Tight swaddling is no longer recommended because it leads to hip and other problems, but there are instructions out there on similar, safer techniques.
I can’t imagine what a “world of hurt” might be like, but my we never did cry it out with my 13 month old and our family is pretty stable. At 7pm I lay with her in her Montessori-style bed on the floor in her room and she falls asleep in 15-20 minutes. Then when we go to bed I get her and take her to bed with me, because we’re still breastfeeding and enjoy bedsharing. Everybody is content and there’s very little crying.
Now, this is in no way a prescription for everyone’s life. It works for us. Cry-it-out advocates create such a false dilemma- teach her to sleep now OR ELSE. In fact, just a few minutes ago I heard a little whine from her room, then she “self-soothed” and now she’s asleep again. And we never did any sleep training.
There’s no reason not too. I fully believe the old saying “you can’t spoil a baby”. In my book, spend as much time as you possibly can holding and cuddling her. My “babies” are 33 and 21 and both have babies of their own.
It seems as if it happened REALLY fast. 
Personal experience.
And if everytime you go around there you have to do the laundry, how long before you don’t go round at all?
DoperBaby is now 8 weeks old. Where did the time go? Over the past three days or so she has slowly been growing more independent. She goes in her swing for an hour or more at a time and has gone in her bouncy chair a few times and watched me go on about my business. She really seems to like watching me fold laundry in the basement. It’s cooler down there and she can listen to the dryer. She doesn’t last a long time in there but it’s definitely progress.
The biggest of all big new is that I am writing this from my now empty bed. DoperBaby is sleeping peacefully next to me in her co-sleeper!! I tried her in it numerous times including earlier tonight and this time finally took. I wrapped the mattress type thing in one of my pillowcases that I had been using for a week or so. That seems to have made all the difference in the world.
I have no idea how long she’ll sleep or if I’ll be able to replicate this next time, but for now I’m doing a little happy dance. Woo hoo!
Shortly after my last post DB woke up for a feeding. I swaddled her up nice and snug and placed her back into her co-sleeper. Hopefully she’ll stay in longer this time. She’s already grunting but her eyes are still closed.
Still grunting. But most importantly, still sleeping!!
I’m afraid to go to sleep myself. Like I’m tempting fate. I know I’ll have to eventually. For now I’m just content to sit and stare at her, listening to her grunts, coos, and occasional cries.
**Yay! **
oops.
yay. 
My poor nephew went through that - I don’t remember what finally made The Proud Parents realize that “gGGGggnnn” does not equal crying, but I do remember I was having to stick my hands in my pockets to keep from strangling said Proud Parents.
DoperChic, the only consistent theme in my 13 month old’s short existence on this rock is that something changes every single week. Last week she loved strawberry yogurt. This week she shoves the spoon away (rude!) but eats anything with tomato sauce or ketchup. Last week she fell asleep easily for naps. This week she cries and screams and thrashes about when she gets sleepy and fights those heavy eyelids mightily. No amount of walking around, rocking, or changing activities helps. She. Must. Fight. Sleep! And weaning is an absolute bear. My little benevolent dictator is still in charge of my breasts at least twice per day and I’ve had quite enough. I discourage her, postpone the inevitable and keep offering as many different new foods as possible, then cave in whenever I’m so exhausted I just want to sleep. I’m a few days away from trying cabbage leaves in my bra, not because I believe the folk remedy has any basis in science but maybe the sulfury smell will discourage her? Anyone? WhyNot? Have any ideas?
I know this doesn’t sound like good news, but it’s good to remember that every trying, frustrating development will likely disappear in a week or two. Probably to be replaced by a new one, but this too shall pass. Looking back on the last year those first six months were the most remarkable of my entire life, witnessing her incredible growth and progress. Nothing more fascinating on the planet.
Congratulations on getting the laundry done and the co sleeper in gear! I hope you can sneak a well-earned nap in today. Or just stretch out and do absolutely nothing for the duration of her nap. It’s amazing what a luxury doing nothing can be.
Well, I’ve read through this thread in awe at what mothers do. Glad things are improving for the OP.
Not having any motherly expertise to share, I would like to agree with your suggestion about getting other people to help. If the OP is having lots of visitors, it would behoove them to pitch in with some of those housekeeping tasks. Really, wash a few dishes. Fold some laundry. Bring some prepared food for the family supper…
DoperBaby is actually my second. I also have a 5 year old. So I’m well versed in their inconsistencies. Just when you have everything figured out they up and change on you. Luckily this round was for the better.
My mother in law put ketchup on her breasts and told her son they were sick. Too funny. Something like that might be worth a shot.
Thank you! I am definitely hoping for a nap today. I didn’t get any sleep until after my last post then woke up this morning pretty early so I’m wiped out! DB always naps for pretty good stretches of time. So as long as DoperChild cooperates I’ll be able to sneak I’m a little cat nap at some point.
I use earplugs so I can sleep. They filter out the coos and grunts while she is sleeping, but not the cries when she needs to get up to feed. Helps me get better sleep and helps the baby get better sleep too, because I am not picking her up every time she stirs.
(my baby girl is 3 weeks old now, and she sleeps about 2-4 hours at a time before she needs to get up to feed)
My favorite weaning strategy is just a simple, “The mama milk’s all gone! You drank it up! Let’s go get some moo milk from the fridge in your new sippy cup while we read a book and snuggle.”
Also try warming the cow’s milk a bit. She’s used to body temp milk, not cold milk. Sometimes that’s all the problem really is with the milk. The cuddles, of course, you’re still on the hook for. 
Toddlers grasp “all gone”. They don’t grasp, “Mama’s friggin’ exhausted and touched out and wants her boobs back, thank yew.”
I guess just trying to reason with her doesn’t work, huh? I never had much luck reasoning it out with kids less than 9 months myself. But I think the vibrations from me talking to them while holding them might have bored them to sleep sometimes.
Give this a listen. You’re not the only person to go through this. Lullaby