feeding all night, no sleep...help!

[jackrose]

ahh,
Thanks so much for your thoughtful and wise responses!

We are still struggling with the sleep after midnight, but I do have a new found resolve to deal with it and some possible solutions after reading your thoughts. I will certainly try the 24 hr hotline if things get really bad, I had not thought of things like that. Even if I dont use it, it is a powerful tool to have as a backup if I need it. Thanks abbadabbadoo!

In response to some questions, yes DD does suck her thumb and will self settle in the day and when going to bed with her thumb and a random bit of fabric as a comforter. she has always shunned dummies, bottles and sippy cups and I never have forced the issues, but I am looking at getting a dummy for midnight sucking needs. And she still fits in her hammock and is happy in there during the day, it is ok up to 12 kg.

Alioops, part of the problem is that she cant find the breast on her own and crys out when she wakes. I did find that if I let her really cry, much to the distress of my husband, she resettled with her thumb. So it seems I have got to choose to work with that or keep going as I have been. the answer to that may be in the 'state' I am in. very bloody tired! When I read your post I thought to myself, state - distressed, tired, frustrated.... nice of you to be so concerned. Then when I read again after a little bit of sleep... I realised you probably meant State of Australia!!!! (I'm gonna take it both ways, my 'state' has improved and I am in Vic!)

I am now focusing on the old faithful this too will pass. Thank you for reminding me in such a rational way. I appreciated the way you phrased it Liz, an unsettled time that can be ridden out. Nice to know also that it is a bit more common in this age than just in our bedroom.

Thanks Sacha also for the book reference, I am keen to read some thing more about co-sleeping with solutions. I'm off to look it up!