We've finally had a teeny breakthrough with DDs sleep (she's 10 months). Basically, after an awful time on Monday night it was letting her cry in her cot at 1am or me murdering her! It took us both about an hour to calm down but she fell asleep by herself (almost never happened), in the cot (first time!). I was sitting next to the cot the whole time but didn't talk to her or anything and just gave her her dummy back when she threw it away and wiped her tears a bit. She slept 5 hours (longest stint ever, usually awake every 90 mins max)
It broke my heart. However, we decided to give it a shot the next night. She cried for 20 mins and took a further 30 mins to settle. Then she woke 45 mins later (as usual) and took another 45 mins to settle. Then woke 45 mins later... you get the idea! After 3 cycles of this I thought enough's enough and took her into bed with me again. Though she woke at 3am wanting to play and I put her in the cot and she went instantly to sleep!
Last night she cried for 2 mins, then settled within about 10 mins until the cat yelled at the door and woke her. She then took about 30 mins to settle but then banged her head on the cot badly. I had to lift her. Then we tried again and she just screamed and screamed and after another 45 mins I gave up. Still took me an hour of rocking and feeding to settle her!
I guess my question is where do we go from here? It's obviously made a slight impact as she can fall asleep by herself (well, with me next to the cot!) but hasn't improved the length of her sleeps at all. And it doesn't seem feasible to do it at every wakening. So should I now try to gradually withdraw myself from the room? Or give it a few more days try of me being next to the cot to make sure she feels secure?