Trying to get 4mo to sleep- when to pick her up?

[NewMumSept2014]

Hi,
DD is 4 now months old and for last month or so was fab at going down for naps during the day. I would read her a book, then lullaby, a few mins of rocking until she was settled (eyes closed but still awake, thumb in mouth) and she would go over in cot.
This week she seems to have changed and is wide awake again (and screaming) the second her back hits the cot. Last couple of days I've been trying to do the baby whisperer thing- have been picking her up if she's crying but putting her back down as soon as she stops.
I just wanted to ask opinions about when to pick her up. Often when I put her down she would be unhappy and shout for a while, but not proper crying. I have been ignoring this and seeing if she settles (she generally would within a minute or 2 and suck her thumb for a while before starting again). This could go on for 30 or 40 mins and it's heartbreaking. I can't shake the feeling that she thinks I'm ignoring her or that I don't care. Obviously if she's really crying I would go and pick her up straight away, but I just wanted people's opinions on the shouting. Am I going to scar her for life by ignoring them?

This is all complicated by the fact that she got her 4 month jabs on Monday which I'm sure isn't helping the whole situation at all!

If you feel that you want to pick her up immediately then do so, your instinct is there for a good reason! Google 4 month sleep regression, remember it will pass, and do pick her up if you feel that's the right thing to do. There are no rules, you do what feels right for you and your baby. At this age sleep really is all over the place and you just need to try to get through it as it's very normal. Good luck, I've been there and it's tough but it will get better.

My DS started to become more sensitive about being put in his cot around 4 months too. I put it down to teething and/or sleep regression. It didn't work for us, but my SIL suggested a cloth underneath their head when rocking him. That way they have something warm under their heads. You might want to check any SIDs implications of this.

Well, after 4 children I am yet to know of any crying that isn't real crying. My DD is a September baby too. Obviously she cries sometimes, but I go and deal with her upset as soon as possible (not always immediate with a large family).

I find the longer I leave any upset/crying/grumbling the worse it gets and the harder it is to solve. Small cries can usually be solved by the dummy in our house.

That all said, I have been there with DC1 and know exactly how you are feeling. In the end with DC1 we had to do CIO (Cry It Out - just leaving her crying), but we didn't do this until she was 12 months (and I was 7 months pregnant). She was a terrible sleeper for years I am afraid Sorry

4 months is too young for sleep training. You have been lucky that she used to settle and nap like you described, ours would only sleep in the day in our arms or in the pram (waking when it stopped!). Cuddle her. Let her sleep how she wants, she's too young to form bad habits.

NewMumSept2014

I'm sure you've probably tried this, but what about shushing and patting her while she's in the cot rather than picking up? This might be over-stimulating her.

Another thing, I don't know if this will be helpful or not, but my DD settles better when she is 'just tired'. If she gets to the point where she is over-tired then she finds it more difficult to get to sleep.

Could she be hungry? Does she ever get to the 'milk drunk' stage of drinking so much milk that she's super drowsy?