look at the time of this post...... help!!!!!!

[lilsmum]

dd is 8 mth old and for the past 2 weeks has been waking up a 1am (ish) and refuses to go back to sleep!!! then will maybe go back off at 5am then it ends up a vicious circle as she sleeps alot through the day, i have tried keeping her awake in the day to try and get her back into her routine but that doesnt work as she ends up screaming through tiredness!!! i have tried c/c when she wakes at 1am but she just gets herself in a state where i feel she is holding her breath.... i have just gone back to work so i really need my sleep and i am exhausted and just dont know what to do... pls help!! she has always been a great sleeper but since i went back to work 2 wks ago she has been a nightmare do you think it could be due to the fact i have returned to work? a sort of protest?lol i am clutching at straws now?!?!

Oh lilsmum- poor you. This sounds like a real nightmare and you must be exhausted. Going back to work can be hard for everyone at first IME and your daughter may just be picking up on the "all-change" vibes and responding accordingly. She's also at a prime age for the beginnings of separation anxiety and this nightwaking may be her way of checking that you're still safely there and will respond when she calls you. One of my first thoughts- do you have a partner who can help/is helping you out with this? I think you need lots of support in this sort of circumstance- whether to respond to the baby until this settles naturally or to put a pro-active controlled crying type programme in place. If you do have a partner make sure they're pulling their weight if possible. If not, would a family member or close friend be able to help out one night? I do think the key is to prevent your own exhaustion as far as possible- everything looks so much worse from a position of sleep deprivation, IME. Best of luck- do hope things improve soon.