Sorry, I posted in parenting but didn't get any replies so posting here for traffic. Also, sorry it's long.
I have a gorgeous 5 month old baby girl. She is wonderful in every way, but she only sleeps while she's being held and likes to comfort suck a lot while sleeping (she is breast fed).
For her daytime naps this is inconvenient but achievable. I don't get much done but she sleeps happily enough on my lap and naps well.
During the night however I am really struggling. If I get her fast asleep I can sometimes get her into her moses basket asleep and she might stay asleep for a maximum of 2 hours. This only happens once per night though and most of the time she doesn't sleep there for more than 30 - 40 minutes at a time. Sometimes only 10 minutes though. It takes a good hour to get her deeply asleep enough to get her back down each time she wakes, do I'm getting virtually no sleep. She spends most of the night asleep on my lap, comfort sucking.
Once or twice per night my husband will take her from me while she's asleep and she'll stay asleep on his lap for up to an hour while I grab a little bit of sleep.
I feel like I have tied everything. Things I have tried:
Co sleeping (didn't make any difference, she still woke and wanted to be held, even side to side nursing wasn't enough).
Laying a worn t shirt in her basket so she can smell me.
Inserts for the basket (Babymoov Cosydream)
Having the basket in different positions (next to my side of the bed, on the other side of the room, in her own room next door - no change)
Dummies (she spits them out)
Making sure she isn't hungry. I have her one bottle of formula in the evening before bed. I've tried giving more in the night but even if she takes it she doesn't sleep for any longer.
Playing white noise.
Warming the basket with a hot water bottle for her.
Dressing her more and less warmly / keeping the room cooler and warmer.
I have not and am not willing to try any cry it out techniques (at the moment. I realise I may get more desperate if things don't improve).
I thought the next thing to try would be to start laying her down when drowsy, picking her up and soothing her on the breast again when she fusses, but keep putting her down and not letting her fall asleep on me.
My concerns with this are primarily that it won't work and also that she'll become chronically overtired.
Can anyone tell me of this is a reasonable thing to try?
I have read loads but everything seems so oversimplified and also everything I read seems to contradict something else I've read.
I should add that she's a happy baby. She's hitting her milestones and she is not generally a fussy baby. She doesn't cry very much, even at night (I pick her up before she starts, if left in her basket she would cry).
If anyone has any experience with a baby like mine or anything I haven't tried I would be so grateful for advice. Or anyone to just tell me things will get better on their own? Any pearls of wisdom oh wise mumsnetters?
TIA x