How Do You Deal with 20 Hour Days?

I finally, out of desperation, started pulling my DD into bed with me. She sleeps better snuggled in. I really didn't want to co-sleep, but I was SOOO tired that I wasn't able to function properly. Usually she sleeps in her crib until she gets to that 'wiggly wakeup' point (My DD's is usually around 4:30 or so) and I just snuggle her in with me. Usually she calms down. (if not I have to work at it, singing, rocking, etc.) I will let her get into a good sleep, then move her back to her crib. I usually snooze a little too, sometimes I just fall asleep and wake up in the morning with her still in my arms. I am a super light sleeper, so if she wakes up or rolls over I wake up before she can get into any trouble. I kinda got her into a bad habit of NEEDING to be snuggled with me to fall asleep, so I have been working on that... but honestly I prefer working on that to not getting any sleep myself. :P

honestly I would say that your hubby needs to step up & help out...if he has to be at work by 630 then its not that big of a stretch for him to wake early to give the baby the first morning feeding. you have to tell him how much you need his help, a mother cannot do it all, trust me i tried to manage on a few hours sleep, it wont last long & you will crash which might be dangerous for you & or baby!! ask hubby to help!

I haven't heard of co-sleeping babies who don't wake to nurse for months and months. Other co-sleeping moms weigh in here. If you want to sleep, the only way I know is to have the baby cry it out in the other room - she is old enough to do so.

ugggh. I remember this all too well and it's enough to make me super happy I only have my one!!!!!

If you can scrounge ANY money this is a GREAT opportunity for a college student to earn money and do the 3:30 feeding. Even if you could do this once or twice a week you could get a full night's sleep and be 'refreshed' (at least as much as you can) to deal with the other nights.

Hang in there..... this too, shall pass!

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I have been there. I worked the night shift too, but I was 12am till 8:30am. Then my husband would leave for work at 6am. My in laws would watch her from 6am till I got home at 8:45. I then stayed up until 3pm and my mother would take her until 8. My mom worked the same shift I did so she would get some sleep until 3. It was very rough going. My husband worked alot of overtime so he wouldn't get home until 8:30. I didn't expect my in laws to stay so that I could sleep cause they are getting up there in age and my mil was starting Alzheimers. So she was forgetting alot of things and my fil is just not good with small babies. So it was just better in the long run for me to get less sleep. I did manage though. You just get used to it.
For you to hire someone wouldn't work either. You still have to get up to let them in. I wouldn't feel right having a stranger in my house at 3am while I was sleeping. Like others have said try putting her down later.