[Funwith3]

I'm really trying to distract myself from the sounds of my poor little DD crying her lungs out.

I'm trying to get her to self settle. I'm so torn and confused about how to do this. I've read several books, I've taken advice from friends, and she is my third child - you would think it gets easier and that you just know what to do!! But I don't!!

My fault - I've got into the terrible habit of breast feeding her to sleep for every single sleep she has. Most of the time in the evening I have to feed her quite a few times before she eventually settles. Even then, she will often wake up at 8pm and/or 9 pm and/or 10pm and each time I just feed her back to sleep. I also do a dream feed at 11ish and then she wakes again at anywhere between 3-6am and I feed her again.

I'm over it. She's 7.5 months old and I'm exhausted from it, I just want her to go to bed at 7pm and go to sleep.

So I've tried staying in there with her - singing, patting, rubbing, tried all different sleeping positions, too hot, too cold, picking her up and rocking, sitting on our rocking chair - everything. She just wants to be fed again. But I fed her less than an hour ago. She's had lots of solids today.

I've now walked out and left her in her cot in her room with the door shut, because I'm scared I will lose my temper with her.

This post has been edited by Funwith3: 09/01/2013, 06:55 PM

[Sugared]

I don't have any suggestions, but I just wanted to respond and say that i can imagine how you're feeling. You sound like you need a big hug, I hope someone is nearby to give you one.

[EffiesMum172]

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This post has been edited by EffiesMum172: 15/01/2013, 11:06 PM

[meggs1]

I know that feeling of having to walk out, after trying everything, in fear of losing my temper.

I found that a quick shower was enough to resettle me, and then I could try again. By that point my DS was usually convinced it was really bed time and was accepting of being rocked/patted to sleep after a sip of water from a cup.

Hope she settles soon. It is worth overcoming a strong feed to sleep association.

[Oriental lily]

She is very young to self settle.
Op I am not a advocate of cc. My eldest dd was a cc failure and if anything caused things to be much much worse as her anxiety levels got much worse increasing her need for us to comfort her.

I know it's hard to have a baby that is high demanding. By your babies age my baby had stopped sleeping during the day totally except for the car and getting her to sleep at night longer than a couple of hours was nearly impossible.

Somehow we muddled through.

I decided to co sleep with my second and third babies.

Get professional help if you feel you need it but a child having difficulties sleeping at your child age is not abnormal.

Maybe your expectations need to change instead of her?

[MrsDamonSalvator...]

Time to take a break hon. Do you have someone there helping and supporting you?

Take a deep breath and remember this too shall pAss

[AntiBourgeoisie]

Tonight will be the worst OP. Just be consistent. Keep going in every few minutes to reassure her you're still there. She WILL go to sleep.

[Frockme]

Not cutting a tooth is she?

Good luck either way. Tough times breaking habits.

[Halp]

Feeding to sleep isn't a terrible habit, it is an amazing trick for you to have up your sleeve! What a simple and easy way to get her to sleep, use it whilst you can.

[Oriental lily]

I agree halo.their is actually stuff in breast milk that mass babies fall asleep.

I also disagree its a habit. More a need.