Is this normal with cc/ return and check?

[Themla]

Long time lurker, first time poster on sleep, thanks in advance for sharing your experience...

3rd child, 10 months, terrible sleeper MUST get her to sleep alone, in own room, in the cot (very motivated: dozed off on the school run and nearly crashed with all the kids in the car).
Tried CC/ return and check. By the book, honest. First couple of nights were 1h15 mins to get to sleep and about one hour 3 times a night. Crying began to go on for longer/ she got v distressed about night 3, but we carried on to the letter. Picked her up for the first time last night, night 7, had reached critical distress levels for her and us - 3.5 hours crying to get to sleep then hours of crying at night.

1. What have I done wrong?
2. How the hell do I fix it?

Most grateful...

Hard to know without more description whether you've done anything "wrong." When you say "by the book," I assume you mean you've put her down awake and gone in for periodic checks at timed intervals, without touching her or staying long? People do do CC in different ways, and some ways don't work.

How were you putting her to sleep before you tried CC?

Are you positive there isn't teething or an ear infection or something? Nobody can learn a new sleeping method when she has that to contend with.

I used CC with great success so I'm a fan, and I would think your baby is old enough to sleep through the night. I'm puzzled. . .

What else have you tried?

Haven't tried anything else, Show.
Teapot, yes sorry not very informative, here is what we have followed so far:
-limited daytime naps to 1 x 45 mins, set times.
-pot of something porridgy one hour before bed.
-nightime starts 8pm, bath book song cd thing, 10 min b/feed unil dozy but not asleep then bed.
-Going in to check every 5, 15 then 30 minutes staying for not more than one minute, minimal contact, just saying 'shhh' (this is never enough to settle her)
-up at 6.30am as usual.

Previously was b/fding or rocking to sleep in a cot attached to our bed. Thought it would work out better if she's in her own room.
Would love this to work, please point out anything you think I should change.