my DS has never slept well. usually I put him down either awake or asleep after a feed (Bf) at 6:30 and he sleeps maybe 2 or 3 hours then wakes. I started doing controlled crying as I was at my wits end and thought it would fix his frequent waking. this failed and he was still waking through the night and tbh I gave up. I usually bring him into bed with me then and he wakes 2-3 times in the night and I feed him but usually he just wants a suckle back to sleep. I know I've created sleep association problems but I really don't know how to break these. he's started to now scream at the top of his lungs when I try and leave him for 5 mins and I end up taking him back into my bed.
during the day his naps are hit and miss. naps twice a day and sometimes he goes to sleep on his own in his cot with no tears. sometimes he moans for a couple of mins but then goes to sleep. sometimes he screams blue murder and I give up even though I know he's tired. but he very very rarely sleeps longer than 40 mins (usually 30 mins)and always wakes up grumpy and whingey. I just don't know where to start. I'm planning on going back to work in October and I also have a 3 year old who wakes at 5:30 and I'm constantly tired and snappy. she goes to nursery two days a week which gives me a bit of a break and in comparison she was such an easy baby. controlled crying aged 9 months sorted her sleep in 2 nights and she's been a brilliant sleeper ever since. I have no family support around me and my partner although does take them out a couple of times a week it's not for long. not sure what I want really but to be less tired and stressed would be a start. I'm looking at getting ds enrolled In nursery for 1 day a week to enable me to do some KIT days at work. he eats well but still looks for breastfeeds when I hold him and has probably 3 or 4 feeds during the day. I want to stop bf when he turns 1 as along with everythung else he bites, slaps, writhes around, comes on and off but at the same time i don't know how I would comfort him if I were to stop. I know I sound really selfish and dramatic but I'm so so fed up of feeling like everything is such hard work day in day out. I knew it would be and I signed up for it but I thought by 10.5 months things would be easier. if anyone has any ideas I'd really appreciate it. has anyone got any tips for night weaning and/or getting him to sleep better?