will i ever sleep again?

[chilipeppers]

I feel like i'm going crazy,my DD 8 months has always been a bad sleeper but for the last 3/4 week it's got awful. We are up and down to her all night and she is waking for a night feed again. She then gets up at 5/5.30 every morning,which she has always done but i could cope when she slept better at night.She won't really have good naps so i can't catch up on sleep then.
She is/was teething (got 2 teeth last week) but not sure if this is the proplem as she seem ok in the day. Help,i just feel so shit all the time even cry and snap at her which then makes me feel even more upset!

So much sympathy. Many many babies do this around her age (9 month sleep regression, started at 7.5 months for my DD!) and they are wakeful because their little brains are developing so fast. They can't help it and it's not a good time for sleep training. So that leaves survival tactics!

Have you got anyone who could take her for a couple of hours so you can catch up? My favorite tactic was the really really early night, sometimes going to bed myself at 8PM just to get in some rest. I get resentful if I miss out on a bit of an evening so only did it a couple of times a week but it's really worth it.

Hope it gets better for you soon - it will!

I know exactly how you feel. Until DS was six months I was like 'i want at least four kids!'.

Now he's one. Still ko sleep. I want to wait till he's at school before we think about number 2. And that is the end of it. No more.

I wish for sleep. If I could get some I'd even dream about getting some sleep. The lack of sleep is pretty much dominating my life right now.

So op all I will say is, you are not alone it will improve. My DS has improved since the nightmare 9 months and does occasionally sleep through now. But when he doesn't I don't cope well. Sleep is a drug. The more you get the more you want.

Never had a problem with the sleep regression that gets talked but perhaps I was just lucky. I'd say teething might be an issue if she's cranky during the day but it's unlikely the pain would only strike at night.

You say she's always been a poor sleeper. Does she have a 'routine' during the day? It could be that her daytime sleep is affecting her nights and as she's got older she's not progressed in her sleeping habits so that they're in line with her age. I don't think you can address nighttime problems without looking at what's going on in the day.

Is she fully weaned?

Yes we have a day and bedtime routine,I try to put her down at the same time everyday around 8am first nap (she gets up about 5.30/6 most days) then after lunch.I do sometimes give her a afternoon nap if she is really tired. Her naps never last long though 30-45 minutes.
She is teething but don't know if that is what is waking her up because she seems ok in the day with it,happy and smiley.
She eats really well and still has 4 bottles but will only take 5-6oz at a time but eats a really good lunch and tea.
I'm thinking about dream feeding her again about 11pm.

Have you tried her giving neurofen at bedtime? My ds was an awful teether and at one point he was having neurofen nightly for a few weeks at a time (btw had friends who were doctors who said this was fine!). They can seem fine during the day of they're teething, as they're distracted, but at night it's a different matter!

I do give calpol some nights if she seems bad but not tried neurofen. Might give that a go. Thanks!

Neurofen is better for teething as it's anti-inflammatory and lasts longer too! Also get something called anbesol liquid from chemist, to rub on her gums. It's for mouth ulcers but works well for teething babes as well. Make sure it's the liquid, not the gel though.

Brilliant,thanks i'll give that a go tomorrow!