I'm starting to lose the will to live...my 8 month old's sleep has been steadily going downhill for the past 10 days. I'd almost go so far to say that this is the worst he's ever been, even as a newborn.
He's never been a fantastic sleeper but 3 weeks ago, he was self settling, had gone down to 2 naps and was only waking once in the night for a feed.
I now have to rock and hold him to sleep - he usually wakes the minute he's in the cot unless I keep my hands around him and continue singing for 10mins or so. Eventually I will be able to leave the room but the slightest noise and he's awake. Typically we'll have a 2hr stretch in the night.....early evening, middle of the night...where he will be wide awake.
I've tried to give him a chance to settle - it used to work - but he gets himself into such a state that it can then take up to half an hour to calm him down. We have to go into another room, turn on lights and even play with him as he seems to be in a blind panic and absolutely terrified. Even as I type this, he's gone from having calmed down and been smiling to full on hysterics and screaming because we've walked him into another room.
I don't think it's separation anxiety because he's been away from me for hours today and been fine.....but perhaps it's just the longer stretch at night? I'm taking him to the doctors tomorrow to rule out anything medical - he goes to town on his ears at night, and has already sprouted 5 teeth but teething has never been anywhere this bad.
I know there's an 8 month sleep regression so perhaps it's my naivety as I just never imagined it could be this horrendous.
Apologies for the long spiel.....it's been an hour since we've tried to put him down tonight and I'm losing the plot :(