Right, tell me what I should do...

[mistressploppy]

If I do the bedtime routine and put DS (7mo) down drowsy but awake, how long should I let him burble before going up and settling him myself? I know I can get him to sleep quicker than he can do it himself!

Or should I butt out and let him get on with it?

If he's just gurgling and not distressed I'd let him get on with it and have a nice cup of tea .

i say let him get on with it.if he starts crying, you know he is struggling to drift off himself.thats the cue i always take for going in and trying to 'help'.

Let him put himself to sleep. If he's crying, go in after about 15 minutes and say something like "time to sleep, night night" and leave, no touching him or anything. And let him cry. Go in once more if needed, or twice, but don't pick him up.

I got into the habit of "helping" DD sleep and it was awful. She would not sleep if either me or DH weren't with her. It took us a week to get her to sleep by herself again. First day she cried for over an hour and we just had to hold our ground. Second day crying reduced to one hour, then 40 minutes and so on. Now she does it all herself.

Really recommend you let your son learn by himself otherwise a nasty habit might arise! I learned the tough way.

If it's just burbling, leave him to it. Very frustrating I know, but it's better in the long run for him to learn for himself than you do it for him.

Go to him if he's crying though.

Personally i would leave him to it for as long as it takes for him to go to sleep or until he starts crying. Not into the controlled crying thing myself but would leave a baby who was babbling or is just having a bit of a moan.

If it's just burbling, I'd leave him, but rush up if he starts crying. Doing it yourself is quicker but giving him chance to have a go will help him get the hang of going to sleep on his own in the longer term.