My DD is 19 weeks (16 weeks adjusted) and started the dreaded four month sleep regression about three weeks ago. We are now fully into the regression, and she now wakes every two hours, having previously gone 4hrs. She resists nap time and bedtime (settling her for her morning nap took half an hour today) and when she wakes in the night she almost immediately starts crying.
I've generally bf her to sleep, and now she absolutely refuses to go back to sleep without being fed - if my partner picks her up to cuddle her to try and soothe her she gets even more worked up and only calms when I bf her. She then eats a little and falls asleep, and I then put her back in her cot. Two hours later, we start again...
I've read lots on the internet about breaking the feed to sleep association. But right now, it's clearly what she wants and needs, and she does feed a bit each time, it's not just suckling for comfort. If I just let her be, and keep feeding her, am I dooming myself to her never learning to self settle? Or might she learn anyway? I really don't know what to do for the best. Has anyone else been through similar and come out the other side without completely collapsing with exhaustion?
Also, I put her to bed at around 7/7.30pm, is this too early??