Feel like I'm failing

[AmericanAbroad]

I'm a FTM to a lovely and happy 7mo boy. Absolutely love him to pieces and I do enjoy being a mum, I can't help but feel like I'm failing at this parent-ing thing.

He's never been a great sleeper. Hasn't once slept through the night. Occasionally has done 2 wakes but most of the time it's 3-5. Lately it's always the later and usually there's a random period he's wide awake for 1-2hrs in the middle of the night where absolutely nothing will get him to sleep.

He'd recently started napping better and I could actually put him down in his cot awake and he'd put himself to sleep in 5-10 min (this is after having to rock/hold him for every nap since birth). But in the last few days he's also seemed to forget he can do this and screams as soon as I put him down. So we're back to rocking/holding.

I've been introducing solids since 5.5mo doing purées & finger foods. He'll naw on most stuff and most purées he'll take. But I haven't been super consistent in what/how much/when he eats and feel like all my NCT group are miles ahead in weaning. It just feels really overwhelming to me to be planning meals around food for him already.

I've honestly adjusted to the lack of sleep and barely even notice it anymore (once I've had my coffee) but just feel so anxious about everything and worried I'm letting my LO down.

Sorry for the long post, just needed somewhere to get it all off my chest

Ah you aren't failing at all, babies are hard work! I'm a first time mum to my son almost 7 months and this past two weeks he has gone from waking twice purely for his dummy for the past two months to pretty much waking every hour and a half - sleep deprivation is tough! He has started weaning too, but don't forget, milk is their main source of nutrition until they are a year - do what is best for you and your DC. If you are worried, ask your health visitor for advice, but remember you aren't a failure and it's natural to worry! All babies develop at their own pace and I'm sure there is something your DS can do well that a friends baby hasn't quite mastered yet.

You're not failing. Babies are hard!

There's so much pressure on sleep but they change all the time. At 7 months, my DS was trying to crawl round his cot at 4am most mornings. You can only do your best to see through whatever phase they are in!

On weaning, I think being consistent really is key but it's hard when you're trying to juggle naps, meals, chores and getting out of the house. We did BLW and I'm a real enthusiast because you just give what you're eating - we save a portion of our dinner and then DS has it the evening after. We have simple breakfast and lunch but it took him till 9 months before he was eating three meals regularly.