marlene i really sympathise, having been through the same thing with ds (now 4) and currently having similar problems with dd (6 months).

i think around this age there is an increase in awareness and some bubs find it more difficult to get to (and stay) asleep. they may also be fighting sleep because being awake is so much more interesting - my ds certainly seemed that way! he's a brilliant sleeper now, but i endured two years of sleep deprivation to get there...

i hear you on the problem of taking AGES to get to sleep. i can get dd to sleep by feeding, but laying her down after is a different matter. after several nights of getting to bed after midnight i've given up on the cot for now (she was starting off there, then coming into bed with me later) and am taking her straight into bed where i lie with her and pat her back to sleep. she then wakes at least every two hours - often more frequently - and is fed or patted or rocked back to sleep. EXHAUSTING.

have you started ds on solids yet? there's always the hope that it might help!! best of luck getting through this difficult time. i hope things improve for you soon.