Tips for Controlled Crying needed!!

[Lucy10]

I'm about to move DD, 6 months, to her own bed. We're currently co-sleeping and it's worked very well until recently when she's started thrashing about in her sleep and waking me up. I want my own bed back anyway!

At the minute, she usually goes down about 9.30 ish, sometimes earlier, sometimes later. She is always rocked or bottle fed to sleep and I can usually put her down, sometimes having to lie with her for a bit before sneaking out. Up until now it hasn't been an issue with her falling asleep in my arms as I'm nearly always there when she wakes up. I know I need to put a stop to this but haven't a clue where to start as she doesn't go to sleep at the same time every night and she very rarely falls asleep unless I'm holding her.

Also, keep hearing about no cry sleep, or something, but have no idea what it is!

I feel a good place for you to start would be to think about the fact that whatever she falls asleep with is what she will need when she wakes during the night. This means if she falls asleep being rocked in your arms, that is where she will want to be every time she wakes. Perhaps try to introduce a 'lovey' toy/blanket that she can cuddle. Start by sitting on the floor next to her cot/bed, and patting her tummy while saying shhhh shhhhh until she falls asleep. When she is used to this, you can stop the patting and just ssshhhhh shhhh. Repeat this when she wakes in the night, and only pick her up when you absolutely have to, and then put her down again when she is calm, continue. This is not too drastic, and in an ideal world, the 'ssshhh-ing' will soon not be worth it to cry for anymore. Fingers crossed for you!

Try the 'No cry sleep solution' I think by Elizabeth Pantley which you can get at Amazon. V.good on sleep training from co-sleeping.

Thanks both!