We've had a tricky 3 months with our 8 months old with bronc, tonsilitis, back to back viral infections etc. She understandably hasn't slept well during her illnesses, and has relied on us for support when feeling poorly.
She is now just finishing yet another course of antibiotics and is generally much much better in herself, however we have not slept for a solid 2 hour block within the last 3 months unless she is sleeping on somebody. Some night she will be up between 5-10 nights for her dummy or a gentle pat on her face with her blanket, these are now considered to be 'good nights'
Nights like tonight are the difficulty - she literally will not be put down! She fell to sleep in my arms around 7pm, and was put in her cot, to be up at 7:30 for around half an hour screaming hysterically until we have in. I picked her up again settled her and put her back down. This lasted maybe another 30 minutes until we repeated the process maybe another 2-3 times. She then slept on her dad for 2-3 hours, dummy out, mouth wide open, fully deeply asleep. As soon as she was put down, she's been up every 10-15 minutes hysterically crying, and I mean hysterically. We sit next to her to offer her support, hold her hand, white noise, anything to try and not pick her up and her her used to it but it is the only thing that gives any of us any sleep.
I am genuinely at a loss, how can you sleep train a baby who just will not be put down, if I left her to cry it out she would genuinely cry all not and not get a wink of sleep, she's been screaming for the last 30 minutes without a single break, I've picked her up and she's sleeping again soundly, will try to out her down again soon but it's clear it's a no sleep night. I eventually will give in and let her sleep on me so she gets some sleep and her 5 year old brother gets some sleep too (she wakes the whole house)
co-sleeping worries me, her brother gets in our bed in the middle of the night often so of course that wouldn't be safe.
really struggling here - back to work in 3 weeks and genuinely don't think I'll cope. Where do I go from here? Can a health visitor help? A GP? I honestly don't think she's feeling under the weather from the way she sleeps so soundly on me.
any help much appreciated