Hi
Hugs.
Can be a miserable old time when you're up all night and the little munchkin just doesn't get that while they can catch up on sleep later, you can't.
Right then. A few ideas off the top of my head until you post your routine (you mentioned you're feeding on demand so I'm guessing it's mainly naps and A times...).
* 9 month growth spurt. It could be....Lasted almost a month with my DS (seriously an UNBELIEVABLE amount of food consumed, I spent the whole time getting him more while he cried as his bowl was empty
). He's now at it again - he'd get a gold if eating was in the Olympics. What this may mean for you is that you LO is constantly trying to get enough on board to settle, and isn't. Feeding every 2 hours during the day and every 3 at night sounds like a snacker to me. And so she may not be getting enough right now. If this is the case, you might need to increase your production to keep her satisfied and to rule out hunger. You can get more ideas on this on the Breastfeeding board (I had a post on this: ). I'd also offer both breasts per feed and perhaps try to eek out the feeds during the day (a longer period between feeds so really hungry for the next feed). Also, try offering more food during the day, including snack items like a rice cake for example to get all those calories in during the day to see her through the night.
* teething. You mentioned you thought she'd been for a few months. Have you tried pain meds during the night to help?
* just not that tired. My DS started introducing his own unofficial A times in the night. Infuriating, tiring and beyond annoying. I'd do everything I could to get him back to sleep. After an hour or so of what was initially crying, then a bit of babbling, then lying there patiently trying to sleep but just not able to drift off deeply, he would get to sleep. And sleep in like a teenager that I'd have to drag out of bed...grumpy, tired and ready to sleep 10 mins later. So I increased his A times during the day, reducing naps ever so slightly by giving him a good long A before bed and we got good-nights. Hurrah!! BUT (hard to tell without EASY) the NW could be not enough sleep during the day and too much A.... so we'll see what Yaya makes of your routine and suggests.
* a clear bed policy. Something I introduced when I did sleep training and I think it helped. Basically all my DS has in his bed are his lovies (2 as they are small so he can always find them). Nothing else to get all distracting and play with in the night.
* a lovie: a security toy that makes you LO feel safe. I've been trying to introduce one since DS was a newborn. I don't think he thinks of his Roo as a lovie yet, but it's always there at all the important times: anytime he is sleeping (car, bed, pram / buggie, any big trips to new places). I bought a Roo which is quite small, cheap and machine washable. We have about 10 of them. When washed, they spend a day down my bra or 2 nights in bed cuddled with me so they smell like Mummy and comfort. I heard that the way to introduce a lovie is to have it at there at all high emotion events (really happy, really sad, really upset) etc...and to rub it on their cheek or hand during these times so that it becomes something they associate with comfort.
* development: when you go in, is she standing and can she get back down safely? If you lay her down, does she jack-in-the-box back up?
Just ideas. I'm sure Yaya will have much clearer advice when she sees your EASY.
HTH
Charlotte
