At wits end with 8 month old sleep.

[Thenewone]

I’m writing this in sheer desperation. My 8 month old is currently crying his eyes out in his cot (still in our room) because I just can’t take it anymore. Sleep went to pot at 4 months, but after some gentle sleep training (basically pick up put down) he started being able to independently settle at bedtime and wake once or twice for a feed. He goes to sleep, independently, at 7:30pm, with minimal fuss, 4 hours after waking from last nap.

For the last month, maybe 1 night out of 4 or 5 he’ll let out a shout at 10-10:30 pm ish but sleep on through. The other 3 or 4 nights he’ll fully wake up and be so unsettled for hours. He’ll cry and cry and cry and only settle on the boob or being rocked. The minute you try and take him off the boob or put him down he just starts howling again. Co sleeping doesn’t work as he literally wants to be latched to the boob all night so I get zero sleep. He never ever ‘cries it out’ - he’s been awake and crying now for nearly 3 hours. He’s gone from being so happy to a miserable, clingy baby during the day who wants to nap all the time because he’s so tired.

Has anyone been through this and can help? I’m at my wits end and so low and wish I had never breastfed.

I could have written your post. Currently holding my almost 8 month old who also only settles on the boob. I have no advice, hope someone else does. We also had a good stint from 6 months where she was sleeping well/ self settling but seems to have hit another sleep regression and is up half the night crying. I think it’s maybe separation anxiety? Who knows?
But I feel your desperation too, it’s exhausting!