Oh Sterla I HEAR YOU!!! You have pretty much described DD's sleeping pattern exactly except that from 3am she will sleep, but only in bed with me and only if I keep feeding her back to sleep every hour or so. I looove co-sleeping in many respects (just as I'm sure in most ways you love those night time cuddles), but like you, I can't sleep properly and I'm becoming increasingly sleep deprived.

I've noticed that DD can go for 3-4 hours without a feed during the day (even though I do tend to offer more than this) but at night, every time she wakes she expects to be fed, even if I've only fed her half an hour before. I think I've created quite a strong association here because it has been the easiest way to get her down again and with no energy for anything more than that at 3am, I've chosen the 'easy' path every time. Unfortunately, I think ultimately this has actually led to her feeling like she needs the comfort of feeding to get back to sleep. The other night I tried to just cuddle her instead of feeding for the 5th time and she got really stroppy and just kinda felt around my chest until she found a nipple and grabbed it really hard in frustration. OOOowwwwwCccHHHhh!!!

I'm not sure if this will work, as haven't started yet but thought I'd share our plan... Once DH is on hols and can help me out, we're going to take turns getting up to her at night (he takes one whole night, I'll take the next night....) and just try rocking/cuddling/patting her back to sleep. She used to go 8pm to 5am without a feed from 3months until abt 6 months so I figure she can last this long again. If it takes longer than, say, 30 mins to settle her, I'll believe that she really is hungry and I'll give her a feed, but then not again for at least 4 hours. I'm hoping with DH helping she'll get the message - it's about cuddles, not boobs!!

I'm hoping this will help but wonder whether she'll still wake just for the comfort. I'm getting to the point though where I'm having dreams that someone tells me that tomorrow night I will have 8 hours uninterrupted sleep and in the dream I feel like I've won the lottery!!!

All the best hun, hoping you get some great zzzzzzzz's very soon.