of el vino! (Or prefferred equivalent

Thanks Peanut! Would love a glass of wine or chocolate, but have a family thing in two weeks so am currently only eating fish and greens.

Although I'm sure a vodka and tonic water wouldn't be too bad!

vodka and tonic is fine in my books

At 21 months I'm having more luck with bribery than leaving her to cry. Have you tried this?

I offer "a sticker in the morning if you put your head on the pillow" also "cuckoo tomorrow night (fave dvd) if you lie down".

She would cry and shout for hours if left.

Just a thought.

CC doesn't work for everyone. Mainly the people who it didn't work for are just too traumatised to speak about it.

Good Luck finding something that works.

Thanks WinePig- think it is working now though (hopefully).

I was worried it was going to be dreadful but it hasn't been too bad TBH. She hasn't once sounded hysterical or really sobbing.

Not quite sure we would be up to bribery when the reward in in the future, IYSWIM. I can say "if you come and get in the car you can have a biscuit" or " lets go inside and we will watch mickey" but not sure she would understand it if the reward was in the future.

Thanks

Have a virtual sticker on your reward chart for today!! "You are a Super Mummy!!!" Well done!