5 month old sleep problems

[Katie28]

My 5 month old daughter was sleeping through from 7pm until 7am every night (we didn't realise how lucky we were!) but about 4 weeks ago suddenly started waking in the night again. I think one of the reasons for this was that she would go all day without sleeping and was getting so overtired and grouchy, so I decided to try and establish a lunchtime nap. I used the conrolled crying method which we had initially used very successfully to get her to sleep at night.

She began waking between 10 and 11pm for a feed and then again at between 2 and 3am. From then on it can be hourly waking. Everyone has told me not to feed her when she wakes but it is very difficult when I wake in the early hours barely conscious and don't want her to wake my husband who has to go to work.

I have now abandoned her lunchtime nap as it wasn't working (she just screamed and screamed most days for at least 45 mins and it didn't show signs of improvement) but the problems at night continue. I'm so annoyed with myself as I'm sure it's because I disrupted her routine. I have resorted to taking her out for walks/drives during the day to get her to sleep every day but as a result am exhausted.

Does anyone have any ides of things I can try to get her to sleep better at night and also to sleep during the day? If I didn't take her out she literally wouldn't sleep all day. She is very active and likes to be involved in everything and finds it hard to switch off. I know there is no magic solution but any suggestions would be gratefully received! Thank you.

[thisisyesterday]

maybe she is just hungry and needs feeding at night?
she def needs at least one sleep during the day though. is it possible she is getting overtired and then just being hard to get to sleep?
i know at that age all of mine have eeded at least 2 naps a day

[Katie28]

Hi yes I think you're right she is overtired but I just can't get her to sleep during the day without taking her for a drive or a walk. I have tried putting her down for a nap when she looks tired but although it has worked once or twice she usually just cries and cries until I give in and go and pick her up. She is definitely tired during the day as she rubs her eyes and yawns but she is stubborn and won't give in.

At night I'm sure she is hungry when she wakes at 11ish and 3 ish and I could cope with that but she then wakes regularly until we get up at half 7 which is the killer and as she feeds well at 3 I'm sure this isn't due to hunger. Hopefully things will improve once she is on solids

[ches]

At her age she needs at least 2 naps a day. Try the 2-3-4 routine, where the first nap is 2 hours after waking, the second is 3 hours after waking from the nap and bedtime is 4 hours after waking from second nap. She still has serious growth spurts (4 months, 6 months, latter can last a whole month) which mean she will wake hungry and need feeding once/twice in the night.

[Katie28]

Thanks I'll try that. Do I just leave her to cry when I put her down during the day though? I'm really uncomfortable with this but will do it if it will help her to sleep. She will definitely not fall asleep on her own!

[Katie28]

Although I have to say she is very good at night, we have a good routine and she always falls asleep by herslef at night with no fuss at all. When she wakes in the night she almost always falls back asleep on her own too. I think there is just too much going on in the day.

[thisisyesterday]

i would do whatever you need to do to get her off to sleep during the day.
don't like leaving babies to cry either, none of mine have been left and they sleep fine now

[ches]

Definitely do not leave her to cry! Rock, cuddle, feed, take her for a walk in the push chair, drive in the car, etc.

[HerHonesty]

poss buildign up to solids? are you bf or bottle. if bottle then perhaps try the hungry baby formula stuff? that might stave you off a bit until solids.

[babyboysmum]

Katie, not much advice I'm afraid but DS sounds just like your DD. Great at nights, but extremely difficult to get him to sleep during the day. Even when he does sleep it is never for more than 30-40 mins unless he's in the car.