Help...7mo sleep issues

[Rachelandkitty]

Although for the first 4 months she was a great sleeper (sleeping through the night at 12 weeks or so), then at 4 months it all changed and she started waking up 3 or 4 times a night again. She was (until last week) going to sleep (BF to sleep) fine at 7, then waking at 10, 12, 2 and 4.30 or 5.30. Sometimes she would go a long stretch and sleep from 12 to 5.30 or 6. When she wakes in the night I BF her to sleep. Last week it got too much and I was told the only way to improve things (she is now 7mo) was to not let her fall asleep on the breast. So I tried this at sleep time and put her drowsy in her cot. She screamed and screamed. I waited 7 minutes, went in to try and calm her and couldn't. DH then tried and after 1.5hrs of screaming, I tried BF to sleep again. It didn't work for the first time ever and so we had to walk her and rock her to sleep - she finally went to sleep at 10.30 (and then actually only woke once when I BF her to sleep).

Since then though it is like all hell has broken loose. She screams when I even try and put her in her cot (when previously she was really happy there) and won't be calmed at all. Also, the worst thing is that if I do BF her to sleep (for sanity), as soon as I put her in the cot she wakes and screams - or sleeps for 5 minutes and then screams. Last night she was awake until 9 and then from 10 to 12 and from 4 to 6 (when she went back to sleep for an hour). She has previously been great at her morning nap (again BF to sleep) but now I can't get her to go to sleep at all. If she does go to sleep, she wakes after 5 minutes and screams.

I feel so tearful - I am absolutely shattered and don't know what to do. I can't seem to find any way to settle her apart from BF - and she is so suspicious of me now that she wakes as soon as hitting the cot. She is, during the day, an incredibly aware and active baby - not sure if this has something to do with it. Should I try a sleep trainer or what should I do? BTW, I have tried cuddly toys to soothe, dummies (lots of brands) - and she doesn't want any of them. Also I have never been able to get her to take a bottle....

Sorry for the long post. Haven't used this before but feel utterly desperate.

A difficult one and I really feel for you. My DD went through the same thing at about the same age. It went on for about 6 weeks and then she started sleeping through. It was a nightmare whilst it was going on.

I took the easy option and went back to co-sleeping or falling asleep with her in the chair (it's a nursing chair so no danger).

I would say it is more about separation anxiety than you putting her down awake just once. She is now of an age where she is aware of you leaving and will be worrying that you may not come back. Can you co-sleep for a while so you both get some sleep and she is reassured that you are there?

She will get over it, is just hard on you whilst she does.

I agree with UKSky, ds had patches like this when nothing worked to get him to sleep for hours. I get through them by co-sleeping and dh taking him early on his days off so I can get a lie in.

Its often before a major event like crawling or a tooth or a cold.

Thank you so much for this - it is great to have some support! Separation anxiety makes sense....