help!!

[loujay]

Hi, I am new to mumsnet and am hoping that you will be able to give me some advice!!
My DD is 8 months old and has never been a good sleeper (she has not gone through the night ever)
I seem to have exhusted all possibilities ie - I stopped breastfeeding at 7 months as my milk was running out, we have gone through 2 teeth and a cold over Christmas.
I have also tried the pick up put down thing (the crying got more hysterical with each put down).
DD just seems to want me there last night from 1.30 - 3.00am.
She drops off and I go back to bed and then she is awake 10 mins later!!
She eats loads during the day and drinks about 18oz of milk.
Can anyone recommend anything else??

How many times does she wake in the night? Do you give her milk or water or anything like that? Has this problem always been the same or has it changed in some way lately?

In my experience, some babies respond to the pick up / put down thing, some don't. Until very recently just the sight of me when dd was trying to get to sleep would send her into a frenzy so I had to always let her settle herself. What happens if you leave her for a while and don't go in? She may surprise you and go back to sleep all on her own.

Are you opposed to the idea of having her in bed with you for a while? Just so you can get her used to sleeping right through and have a rest yourself and then transfer her back to her own bed?

OK, so tnight she went to bed at 7.30 after normal bedtime routine, shes awake at the moment and will probably have the rest of her milk and then sleep until about 1, I give her water if she wakes in the night as she seems to need it.
She will then be really difficult to put down, last night it took 1 1/2 hours!!
If anything she just seems to want me there, and if I leave her to cry it is really hit and miss!! sometimes she will settle herself in about 5 mins, other times she will keep going until I go back in.
Im not sure about having her in with me during the night as I'd love her to conquer this in her own room.

How long do you leave her to cry before going back in?

Five minutes to start off with, I have made it to 7ish. The one time I got to 10 she was hysterical.

I have a 7 1/2 month old ds and I co-sleep, not very common I know but works for me. I also did with dd after having the type of problems you describe; did it just to get some sleep but found I liked it so have co-slept with ds since birth.

loujay - I tried this with ds1 and did 5 mins, then 10mins, then 15 etc, and got to 30 one night. It was awful, and he was hot and bothered and really cross, but did eventually go to sleep. Had to do this for 3 nights, and had then cracked it. ds2 has always been brill at going to sleep on his own.
It sounds harsh and it was I suppose, but it worked in the long run.
Otherwise give in and sleep with her and at least you will both get some rest.

Thanks for the support guys, last night ileft DD to cry for 5 mins and then went in and soothed her (didnt pick her up) and she slept from 2 - 6 and then after a nappy change went back to sleep for 1 1/2 hours!!!
I feel like I've had 12 hours sleep!!!
Will let you know how it goes