advice please so confused........

[puggywug81]

Please can anyone help, I have a 5 month old baby who used to sleep through from 9/10 till 6/7 he now wakes several times a night crying his little head off. I really don't know what to do, I've read so much about different sleep training methods and they are all contradictory cc/cio seems cruel but I've been trying pupd and some of the time it seems to annoy him more. I've tried an earlier bed time but he wakes even more frequently! Co sleeping is not an option, oh has nearly crushed the dog in bed numerous times as he is a very restless sleeper.I don't know what to do I'm scared if I use the wrong method I'll damage him somehow. I'm in tears as I write this any advice would be appreciated.

[wishingforwillpower]

You poor thing, I didn't want to ignore you when you're so upset. I don't have any great advice, other than to say it will pass and you may never know what's upsetting him - babies are a mystery! He may be teething at his age which could explain the crying - if so a bit of calpol could help if he's very distressed. Or he could just be getting hungrier and ready for weaning?
Our DC1 slept dreadfully between 4-6 months, I can still remember feeling insane with exhaustion. But I also remember by 6 months he was starting to sleep through the night. I think in his case what helped was introducing a bottle of formula at night, tucking him in with a sheet to stop him rolling over in his sleep, and at 6 months starting weaning. Not suggesting any of these for you as all babies are different and cry for different reasons.
Please don't even consider methods like CC/CIO at the moment (they are not recommended until at least 6 months, and personally I wouldn't ever go down that road). Just comfort your baby, try and notice any patterns in terms if what helps and what doesn't, and remember it is a phase!

[puggywug81]

Thank you wishingforwillpower, it helps just to hear someone say it will get better.

[wishingforwillpower]

It will! 4-6 months is notorious for bad sleep I think. My youngest is 3 months and I am bracing myself for a sleep regression! Not that he is a brilliant sleeper anyway... Hope you feel better this morning

[Philippalc]

There is a lot of research around now to show that sleep training methods are indeed harmful and linked with long term mental health damage. If you want to read more about that What Every Parent Needs to Know covers the subject well. Two good books that may help with sleeping are a new one just out called Sweet Sleep and an old one which helped me many years ago Nighttime Parenting. If you can't bed share can you keep LO next to your bed and at the first stir stroke his head and reassure him? Keeping him close day and night is the most likely way to make him more secure.

[puggywug81]

Thanks philippalc o will look into these books.