Help! - Nighttime wakings following 3 months of 7-7 sleep following GF.

[SarahMD]

We have been following the GF routines since baby was 9 weeks. She has slept through 7pm-7am every night since she was 4 months. I returned to work 3 weeks ago (she is now 7.5 months) and for the last week she had been waking sometime between 12 and 3 each night and is not able to resettle herself with her thumb as she normally would. After grumbling and crying on and off for about 45 mins she will then become frantic. When I pick her she settles immediately and if her put her back down after 30 mins or so (still awake) she will go off to sleep with a couple of grumbles.
Her cot is still her room and I am wondering if moving her into her own room would help - or is that too many changes on top of work? She is very happy at the childminders - who follow the routines on the days I am at work.
Has anyone had similar experiences/ got any advice???

I haven't had that problem but I know GF's routines well.
Could she be teething ?
I am not sure I understand what you do but do you pick her up as soon as she cries or do you wait ? I'd go and pick her up immediately myself before she gets excited as it would be easier to settle her.

I usually wait to see if she will resettle herself as she has been doing over the past months. But recently she just gets more and more upset until she screams out. I have been reluctant to pick her up immediately in case it becomes a habit every night - but it would probably mean that we get more sleep in the short term.

As for teeth - I have been thinking that she has been teething for months, but no sign of a tooth yet!! Would she settle immediately on me if it was teething pain? Not sure as I am not sure if she is teething yet.

Well she could be teething - it's the right age- also you may not see them yet but they do work their way out

I don't think you are necessarily creating a bad habit by going to her immediately. I use to think like you when I had 1 child but now that I have 2 and am an expert .... I'd say... go to her quickly, settle her with a cuddle... she may be in pain and need re-assurance... if it lasts another week... I am happy to revise my judgement

Thanks for the advice - I will try that tonight! She was fast asleep by the time she had finished feeding tonight so I woke her up properly before putting her down, so maybe that will help.