nap help! can't self settle

[fairimum]

My DS is 5 1/2 months and we are in the process of ditching the dummy (not that reliant on it really) and teaching him to self settle.

He self settles really well at night and usually sleeps 11-12 hours, does stir over night but goes back to sleep.

For naps he self settles but after one sleep cycle will wake up screaming and is unable to settle back to sleep - as he hasn't been well and is so tired and needs his sleep I have been going up when he wakes and putting the dummy in (i know i know is causing him mixed signals and isn't going to help!), if I shhh/patt him back to sleep it takes about 15 mins and then he is awake again within 10 mins, can do this 3 or 4 times, so he isn't getting 'good' sleep (hence using the dummy while he is poorly) - ANY suggestions greatly appreciated!!

the fact that he can do it at night suggests he can actually do it during the day too but is just not doing so for some reason. How dark is the nursery? It might be that some blackout blinds might help. Once you have gotten him self settling during the day perhaps you could then start gradually lightening the nursery til he is able to settle in daylight.

just a thought. Hope he feels better soon.

Thanks - the nursery is pretty dark, has blackout curtains so not as dark during the day as light comes round the edges! Will try sticking a towel over the curtains to see if darker helps! Thanks :)