12 month old sleep issues - sleep training or co-sleeping?

[Pinkandwhite]

I'm wondering whether anyone can offer me some advice please?

My 12 month old was previously sleeping through the night but since being ill a couple of months ago, she has started waking up in the night wanting to feed. I'm still breastfeeding and this is the only way she will fall asleep now. When she wakes up, she wakes up screaming. I've started bringing her into bed with me from around 2am onwards but I then struggle to sleep well.

I'm wondering whether I should try just offering water in the night. Has anyone done this successfully? I know she will go absolutely crazy when I do this but I'm wondering whether a few nights of misery will make things better in the long run. I don't think I have it in me to do any form of controlled crying. I'm feeling a bit low about this situation. It's coupled with me struggling to get her to eat much. We're in a vicious circle of too much milk, not enough food, milk in the night etc.

The other thing I'm questioning is whether I should just set us up to co-sleep properly. The reason she disturbs me is because we're on the same mattress and she rolls around. If her cot was just pulled up next to my bed, I think it would make it better.

Finally I'm wondering about trying to break the breastfeeding to sleep habit by taking her out in the car when she's really sleepy.

I'm too tired to think straight so any advance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any help.

[FATEdestiny]

A bedside cot isn't co-sleeping. Why are you worried about doing this?

I see absolutely no problems is pulling the cot up next to your bed until baby is sleeping better. Then gradually move it away from the bed and out of your room. What problems were you seeing in this?

'setting yourself up for co-sleeping properly' would be things like getting a kingsized bed, buying bedguards, considering mattress on the floor rather than a bed, these types of things.

Water at night isn't a problem, lots of people do it. Baby won't like it. Especially because your DDs night feeds are not just about milk, they are about the snuggle and cuddle of breastfeeding too. But f you decide to bite the bullet and night wean, you may find daytime eating improves.

[Pinkandwhite]

Thanks for replying fate. I'm worried about the bedside cot because I don't want to exacerbate the problem. I can't decide whether I should just accept the fact she wants a little breastfeed in the night or try to get her to stop by only offering water. I'm just really confused about what to do for the best. I don't want to harm her but at the same time, I really want her to get enough sleep. She only napped for thirty minutes all day yesterday which is definitely not enough for a 12 month old.