Waking up for 2 hours per night. At the end of my rope!

[Josie5]

hello my baby is 4.5 months, she sleeps reliably between 7-9ish then fed then sleeps for a few more hours but then up for 2 hours a night. Shes teething and tonight resorted to paracetemol to help. She lies awake and is okay but after an hour or so still not asleep and starts crying, shes not hungry I've cuddled her and given her teething gel. I don't know what else to do I'm at the end of my tether. I'm trying not to pick her up too much, she calms down when picked up and then cries harder when I lay her back down. I have been doing sshhhhh and pat to get her to sleep during the day and this seems to be working okay. Just nighttime is a hell. Anyone have any tips? I've come downstairs and left my husband with her for an hour it's so hard night after night.

Poor you, I have a 18 week old and like dying most nights! Can you co sleep til she feels better? I do this during difficult times and he easily goes back to his own cot after a few nights. Don't worry yet about bad habits or the like, leave it a year, you will have a different child. She needs to be with you when she is on pain, it will help her and you sleep.

Sympathies.

Thanks I do find co sleeping helps but am so worried it's setting up bad habits but as you say she needs me to comfort her as much as possible. I find it so hard to settle her back in her cot after co sleeping, it's hard to know the right thing to do and I feel guilty for getting so frustrated but nice to know others are awake too!

Morning, yawn! I co slept on and off with both mine when it was needed, such as during growth spurts and illness/teething. Never had a problem with getting them back into cot once tricky phase has passed. Just my experience but I think, unless they only sleep with you, every night for months and months, they will be fine. Do what you need to do to survive!