8 month old really unsettled in evenings, any advice greatly appreciated!

[EsioTrot]

My 8 month old is now in a fairly predictable nap routine through the day and sleeps for about 2 1/2 -3 hrs split over two naps. She's generally in bed from 6.30pm onwards depending upon the time she woke up from her last nap.

She is bf and usually feeds to sleep. If she cannot get to sleep I put her in the back carrier and she's usually out like a light in minutes. We co-sleep at night but she naps on her own (in our bed) during the day.

Every evening she goes down to sleep and then proceeds to wake at approximately 20-40 minute intervals until about 10.30pm when I go to bed. She will not go back to sleep without feeding, shushing, rocking or bouncing just infuriates her.

My question is why can she sleep for 2 hour stretches through the day but not in the evening? All of the running up and down stairs tiring and I feel like I can't go anywhere in the evenings as she will not settle for my husband, god forbid a babysitter :)

Do I have to break the feed to sleep association? If so how? I can't bear to let her CIO. Any other suggestions most gratefully received.

Just to clarify, should read: She will not go back to sleep without feeding ; shushing, rocking or bouncing infuriate her.

She could be overtired (unlikely), overtired, have wind or something upsetting her hence the frequent waking. Even teething.
What time are her naps? You say she's regular - do you put her down at the same time every day? Might be worth trying that - 9am and 1pm are recommended times with a short morning nap of 45 mins and longer lunch nap.
I'd check her gums for signs of teeth (raised bumps). Also what's her solids intake like? Anything at tea which could cause indigestion?

Thank you so much for replying Igglybuff.

I do put her down at the same time each day. 9am and 1pm. One thing I haven't been doing is limiting her morning nap. I'll start doing that. It all gets a bit complicated as I have to collect DS from school at 1pm for next few weeks then 2.15pm each day, which is going to be bang in the middle of nap time.

She's got two teeth and I do think more are imminent, although this has been going on for months so not just attributible to that imho.

She's mostly BLW although I do try some spoon feeding too, however she is very independent and doesn't really let me feed her. In general I don't think she has a huge solid intake (I am comparing her to my DS who was so much bigger and hungrier than she is). I don't tend to give her new foods in the evening in case they do upset her tummy so don't think it could be indigestion.

Thanks so much for taking the time to come up with so many possibilities. I'm definitely going to try limiting the morning nap, fingers crossed.

Ok, I hope it works out ok although a shame about the nap time being messed up by the school run. Would she nap in the pram at home then you can wheel her out for the 2.15pm pick up?

I'll try it. She's quite sensitive to movement and noise when asleep (polar opposite of DS as a baby) so she has woken up with playground noise when we've tried this before. It may be a case of getting used to it though. We'll persevere. Thanks so much for your advice.

Yes my DS is similar. Only naps for 45 mins in a pushchair although I haven't tried recently. I did get one of those blackout covers for the buggy - not tried it yet though. Or you could try the back carrier?

Back carrier will definitely get her to sleep. I'll need to get training to be able to lug her about for 2 hrs though! :)

Blackout cover for buggy sounds great. Off to google that now.