DD is nearly 8 months, mainly breastfed, DH sometimes gives formula. We ended up cosleeping when she was tiny because it was the best way to get sleep. I've got used to it, love the cuddles, am quite comfortable cosleeping, and get decent sleep.
However....I was having to go to bed with her and not getting any evening to myself. I also nap with her/hold her for naps.
We now put her in a cot in her room at bedtime(8pm ish) so I have a bit of evening and I bring her in bed once I go to sleep (11ish). But she can wake up several times during this, sometimes going back to sleep easily, sometimes not. Me and DH take turns setting her, feeding or patting or rocking etc (not consistent I know!). She never falls asleep without help. Sometimes she stays asleep 2-3 hours, sometimes 20 mins. I start to feel pretty frustrated when we've just sat down to watch something and she wakes up again. I find it difficult that she is so unpredictable.
I really want to get her regularly sleeping a few hours in her cot on an evening. But I feel like this will need consistency and probably some sort of sleep training. But I don't want this to mean I can't cosleep because I'm worried I'll be up and down with her all night and I'll lose my decent stretch of sleep. We could do it for a couple of weeks whilst "training" but not long term. I don't want to leave her to cry, if I don't get to her quickly when she wakes she gets really upset.
Anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?