I feel for you, girl. My son was also a high needs baby, and for the first 18 months of his life, he slept through the night just twice. For the first 3 months after he was born, he would either nurse nonstop or cry and wail from 11am to 4 pm every day. I felt like a complete failure as a mom because I didn't know what was wrong, and was frustrated and depressed with a baby who slept for no more than 2 hours at a time before wanting to nurse again. I was so happy to finally be a mom (we had trouble) but miserable? Finally, things came to a head when our son woke up two nights in a row, throwing up in his crib and screaming for 2 hours before I finally was able to rock him to sleep. I took him to his pediatrician, who suggested putting him back on medication for acid reflux, which we thought he had outgrown. The first night on an acid reducing medicine, he slept for 11 hours straight. And so did I.

The other thing I will say is that it gets better so hang in there! Babies turn into toddlers and then into preschoolers pretty quickly. So rest assured, whether you night wean now or your baby outgrows it without encouragement from you, this phase won't last forever. And be sure to make time for you. This was something that I have found was key to keeping me sane and able to deal with the stress of having a high-demand baby. Even just having an hour to myself to go get groceries is a gift because it gives me time to recharge.

I remember just how tough this phase was, and it is SO exhausting. But if it's any consolation, there is an end to this phase and what you'll end up with is likely going to be an active and precocious toddler who will be a challenge, but also a delight as you help your toddler explore the world. Being a mom is so much harder than I thought it would be. Hope this gives you a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel.