Sleep training for naps. Seem to be going backwards!

[stopsayingthatwithnail]

Hello there, I have a 6 month old DS who is on the whole a good/happy boy. I am currently trying to get him to self settle in his cot for naps. Until he was around 4 months he napped in a sling and from then until this week I would rock him to sleep with his music and then transfer him to cot with no problem.

My back is starting to give and also he has started to get very wriggly/fidgety/looking around the room and taking longer to get him off to sleep while holding/rocking him so I think he might be ready to start going in the cot awake.

Started this week, putting him in on his tummy (this is how he sleeps all the time now) doing a combination of rubbing his back, patting his bum, gentle sshh and rocking the crib. After a few difficult ones he started to get it and was going off to sleep with not too much drama - just a bit of a moan and within around 10-15 minutes.

Now we seem to be going backwards. He is getting really upset and it's taking ages. I try to leave him to cry a bit as he eventually seems to be drifting off but then starts up again! Then I do pick him up as I can't bear it any more. I have tried PUPD as this worked with my DD (now 2.5) when she was around 5 months. But this doesn't seen to be as effective with him - he doesn't settle for ages after I've picked him and it seems to wake him up more. Maybe he's too old for it?

He sleeps okay at night - usually wakes up once (sometimes twice). He is only ever fed to sleep at bedtime and during the night.

Anyway sorry if this is a bit long. Anyone who has any tips or experience to share I would be most grateful!

Thanks

We did sleep training at night first then moved onto naps. DS was 10mo and it worked really well and really quickly. We did gradual retreat. I don't think he would have been ready for it at 6mo to be honest but maybe others would say different?

We did sleep training at that age but start with nights-even sleep training hardcore people admit it is hard for naps -dd took some months to get the hang of it. You shoild be able to still sling/ buggy for naps and it not affect the nighttime training. X

Thanks for the replies.

I didn't know that about sleep training being
easier at night, interesting. Although at
the moment it isn't needed at night as he wakes
once, has a quick breast feed then he's out
cold. I'm gradually moving onto bottles now
though and also as he gets older we can be more
sure he's not waking for hunger..so will start trying to "sleep train" at night too fairly soon I think.

I realise patience is key. Just hoping I was doing it right as sometimes these things can end up being counter productive. :-)