to think that most mums of 8 month olds aren't lying in the darkness trying to feed them to sleep?

[fartingfran]

OK so she's got the snots and might be teething but she's had 2 x 30 minutes sleep since 10am, she's had Calpol and Nurofen, and I've been rocking, patting, shushing and all that crap since 6pm and still she's awake. Have given up and gone to bed with her and she's just sucking/chirping/screaming/sucking/singing alternately. Haven't a fucking clue what to do now. Pissed off and fed up. Serves me right for trying to offer advice to people with similar problems recently. What the fuck do I know?!

x post pointy.

Thank you everyone though. I'm a pro at shit sleepers, but it doesn't get any less crap with experience. I love Mumsnet for always being able to make me feel a bit better.

You can't be doing it wrong if everyone else has the same probs, unless we all are?

I bought baby vaporub today so hoping that works. It's ok isn't it?

And I disagree that if they are ill they need you, if they are ill, they need sleep!

DD1 was always difficult to settle if I was with her. If I left her she would quickly settle. Sometimes they are getting stimulation from you being there and need to switch off a bit

Nah, none of us doing it 'wrong', just trying to survive!

snufflebaby (baby vaporub) is fab stuff. I always find rubbing it on the soles of their feet and sticking a pair of socks on very effective.

'Thank you for saying everyone's been there. I don't know anyone in RL whose DC are as bad at sleeping as mine are. DS is nearly 4 and only recently has started sleeping til 5ish a couple of times a week.

Child-rearing: I'm doing it wrong.'

Pish! First time round I don't remember many people having problems, but maybe people didn't talk about it. Now most of my friends have 2 nearly all of them are having sleep issues. Come and join us here and you'll be in good company. Our little ones similar ages to yours.

I also feed my eight month old to sleep in the dark three times a day! Well that's not strictly true as I don't actually feed him to sleep anymore, I feed him until he is dozy then put him down in his cot and leg it. I found out by accident once, when he didn't seem to want to sleep and I was shushing, rocking, patting etc and he was crying his eyes out, that all he wanted me to do was just piss of and leave him alone! it was a revelation.

is she asleep yet?

OP if I were in your position I wouldn't have a clue what to do next either, as feeding to sleep is the only way I know to get dd2 to sleep! You can't MAKE them sleep (as well you know by now byt the sounds of it!) Bad mother alert but I'd plonk her in front of an In the Night Garden dvd with toys and she how she is in half an hour or so. Dd1 had practically never SEEN the tv at that age

LOL, Petisa - have at it, the rear end is unfortunately well padded...

Yay Emma I feel so much better now, I'm not the only one! You've seriously made my day

Would second baby vaporub (didn't know it existed but use the leaded version on the DDs when they are snuffly, including a specialist pair of manky socks. It's brilliant).

When dd was that age, that is absolutely what I was doing. She is 3 now, sleep has only very recently improved and dd2 due any day, so back to square one it is...! Good luck!

Thanks bumper. Emma she's the same, can be dumped sometimes. If not teethy can be rocked and dumped. But for whatever reason she's a kicky writhy thrashy bundle of chattering angst just now.
Almost tempted to send DP for formula to see if a huge feed would help but having BF this far I'm too bloody minded to give in. Maybe a dram for me though ...

'all he wanted me to do was just piss of and leave him alone!'

That really made me laugh out loud

I'm too scared and lazy to try and put her in the dusty cot that is beside my bed, as it is all really too easy atm. But I haven't a clue what I'm going to do when she starts crawling. Hoping deluding myself that she'll then go in the cot that she's never been in no probs - who am I kidding?

The vaporub and socks idea sounds fab!

Stealth ... she's kicking me in the shoulder and shouting.

Dram sounds like a good idea OP. Sounds like both my dds when they have been teething, rather than hunger tbh. Maybe there'll be a new tooth in the morning?

Hands up who thinks she's going to cut the remaining 19 teeth and learn to cruise tonight, and will hereafter sleep 14 hours a night?

Sorry, fran.

For all those worrying about co-sleeping at this age, repeat after me: no, it is not a rod for your own back

If it makes you feel any better, my 17m old's bedtime tonight was:

6pm bath
6.30 feed
7.20 upstairs and in to bed
8pm creep out of darkened room for the second time after having sat stock still for 40 minutes waiting for her to stop chatting, wriggling and giggling and go to bloody sleep!

She's over twice your baby's age and still messing about at bedtime. It isn't that long since I had to feed her to sleep then DH had to sneak her gently into her cot and tiptoe out stealthily!

It will get better.

Ah pointy you spoil sport.

We're now at the lights on, grinning, bouncing on the headboard stage. Think it's definitely DP's turn. This too shall pass etc. Off to check my lottery in case I can afford a night nanny.

Hah! I see your tiptoeing and raise you crawling out on your hands and knees!