Everyone tells you it will get better, that this is just a phase, but DD is 8 months this week and each 'phase' seems to be worse than the last.
Sorry this is going to end up a long post - thanks if you read it and can offer any advice.
DD has never been a great sleeper, we've had some (very) brief spells of her only getting up twice a night, but generally she is up 3 times on a very good night, and about 10 times on a bad night.
She's ebf and has 3 meals a day. She typically takes 4/5 feeds from me during the day, and a further 3 during the night. She has always been quite unsettled, especially as a newborn. Certainly, she seems more content for longer spells during the day, but has such a temper and can go from smiling and giggling one second to screaming the next. She's very attached to me and doesn't settle very well for other people when she's upset.
Naps are always a struggle too - I've resigned myself to rocking her in her pram for her naps to get her to sleep (usually accompanied by tears!) as she will sleep longer than the 30mins she manages in her cot. Similarly in her pram, I need to be there after 30 mins to rock her back to sleep when she starts rousing. If I can get her back over she can then go on to sleep another hour.
We have had the same bedtime routine since she was about 2 months on. She currently gets her dinner (solids) around 5/5.30 (she usually wakes from her last nap around 3/4 when I'll feed her myself). At 6.15 we'll strip her off and let her roll about naked - she loves this! At 6.30 we do quiet time with stories etc, 6.45 we'll do bath and pyjamas (she always gets upset when getting into her pyjamas - had done since birth!), I'll feed her at 7 and more often than not she'll fall asleep during this feed and I'll put her in her cot. If she doesn't fall asleep, I'll give her a kiss and cuddle and put her in her cot before leaving. She'll wait a maximum of 5/10 mins before crying.
She won't take a dummy (have tried nearly every brand available!) but does have a wee blanket she likes cuddling into, I give it her when I feed her at night in the vain hope she'll associate it will drifting off to sleep - no luck yet!! She will, however, suck my pinky to get her to sleep. This results in a very sore back from stooping over cot.
I typically feed her at 11/2/5 and then she's awake for the day at 7. She can be up twice between feeds, I use my pinky to get her back over, or pick her up and she'll fall asleep on my shoulder. Sometimes it takes 5 mins, sometimes 30. If her Dad goes in to settle her she gets even more upset and just screams until I can't take anymore and go and take her.
I'm so tired, my back is really sore, and I'm starting back to work soon. ( going back reduced hours thankfully!) last night I ended up sleeping in spare bed with her, I did get a bit more sleep but am conscious of the consequences of this long term.
I've not tried sleep training as such. I don't think I could stand any method which meant leaving her to cry - even short periods. I also worry on are there's a REASON she's so unsettled during the night. Certainly, she is very windy during the night, Nd when I pick her up she often lets out quite a few farts! She's also teething just now. Just seems like there's always something I can blame it on.
During the day I always feel quite positive - maybe TONIGHT she'll sleep a bit better. At night though I am getting so so angry. It's not healthy, but I just don't know the best way to tackle it.
Can anyone offer any kind of advice? Have you been here before and if so, what helped (if anything??).
If you've got to end of this - well done and thank you!!