Struggling with 6 month old

[mummaroo88]

I feel awful for even thinking this, never mind writing it down but I'm struggling to cope with my 6 month old. He wakes hourly in the night and is extremely irritable in the day. Apologies for the long post.

He is a beautiful boy, his smiles are amazing and his laugh even more so but I see these so rarely and have to work so so hard to keep him happy. He's not really crying (although sometimes it does escalate) rather moaning and fussing. I love him and have wanted a little one for so long. I feel so ungrateful to be saying this but I'm just struggling. People keep asking me if I think it's postnatal depression, I really don't think it is. I'm just exhausted and I'm not myself (which I hate).

I feel like we've tried everything...we've been helping his bowels move incase he's a little constipated, we've been trying to help him settle himself to sleep, we've started weaning (which everyone is convinced is the answer) but he often refuses the food. We had such a tricky start with the breastfeeding as it was painful for about 4 months and I'm so proud to have overcome this but I just feel like I've been robbed of a happy 6 months with my baby and time is ticking away.!

I'm trying so hard to not compare myself to others and to give myself a break but I am wiped out and it's hard to look at others who's babies all seem happy and content. I even struggle to take baby out out of fear of him crying. He hates the pram and car seat unless going to sleep. He hates sleep, he fights his naps and his bedtime. He did have one night recently where he only woke 3 times but his sleeping has been worse since then. He also wakes at 5 and doesn't want to go to sleep. He is ill with a cold at the moment which I know is making him upset so I'm trying to give him lots of love. Just hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Just hoping to hear how and if things get better I guess. Also hoping to hear I'm not alone as I've never ever felt so lonely.

[FTMF30]

I have a 6mo and the sleep deprivation is the worst. We've only just recently got him sleeping by himself im the cot (but still in our room). He now wakes 4-5 times in the night and also fights his naps. It's so draining.
I'm just trying to ride it out and hope things get better in a couple of months. Hang in there. I feel your pain.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I can remember those nights and days of sleep deprivation as being absolute killers. You have my total sympathy.

For the cold try calpol, a nasal aspirator an one of those plug ins from boots that aids breathing.

Six months is a classic time for a sleep regression too. Have you tried the No Cry Sleep Solution? That might help

[SuperNappyBaby]

Don’t feel guilty about feeling fed up. You can totally love your child but also find them annoying and draining.

And don’t feel guilty about not enjoying yourself all the time - when you are a parent there are lots of happy times and lots of difficult times where you wonder why you ever bothered having children!

It will get easier. This is not the way things are going to be forever. You are in the middle of one of the more difficult times right now. Before you know it your baby will be talking to you, explaining why he is upset and sleeping through the night. Its just a matter of surviving until then.

[mummaroo88]

Thank you all so much for your support.
Wish I was able to just accept this is how it is and get on with it but every day I get so frustrated ☹️

We tried calpol last night after having tried plug in, saline spray, aspirator and chest rub but not sure it helped, may have done. Think he’s been having a sleep regression since month 4. I feel like I need to get used to it but I really can’t. I can’t do anything or go anywhere because poor little one gets frustrated after 5 minutes.

Today we tried to go to the shop, he cried the whole time (he was fed, changed, warm and winded). He was then due for a sleep when we got back but completely fought against it. He cried until 4 hours after his last nap and I fed him in the sling ☹️

I haven’t tried the No Cry Sleep Solution, think I might get the audiobook. Did you have success with it?

Just so hard to look around and see everyone else getting on with it and happy when I feel completely exhausted and not myself.

[SuperNappyBaby]

My baby is a similar age and she sleeps in the bed with me - she is happy being close to me and I feed her as I’m lying down so we both get more sleep.

Also, babies this age don’t eat much food - i think they say something like ‘until one, food is just for fun’. So don’t be worrying about your baby not filling up with proper food.

Could your baby have any issue like colic or reflux- i don’t know anything about these but often hear that babies with these can be unsetted.

My baby also cries when out of the house but often she stops giving out if I walk about holding her facing out - while wheeling the buggy with one hand - have you tried that?

[0310Star]

I also have a 6 month old and it is hard so don't beat yourself up!
It does sound like sleep is your issue though and in turn is making him grumpy in the day, I think maybe once you've cracked that the rest will fall into place. Some babies just aren't good sleepers but I have heard that there are people you can contact to help with this, sleep therapist maybe?

You just need to do whatever it is to get you through. My baby used to scream bloody murder in the car, and the only thing that solved it was putting her in the front, simple yet effective (as long as the airbag is turned off) she just hated looking at the back seat and not able to see anything else and now she's in the front she rarely cries in the car. She also hated the carry cot pram, so was switched to the pushchair quite early on, much earlier than advised, but if it works then go with it.

Honestly though, parenting is hard and we're all just winging it really! X

[blondeirishmummy84]

Im a FTM to a 10 month old and its HARD WORK! Dont feel bad at all, I think we all feel like we arent allowed to have a moan or cry somedays as our kids are such blessings, but ITS F**KING HARD WORK!
Some days my sons smile and nature would charm the birds out of the trees and other days he is grumpy and temperamental, screaning murder!
I find routine and a good sleep structure and associations help, but even with these, it can change! Have you heard of the wonder weeks? I do find there is sometimes a correlation between the leaps and my baby's behaviour.
My sons sleep has went to sh*t these past few weeks (8-10 month regression)and im back to work, so there are days where i just want to hide in the bath, but i do trust that it WILL get better.x