I am returning to part time work (3 days a week) in two weeks time as money is tight, but I am worried about how my 8 month old will get on at nursery as she is a very poor sleeper and tends to need breastfeeding to sleep. She is a very active baby and does everything she can to fight sleep. She has never settled herself to sleep. We have tried letting her cry herself to sleep but are not comfortable with this approach as each time she became quite hysterical. She does have some quite good naps in the day but each time has to be fed to sleep and only settles easily in our bed. I was making good progress with the transition from moses basket to cot, but my mum died in February and I was so tired and emotionally drained it was easier for my daughter to co -sleep in our bed than have to keep getting upto her in the night when she woke. At present she wakes up about 4 times a night and is ready to get up very early every day (about 5.30am). She has been going to nursery twice a week for a couple of hours an afternoon to see how she gets on, and she has been fine but I think she does find it quite tiring. I am worried about how she will be if she has to go for a whole day - if necessary I will delay my return to work. If anyone has any advice I would be really grateful, as this is my first baby and I really want to do the best by her.
Also feeding her to sleep has tended to interfere with weaning her off breastfeeding as although she does have some drinks from a beaker in the day, I tend to end up latching her on again to get her to sleep which ends up defeating the purpose. Really appreciate any tips - thanks for listening.