I'm talking to you. Yes, you. The mum whose baby has somehow failed to go the f**k to sleep, for the umpteenth night running. You're a hot mess held together purely by caffeine, sugar and adrenaline. You're starting to resent/hate your previously adored other half, with whom you're in locked in constant dreary competition over 'who's more tired' (answer: YOU). Pyjamas are now your working uniform, and your baby is in her jumperoo so often, you're beginning to mistake her for Davros.
If you ever do make it out the house, you're surrounded by beautifully made up yummy mummies pushing their angelically sleeping babies. Your mummy friends ALL have little darlings who have been sleeping through pretty much since they left the hospital. You're always the reluctant recipient of unwanted, well meaning but patronising advice. 'Would you not consider just giving her some formula?' 'Won't she nap in her cot? You're making a rod for your own back with those pram naps'. 'He just needs a full belly and he'll sleep all night!'
You've read all the books, watched the podcasts and learnt from the experts. You could get your PhD on the subject of infant sleep, you know so much about it. Despite this, your little one suddenly decides to up their game by waking up every hour. That previous 3 hour stretch now seems like a golden memory. You find yourself googling 'can I die from lack of sleep?' and the knowledge that you're a heightened stroke/obesity/diabetes risk does nothing for your anxiety induced insomnia.
With all this going on, how can you not feel like a failure? You MUST be doing it wrong! Everyone else's babies sleep! You've made so many rods for your own back, it's a wonder you can still fit into your dressing gown.
Well, I'm here to tell you, lovely mummy, you are NOT a failure. Or a loser. Or a bad mum. On the contrary, to function on so little sleep whilst looking after a tiny human being, well, that makes you SUPER MUM!
Every baby is different.
Your baby WILL get the hang of sleep, but it will be in his/her own time.
There is no right/wrong way of doing things. Ultimately, you know your baba best. Tune out the chattering 'experts' and listen to your gut.
Do what you need to do to get through. Whether that's co sleeping, or naps on you. Your child will not still be sharing your bed when they're 18.
Ask for help and don't try to cope when you can't. Remember how hard it was getting through the day on little sleepwithout children? You shouldn't have to do this on your own.
You are amazing and you're doing a wonderful job.
When all else fails, chant the following: This too shall pass...this too shall pass...
And keep posting on here! We're all in this together, so pull up a comfy chair, and we'll take your coffee order and pass the biscuits 
Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.
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Listen up tired mama!!
Purpleboa · 14/03/2016 09:48
Excellent post. It really is such a huge help/relief to just know you aren't alone with this, as it certainly feels like you're the only one in the world awake at 2am. I think Exhaustion likes company as much as Misery! 
Hi Skipton I think I remember you from the pregnancy boards - oh the things we could go back and tell ourselves!! Those bloody sleep charts. I wasn't stressed about how much sleep he was getting until I saw those - only how much I was (or wasn't) getting!!
I'll just tell myself he is going to be a genius...
Standing ovation for the OP! I'm on my second 'difficult sleeper' and "this too shall pass eventually but it may take years not weeks or months " is the best I can offer too... If the trying to get them to nap / self settle / sleep X number of hours a day is driving you nuts, Just Don't Do It! I'm allergic to sitting in the dark trying to get a baby to sleep, I start to go nuts, so I'm just not bloody well doing that either! If DD2 (18mo) isn't ready to sleep after a feed and cuddle I take her downstairs, make a cup of tea and watch tv / read to her til she's ready to drop... She likes Call the Midwife and Dickensian She still wakes umpteen times a night so no point ruining my evening too!
This
Pickle has decided since hitting 3 months that he will wake up ever hour, at the exact same time. DP has most noticeably decided to start sleeping in the living room, I am considering putting a screaming baby on his face to wake him up if this carries on.
your baby is in her jumperoo so often, you're beginning to mistake her for Davros
This single sentence has just made my day
Thank you purple for this post, knowing I'm not alone does soooo much in helping me keep going without going mad.
My 7.5 mo has recently dropped to two naps and now goes down at bedtime so much easier, but is still feeding twice a night and waking another 2-4 times on top of that needing settling back to sleep. Some people yearn for 8 hours sleep, I'd sell body parts for 4 hours at the moment!
And I'm back to work in 2 weeks . . . .
Oh god, I've just cried a bit reading that!! I have twins who aren't great sleepers and a baby who has put me through the mill. My kids are funny and cool and bright and beautiful....but none of them really sleep. I too hate the "good baby = good sleeper" thing. My kids are great. Sleep....not so much!!
Touch wood I am coming out the other side now (prob jinxed it!!) but here to offer 
and support if I can. And to bitch and moan of course!!
Wise words op. My second is a terrible sleeper, with reflux and cmpa to top it all off. DD is now 15 months and we sometimes get a good night so hoping we are starting to turn a corner and may escape the sleep deprived induced fog we live in. Good luck to all, sleep deprivation is terrible
So glad I have found this thread! M 16 week old wakes every hour for feeds at night, and I am really struggling 
. It does heap to know others are going through similar!
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