Can't take this anymore - I feel like my 5 month old will break me.

[Elednor]

I'll try to keep it brief - my 5 month old has a REALLY hard time sleeping in the day. Originally she would only sleep on our chests, then she got to 14 weeks and decided she didn't like that anymore.

She'll sleep in the pram for 20 minutes - after 2 hours of walking. Same with the baby carrier. She won't nap on my chest, but will DH's, although she'll cry from anywhere from 5 minutes to half an hour. She has just started taking a few of her naps in her cot, but it takes a lot of work and effort. She won't co-sleep, if you leave her alone she will just roll around and play for ages until she starts whinging.

Today DH went back to work. He hasn't worked since the birth of DD2 as we both had issues after the birth, but we are now well enough and this is the first day I have had both DD's from 9-5.

It's been awful.

Both DD's up at 6am. Fed them and tried to get DD to nap at 7.30. I spent three hours trying to get her to sleep. She then slept for an hour (this is amazing, she normally sleeps for 20-30 minutes a time), had a bottle and a play, I put her back down and she went to sleep for 30 minutes.

Then next naptime, I spent 3 hours trying to settle her, I rocked her, put her on my chest, left her alone, I took her for a walk in the pram. She finally passed out from exhaustion and slept for 25 minutes.

I am at the end of my tether. I shouted and cried today. We have had such a bad time of it since she was born. She is such a lovely baby otherwise, so funny and sweet, but the feelings of resentment are creeping in - we haven't had a family day out since she was born and we've cancelled our holiday in October as we just can't see it getting better. Eldest DD hardly got any attention today and the house is a state.

I know none of this is her fault. I also know I have a harder time because she is used to DH getting her to sleep as I had to rest for weeks after delivery and after that it was easier for Dh to get her to sleep. I just don't know what I can do to fix it? I realise my sleep problems are minor in comparison to a lot of others, I'm ashamed to say that I'm not coping though

Usually on her tummy, sometimes with her knees curled up underneath her!

How's she been today, Elednor?

I've had a really good day today I tried keeping her up for two hours this morning, it was a bit too long for her to be up though as her eyes were so red and she was exhausted and crying. However DH got her off to sleep that time. The rest of the day was better - after her first 30 minute nap I put her to bed just over an hour later, after a bit of fussing I just popped her next to me in bed and lay there holding her hand, she drifted off within 5 minutes For her next nap I tried the swing - she absolutely hated it! After comforting her, I lay her down in her cot and rubbed her back - it took a bit of crying and 15 minutes or so but then she slept for AN HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES! Probably won't happen again for a while but the break to play with DD1 and do a bit of housework was lovely. Next nap was half an hour again, but went off with minimal fuss in her cot with me rubbing her back!

Of course she has been a bugger for DH, he has bern up there for over an hour trying to get her to sleep - she's been awake for two and a half hours, and I don't think she can cope very well with long waketimes due to only napping 30 minutes a time.

We shall see what tomorrow brings - but for now, I'm feeling a lot more optimistic!