She's 18months and I want some sleep!!

[Joycey29]

So it's dd2, I ve done this with dd1 and ds and you'd think I d know what to do but am flummoxed!!
She goes down at 7pm with 8oz milk, she was waking 2 or 3 times for milk so started dream feed at 10 - 4oz. Therefore, I am fairly sure she is not hungry!
She wakes at around 3 for anything up to an hour and won't resettle despite having her blankie and dummy. Sometimes she wakes again at 5.30!
We ve done, withdrawal, controlled crying, sleeping alone, sleeping with siblings!
Dd and ds both cracked it by now and I m going demented. It's been in total 5 years and I want a full night's sleep!!
ANY ADVICE WELCOME!

You have all my sympathy - dd1 didn't sleep until 18 mo either and it was horrible.

I think there is a sleep regression at 18 months, which won't be helping. Other things to try include

• no talking / eye contact / fun during night wakings. Just resettle in silence.

• 3 min rule - bit like controlled crying, just always wait 3 mins before going in to her. That way, she knows you will come if she really needs you, but she might learn not to call all the time.

• lots of exercise in the day - is she walking?

• a teddy or similar - 17 mo was the age my dd feel in love with her teddy and used it to sleep.

• whatever changes you make, try for a week before making new changes

I hope something works.

Thanks - she is walking and is fairly active in the day. Swimming etc
she has a nap from 1pm for 2 hours and would sleep longer if left.
Should I shorten this?

I wouldn't shorten the naps if she is going to sleep well at 7pm.

I disagree, I would look at naps. My DS (12 months) is awake in the middle of the night for up to 1.5 hours if I let him nap for too long. Yesterday he slept for nearly 2.5 hours over lunch and then woke up at 3:30 and did not go back to sleep until 4:30. And then got up at 6:40. He sleeps through if his daytime sleep does not exceed one and a half hours max. He belongs to those children that do not need more than 12 hours a day, unfortunately. I am finding it really hard to tweak it though..