My baby is 8 months old and, until she got a cough/cold in the last 10 days of November, used to sleep at/around 6.30pm until 7.30 am without really trying - she'd wake during the night when the dummy fell out but that was relatively easiely remedied. She wasn't great at going down on her own, but would usually drop off after her bedtime bottle and I'd pop her into bed still asleep or I'd pop her into her cotbed awake and she'd drift off within 10 minutes or so.
Then, with the cough, it was really a bad one which clearly hurt her, she had temperature and was very uncomfortable, sleeping for only an hour or so at a time, so we got into the habit of bringing her into bed with us, she could nestle up against us on her side, breathe a bit easier and sleep.
Cold now gone, she likes to sleep on her side and went through a few nights with waking every time she tips herself onto her tummy and wakes not being able to put herself on her back (she can when not in her sleeping bag but think it's combination of tiredness etc); tried wedging her on her side, but she also likes to be on her back as well.
Sleep has got progressively worse over last few weeks; from waking throughout the night to now screaming whenever she's left alone at bedtime - understand that cuddling up has become a nice little habit for her but not for me, particularly as I'm the light sleeper and also work FT. Also, if she does fall asleep on me/cuddled up to me, when I put her into her bed, she wakes and screams.
When she wakes in the night, once she's become awake properly, rather than just crying, there's loads of leg banging and thrashing, have tried gently holding her legs and arms but that doesn't work anymore either.
It's getting ridiculous, I'm so tired I can barely think and have constant headaches and she's not getting enough sleep either (last night from 9-6).
Pretty sure she's spending too much time overtired and therefore I'm on a losing battle anyway. Thinking tonight to try and put her to bed earlier with bath, calming routine but don't know how to handle the screaming - she doesn't self soothe, just winds herself up and if I go in there, she won't calm unless I pick her up (and then screams as soon as I put her down or walk away - last night managed to get her to sleep after massive battle by keeping my hand on her chest with her tightly gripping my fingers).
Also, during the night, no idea what to do there, she's still in with us at the moment; was about to move her into room with her big sister when all of this started. Our tiny spare room is my office, should we move her in there during Christmas (and I'm not using it during the day)? Seems that being on her own has become a big thing for her.
Sorry for long post, practical advice would be appreciated, thank you x