cathf we've done white noise, back patting, gradual retreat, rocking, dummy, controlled crying, dad Cuddles only, water, pressure points, that stupid dream moisturiser from lush, various light shows/mobiles, blankets, sleeping bags, trying to get her to have a comfort item, mixtures and combinations of all of the above. All have been attempted for a minimum of two weeks and tried at different stages in case one would click later on. Nope. Dd can howl for a good two hours, exhaust herself and power nap for maybe 15 minutes before starting over again. The stage where she cries herself to the point of vomitting is when we usually called it a night.... I wanted to stop breastfeeding at six months which was the point she started refusing the formula we'd been mixed feeding with up until then
Looking at that written down I feel a mixture of failure and guilt. Not one of them resulted in her sleeping and all I've done is distress her. Which is why we've worked with it instead of against it for the last six months. Now she's older we play a lot of sleeping role play with her dolls and I've noticed that she doesn't 'get' closing her eyes. She lets her lids get heavy and close but doesn't ever shut her eyes voluntarily. She'll lay down but not close those peepers!
daffodil no comfort to you but it makes me feel better that you've got previous children! I get sooo much judging and dd is my only so according to some it's clearly my fault!
OP looking back my dd was teething for ages before her first tooth popped through, she slept amazingly from about 6 weeks to 3/4 months and I now know she takes an age to cut a tooth.
Obviously I'm not the one for sleep advice but I will say that all of these things that pop up and seem insurmountable you find a way to make it work - honestly - and it gets better.