Tell me how teaching to self settle won't harm her

[NochocolatE]

I contact napped her for 7 months.
I've seen it as my job to make sure she doesn't cry. She gets picked up if she wants me, not always immediately but I don't make her wait too long.

She does sleep through the night with no feed and only a quick "you're OK, shhh shhh" etc if she stirrs, we don't even have to get out of bed! But she will not go down unless rocked!!!

The few times I've tried to set her in her cot dozy, sang to her there etc she's had a meltdown.

What option of sleep training/ self soothing training is the best for her without being the total opposite of what she's used to?!

Oh forgot, she's now 12 months and stopped contact napping at 7 months.

I wouldn't rock the boat. If she's sleeping through and goes back to sleep with just a "shhh" you're onto an absolute winner. Mine has never done anything near that and she's 2.5yrs.
Plus they can't self soothe at 7 months - way too early. They just learn not to bother crying and internalise the stress.

What's your motivation with sleep training? Is it that she is getting too heavy to rock or that is taking too long? If you identify what is bothering you, that might guide the advice. I'd probably be aiming for a version of gradual retreat where you try to replace rocking with sitting on a chair and holding and then lying in a cot with your hands on her/patting her bottom etc. Then over time you can reduce how hands on you are. But it will be slow and might not be worth it for you. Another thing to try is introducing a teddy or blanket as a comforter.

@Notajogger thanks, she's a year old now and going to a childminder in a few months so really need her to self settle for her nap/naps.

She’ll settle with the child minder. Kids are remarkably flexible about sleeping elsewhere, without their usual props or cues. Childminder will probably have some tricks up her sleeve too - I knew one who pushed/shushed kids in a pushchair in the back room, worked a treat.

They all settle/“self settle” in the end without any sleep training. You won’t be rocking her at 7 - or even 4 !

I agree with others, nothing wrong with sleep training if you want to but I wouldn't do it just for the child minder, they will have their own ways.
Sounds like she is doing great on her sleeping otherwise!