I don't think I can do this anymore.

[Jennyrosity]

At the end of my rope with my 10 month old daughter, I just don't know how much longer I can keep going. She's just so intense, always has been, needs my constant attention and physical presence.

She doesn't nap unless I hold her and even then she breastfeeds throughout, so I feel stranded, unable to move, unable to use the time to get anything done. She barely sleeps at night, wakes up hourly, can't self-settle, wants to breastfeed, screams if her Dad goes to her instead of me.

I want to stop breast feeding but don't know how because its the only thing that always calms her. But she's so aggressive - I know she's not really, but she bites and pinches me, pulls away with the boob still in her mouth, climbs all over whilst still trying to feed.

She screams and has full on tantrums whenever I leave her alone - I just left her cot for 4 and a half minutes (I timed it) while I washed my face and brushed my teeth (can never manage to have a shower except when her Dad's home) and she screamed the whole time. When I went back she had tears streaming down her face, was pulling at her hair and had marks on her face from pulling at her skin. She howls whenever I leave her alone, it's a struggle to even make meals for us.

It takes all morning just to get us both fed, cleaned and dressed, by which time it's lunchtime and I have to start all over again so it feels never ending and I never get to go out and see anyone so I feel lonely and isolated. She physically fights me on everything - bathing, putting clothes on, nappy changes, getting her into her pram, all become screaming wrestling matches and I worry she'll hurt herself. She quite often deliberately headbuts things if she thinks she's not getting my full attention.

My DH does his best but he works really long days - usually leaves the house at 7am and isn't home till after 9pm so I'm on my own with her the whole time.

I can't bear it, I don't know what to do anymore. Please help.

[sipper]

fryingpanalley what a lovely message xx

[henrysmama2012]

Poor you! I know how it feels to be on your own long hours as my husband has a similar schedule...my solution was basically to head out of the house immediately when my LO was being difficult - actually I went through a few weeks / months of that - heading out in the morning and not coming back til late afternoon/early evening. It was really nice actually - Id plan day trips out, and hed be really tired by the time we got back. He loved being out and about...but if he stayed indoors it felt for some reason 100% harder. He's a lovely smily little boy but always needs stimulation so thats why I think getting out of the house was a good plan.... good luck and I hope it gets better x