Mummy to my very much loved nearly 8 month old girl. First 6 months were hell. Woke hourly even when co sleeping. Naps on me. Broke me so we sleep trained. First few weeks she slept so well. Ever since she wakes anything between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours after bed. Some nights we get a stretch 11-3 but mostly waking every 3-3.5 hours.
She's a light sleeper. We recently stayed in a holiday cottage and had to share a room. She woke as soon as I opened the door, even though I was so quiet. We couldn't leave the window open in the hot weather as cars in the road woke her.
No matter what I do, she will not sleep longer than 30 mins in the car or buggy. I try to prioritise her sleep at home but as we are napping 2 sometimes 3 times a day it's hard. However I feel like life has stopped. We had been invited to camp with some friends but there's no way she could sleep. The zip of the tent would wake her or even noise from other campers. So we compromised and visited then for the day. Despite leaving at nap time where she sleeps for 1.5 hours she woke after 30 mins. She slept for 20 mins or so as we walked whilst in a sling, but woke when I sat. On the way home she was so tired but again woke after 30 mins then cried for the last 20 mins of the journey. She hardly feeds all day as is so distracted by anything (tried darkened rooms etc but this is impossible when out). So she feeds mostly at night.
She's weaning but it is slow.
I'm just broken. I worry about whether I'm meeting her needs constantlybut equally I can't stay in my house all day everyday. I so wanted a family but just feeling a sense of life is over.
I'm constantly searching online for reassuring stories of people with similar experiences. Today I can't across the baby whispered personality categories and she does seem to fit the touchy baby. I'm terrified that this is going to be the way for a long time and whilst I will get through it, I'm worried what the resulting family will be like as I just feel a shell of my for her self.
I love my little girl but please tell my life will get enjoyable soon!
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Exhausted, anxious, beaten. Not how I expected being a mum to be.
Catheroooo · 10/08/2018 22:10
Just watched to offer you my sympathy (no advice, sorry) 
My DS is 10 months and so similar to your DD! I couldn't have the bedroom window open at night in the heat either and I was roasting. He still naps on me and is in bed with me at night. He usually gets woken in the morning by DH tiptoeing into the bathroom. At 5:30, bloody DH.
Fingers crossed it all improves soon.
Catheroooo, I’ve just posted on an empty nest thread and reading your post brought back all the memories of being a new mum. It’s so hard when all you want is a contented sleepy baby and a good night’s sleep for yourself. It sounds like you’re doing everything you can for your baby so please don’t worry. Some babies are so alert and sometimes people don’t really get this if they haven’t experienced it. My DD1 was a hideous sleeper. Just do what you need to do to get through this as it is a phase. This may not feel it’s much help at the minute but honestly it will pass.
One of my sons was like this. People who have never been through a baby waking hourly have NO IDEA what it is like, and the well meant advice is almost as frustrating as the nap refusal.
Still, here is some well meant advice, or at least our experience...
It drove me nearly insane. We tried everything from lavender oil massage to reflux medication, I went on stupidly strict elimination diets, tried hydrolysed formula, hired a very expensive and highly recommended 'baby whisperer' midwife and sleep consultant - who gave us a refund on night 3 and referral to a specialist paedeatrician.
Nothing ever showed up, particularly, other than mild asthma. The Dr did say he'd probably be very bright, which seemed like they were trying to make us feel better at the time, but has turned out to be true. Also cheeringly, of 3 DCs only one has had these sleep troubles - it's not you, and there's a good chance that other dcs you have will be much more textbook.
Things improved for us as he got more mobile and especially when he started walking at 10 months, improved again when he started liking Napa in the buggy a month or so later (no more patting and shushing etc), then suddenly at 14 months he slept through completely one night, and has done so most nights since, we never quite knew why it changed. I'm sure that feels a long way away to you, but it isn't long, and things can improve. If the training worked at first, have you really checked detail by detail to see if he is (or you are) slipping back into old habits and you can change this? I know how tired you must be, but it's worth it. We found the No Cry Sleep Solution good for gentle ways to keep routine going without the pressure of many of the books to 'fix' your child's sleep.
My ds is 6 now, and a delight. He is still a sensitive soul but doesn't have any additional issues, or sensory problems that I'd feared at first. He's on the lower end of average for sleep time for his age, but has slept through for ages. Those days are a dim and grim memory and sooner than you think, they will be for you too. Do try to get some time for yourself, don't put pressure on you or her to do what some other babies would, and don't worry about other people suggesting that in some way you've 'caused' this - it's bollocks, you need to be more careful because she's so wakeful and not vice versa. Just do what you need to survive the next few months, and you'll emerge strong and with a lovely (and eventually sleeping) DD. If what you need includes a trip to the GP and some counselling and/or medication do that too, you need support as well.
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