There are lots of different techniques from the "experts" on coping with sleep problems in your developing baby and child. Again, do what works best for you and what you are feeling ok with.
The Ferber technique involves letting the baby cry herself to sleep, on the speculation that if you are firm about bed time, she'll learn how to comfort herself to sleep. This doesn't suggest just plunking the baby down in her crib and walking away.
It differs greatly from what you might already be doing in that it inspires you to put the baby in her crib while she is still awake, so she becomes used to going to sleep without you. But this might also mean letting her cry it out for a couple of weeks. This is often nerve-wrangling for everybody in the household. Another system is the controlled crying methodology. Again, this involves your common bedtime rituals of a bath, perhaps a break and a tale, rocking and hugging. Put your baby in her crib and kiss her goodnight.
If she begins to cry, wait ten to 15 mins before going in to comfort her. Attempt to resist picking her up, just shush her noiselessly and pat her on the back. Some professionals suggest not chatting, as this may bolster the waking and crying behaviour. You need to assure your baby that you are there, but you continue to need to inspire sleeping.
After the 1st half hour of crying, increase the intervals before you check on the baby by a couple of minutes everytime, up to about fifteen to twenty mins between checking. This could take a while, and can be trying on your nerves, but in time, your baby will learn that you are not going away and that you are close by. This teaches your baby self-comforting, but also gives her the confidence and security that you are there for her.
