7mo not sleeping at night

[Gotosleep8]

Until 4 months my lb was great but it went downhill from there. About 6 weeks ago it got worse though and I’m now at the point where I’m only getting a few hours broken sleep a night and am shattered!

He goes down fine at 7 after our bedtime routine and sleeps well until 10/10.30. He occasionally wakes in this time but I pop his dummy back in and walk straight back out and he’s asleep again straight away. After 10 he is now much harder to settle and is insisting on holding on to my hand or having my hand cupping his face. He will fall asleep but then wake when I move my hand, or if I manage to get out of the room he won’t go more than 10/15 minutes without waking again, and this goes on for hours.

I’ve tried a lovey but when he realises it’s not me he cries.

I usually only feed once a night around 3/4 but tried feeding him at 11 last night in case it was hunger but he stayed awake after and did the same.

I end up bringing him into my bed when I’ve had enough, but he still wants me to touch him so I’m not sleeping well because I’m uncomfortable.

I hate the thought of leaving him to cry but am starting to consider it through desperation. Does anyone have any other tips?! Also considering a sleep consultant if anyone has any recommendations (one that wouldn’t leave them to cry).

[BunnyRuddington]

That does sound difficult and to be honest, I'd be tempted to find a way that you can have him in bed with you, but can get some sleep.

[Gotosleep8]

Some nights I am tempted to bring him in straight away but I also don’t want to lose the fight (without at least trying!!) !

[BunnyRuddington]

Some nights I am tempted to bring him in straight away but I also don’t want to lose the fight (without at least trying!! I just liked my sleep too much. I've saved my fights fir when they are teens

[pikkukettu]

No advice, but I’m following because my 6 month old has been exactly the same the past few nights! Though we did used to co-sleep, he’s been sleeping well in his own cot for the past couple of weeks, but now it seems to have gone down the pan. I did wonder whether it’s separation anxiety starting to kick in because he’s also started crying when being held by anyone other than DP and me.

Whatever the case, I’ve admitted defeat for now and just bring him into bed with me if he won’t settle. I’m probably setting myself up for making it a habit again, but the broken nights were just exhausting and I value the sleep too much.

[Gotosleep8]

I did wonder about separation anxiety too. It’s just exhausting!! I don’t sleep too well with him in my bed so hoping I can get him to stay in his cot soon!

[glummum1988]

Hi all

Just wondering how you are getting on and if you found a solution? My little girl is 7 months (although was premature so 5.5months corrected).
I posted something earlier and someone suggested dropping a nap as she is still on 3. She's gone to bed an hour early tonight as she was exhausted!

[Gotosleep8]

Mine only naps twice anyway unfortunately. I’ve been waking him at 7, 12 hours after going to bed, which is making one of his naps a bit longer, not sure if that will help (hasn’t so far!!!)
He has suddenly dropped his night feed this week.
I brought him in early with me last night as I was shattered and he slept so well... why can’t he do that in his own cot??!
Only other thought was it started around the time we started weaning, and he’s been having digestive difficulties which have been getting worse, so not sure if he could be uncomfortable?

[pikkukettu]

Mine tends to only nap twice a day too, though his second one is usually a big one (2 hours or more). Occasionally he’ll have a shorter nap and then cat nap a little later in the afternoon, but it’s not often.

The past three nights he’s slept in his cot all night! Albeit with 3 wake ups, but I’ve been able to settle him back down with a quick feed, which has been fantastic. I’m now wondering whether he was a bit cold the previous few nights and wanted to snuggle to get warmer. Looking back the unsettled nights started when we stopped running the heating at night and have calmed down now the nights have started getting warmer? Could just be coincidence and I’ve probably jinxed myself for tonight by saying this, but I’ll keep you updated!

[glummum1988]

We have managed to drop the 3rd nap today so bedtime will be at 6:30ish (3 hours after last nap) so fingers crossed it works. I must say though, she has been going to bed 3hours after the last nap for the last couple of days instead of 2.5hrs and it has made an improvement, less wakings and is waking up for the day a little later! I mean I have probably jinxed myself tonight now but fingers crossed!

[Gotosleep8]

@pikkukettu I’m glad he’s been sleeping in his cot! Hopefully the heating was the problem and you’ll start getting more sleep now!

@glummum1988 glad you’ve seen an improvement too, fingers crossed she sleeps well tonight!

[pikkukettu]

I did jinx myself and we had a night of him waking every hour until he came into bed with me at 4! Ahh well, hopefully tonight will be better.

@Gotosleep8 - how are things going for you?

[glummum1988]

I also jinxed myself and she was up from 8pm until 2:45 waking for the day at 5:45!!! Back to the drawing board! Going back to 3 naps but push for a later bedtime xx

[Gotosleep8]

Oh no!! He also woke hourly but went back to sleep quicker than usual so I lasted till 3 before bringing him in with me. He did decide to have a party for an hour at 4 though..
Hope you catch up some sleep today @glummum1988

[Mamatoabeauty]

I could have written this post almost word for word myself @Gotosleep8, it is so exhausting! I can’t get my little girl to go to sleep in the cot without rocking/feeding and then putting her down, she’s so heavy now that I can’t do this easily so she often stirs. I then have to lean over her cot and cradle her and pretend I’m lying with her (only sometimes does this work!) Also hate the thought of cry it out. I feel like I’ve tried EVERYTHING. Adjusting nap times/awake times, changing bedtime routine, switched feeding to rocking, have put her down awake and left the room for a few minutes at a time; sat next to the crib; shhhed and patted. The cry’s just get louder and louder and she becomes more hysterical until I’ve picked her up. The longer I leave it the longer it takes to resettle her. People keep telling me it’s separation anxiety?! She slept well for first 2 months and then it went downhill from there. Gradually getting worse! I keep debating whether to go for “a gentle sleep consultant” but I really can’t see it working!

Is it possible that some babies are just like this and there’s nothing that can be done? Everyone else with a baby similar age manages to get them to sleep 4-5 hours at a time. I just don’t get it, where have I gone wrong!!!

[Gotosleep8]

I’m so tempted to get a sleep consultant but don’t have money to waste if it doesn’t work (though if it does it’d be priceless!)

Amazingly he slept till 3, heard him cry out twice but he must have gone straight back to sleep. Then went down again in his cot till 5 - unheard of. Best nights sleep in weeks. No idea what was different though...

[Mamatoabeauty]

Amazing! Long may it continue 🤞. We’ve just had a 2 hour stint before midnight which is unheard of! Must be something in the air

Yes my thoughts are the same re a sleep consultant. From what I’ve read they don’t have a miracle cure and don’t teach you what you don’t already know. But I guess it’s nice having reassurance that you are doing the right thing and then what to do when things don’t go to plan. My issue is how do you choose. So many conflicting theories out there - dark room vs light room, staying present vs leaving the room, long lunch nap vs catnapping. I’ve seen sleep consultants say complete opposites and claim to be evidence based!