19 month old and sleep training.

[Rosieposy89]

We have a 19 month old dd and her sleep this week has been terrible (since clocks went forward really). Dd is still cuddled and fed to sleep but feel this isn't working anymore. I work pt and the days she hasn't been with me she has only napped for 30 minutes (has 1hr 40 with me) and then isn't going to sleep until 9pm-10pm. If she lies on us to sleep she thrashes about, claps etc but if I put her in her cot and leave the room she cries, if I stay she thinks it's playtime. I have tried settling her in her cot but she just can't sleep and Eventually she will sleep in my arms after a battle - she then sleeps through until 7.

I feel like an awful mother that I can't get her to sleep independently. How can I help her?

You are not an awful mother! You are meeting your daughters emotional needs and that makes you a great mother! I really don’t think sleep training is the answer, I’ll be honest I don’t agree with it full stop, but I think there’s much kinder ways

firstly, A LOT of babies and toddlers are affected by the clock changes. Secondly, have you wondered whether she’s ready to drop her nap? Or even reduce it? Perhaps the time inbetween her nap and going to bed isn’t long enough and she’s not tired enough - they only sleep so much during 24 hours

Thank you @EJRB , I don't think she is ready to drop her nap yet as she gets horribly overtired and grumpy if she doesn't nap on the days she is with grandparents in the week. I always cap a nap at 2 Hrs but she often naturally wakes after 1 hr 30. She naps quite early- around 10.20 (she wakes early 🙄).

I managed to get her to go to sleep last night by herself in the cot, I just sat by her and kept laying her down until she fell asleep - there were no tears. It took 2 hours but was less stressful than trying to settle her with milk/cuddles. On the plus side she sleeps through after a late night 😂

Hello, in a similar situation- how’s it going now? Is she still self settling?