Tips to stop rocking 20 month old to sleep pleeease

[SAMlady]

Our 20 month old DD has always been a bad sleeper, and we have never stopped rocking her to sleep.

About once a week she wakes for 2 hours, we rock her this whole time, in 10 minute stints. It's knackering.

She goes to nursery and happily settled with pats on a floor mat but hasn't settled to this in her cot at bedtime, or if she wakes in the night.

Desperate to hear any tips or success stories from anyone that found themselves in this situation - thanks.

Anyone?!? Any tips gratefully received.

Is there anything else that might make her lie still enough to fall asleep? DS is 21 months and likes to listen to stories if he is struggling to sleep. It usually stops him crying so that he can relax and fall asleep.

Have you considered controlled crying (not to be confused with cry it out)?

We had this and we decided that on e DS was in the cot he wasn't allowed out.

We would give him warm on me then put him in his cot. I would sit next to him sing, rub his back but he would have to stay in and lie down. If he got up I would lie him back down without saying anything.

If he got really upset I would pick him up until he calmed down and then put him back but only had to do this a couple times

After 3 days he would stay lying down. It's now 6months since I started and he's now happy for me to leave the room while he talks himself to sleep.

M

I had this with my DS and I was really at breaking point (I was a single parent) when I tried controlled crying. I basically made sure he was full, changed and settled for bed and then I lay him in his cot with his nightlight and kissed him goodnight. He started crying and wanting out but I just went back in and cuddled him and lay him down again, kiss on the head and went back out again for a bit longer each time. First night he took about an hour to eventually go to sleep - it was so bloody hard, I'm not going to lie. Second night took half an hour and by third night I put him in his cot and he lay down and went to sleep! It was like a different child. Changed our lives

Thank you! Will read all these and think of a strategy!