settling issues - 8 month old

[Daya]

Dear all,
Thanks so much for your time and replies. As I'm sure you all know, it can feel a little like you're the only one with any concerns until you speak to others. Often it's just nice to know that my baby is totally normal, and it's great to get other people's ideas so we can try something new.
Newdad, it really is fantastic for you that your baby is able to settle so well now. We tried staying with our little one, but not picking her up one night and I couldn't bear to hear her cry, so I picked her up and managed only to confuse her which was horrible. I think we have to be consistent like you were, but I'm just not up to it.
Catan, at the moment, I'm pretty much doing what you're doing, the difference is that I'm not managing to fall right back to sleep anymore. I used to, so I don't know why I'm waking up so fully at the moment. It is making me tired though.
Gracey, such a long stretch of sleep sounds amazing... I just don't think I could keep my baby up so late. She's unusually knackered by the time she goes down at about 7pm.
Mommiemid, thanks for all your advice, it's very kind of you. I'm going to try and answer your questions properly in a new post as my baby has just woken from her nap!
Thanks again all.

 

[evgreen]

I'm using the pick up/put down sleep training method by the baby whisperer. There is some crying involved but the process allows you to pick up your baby and soothe them and then putting them straight back into the crib as soon as the crying stops. For us the first 3 night were the hardest. I had to repeat the process 100 times the 2nd night. Last night (the 5th night), I plopped her into her bassinet and she whined for about 5 minutes and went to sleep on her own. My girl is 4 months though so I'm not sure how it works for an older baby. The key to sleep training success though is consistency and determination. You can visit this link for more info http://www.mybabysleepguide.com/2009/01/pupd-tbw.html?m=1

 

[evgreen]

P.s. the process can be kind of back breaking so be sure to enlist your husband for a massage! But it was worth it and I can say was able to help her thru the entire process of letting her self soothe.

 

[Gracey]

I speak too soon!
Baby was lovely until 5 months. Then she fell off the rails.
There were many changes in her life. She started solids. Mom went back to work. She got moved out of the little bassinet in our room to her own nursery. And her first tooth started poking out.
I thought it'd be temporary. But it's been almost a month of sleepness night.
For a while, I gave up entirely and went back to walking up and down the hallway, breastfeeding endlessly and co-sleeping.
Two weeks ago, we started "hush / pat" and "pick up / put down." These techniques are nice and gentle. And she is improving slowly with them -- settling with less help from me, and spending the night (though disrupted) in her own cot.
BUT it's a slow improvement. And I'm back to full-time work and exhausted, with no help at night.
So now I'm considering doing 3 nights of controlled crying. What do you guys thinks?