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Original poster

6 month old sleep

10 replies

Lcw29 · 07/09/2020 01:09

What's normal? My first slept through since 6 weeks which I know was extremely lucky. Although he is a very early riser.

My new DS is 6 months and a terrible sleeper! He wakes up on a good night, once for a bottle but even then its hit and miss as to whether he will go back down for long.

I'm really struggling with it. Is it normal for babies to still wake up a few times a night at this age. Sometimes he doesn't fully wake but moans loudly and wriggled every half hour or so which disturbs me. I have to feed him to settle him. I'm so exhausted! Please tell me it gets better! And on the few days he does go back to sleep he is woken by my almost 3 year old at 5:30 who is shouting its morning.

OP posts:
GlummyMcGlummerson · 07/09/2020 02:42

I hate to tell you but both mine were still waking for milk aged 3 😫 it's actually more abnormal for a baby to sleep through at 6 weeks. Once a night at six months is very normal and quite good in my book. But it's SO hard and you have my sympathies. I don't miss the nights sitting in tears because they wouldn't go back down 😭 and it's ok to be pissed off about it. have you tried dream feeding OP?

SauvyB · 07/09/2020 03:34

Controlled crying!

Put him down to sleep for the evening awake. He needs to learn to self soothe.

Crimblecrumble1990 · 07/09/2020 03:44

I would love for my 6 month old to sleep through but I feel I'm a long way off. He wakes once or twice for milk (and does wake fairly early in the am) but I thought this was actually the average and quite normal?

Watching this thread in case it turns out I'm wrong!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3 year olds 3-6 months old 6-9 months old Babies & sleep
Original poster
Lcw29 · 07/09/2020 05:52

I don't mind waking for feeds so much. It's the getting him settled. Tonight I've been up all night because although he wasn't awake he was moaning and wriggling so much. I dreamed at half midnight and he went back down fine. But an hour later the moaning started. Like he cant get comfy. Then I accidentally woke him properly at 3:30 . It's like he's uncomfortable... could it be that he's got wind from weaning?

I did controlled crying for my other son but I dont feel ready to do it at 6 months yet.

OP posts:
frockdestroyer · 07/09/2020 06:06

I could have written you post OP!

My DS is 6 months and last night woke up every two hours...he hasn't slept more than 3/4 since he was born. (my DD slept through very early too)

I have noticed since weaning he seems to be struggling with trapped wind/some constipation which seems to cause discomfort in the night like you describe.

Sorry, no advice from me but you're not alone!! Everyone keeps telling me it will just click eventually but I don't know how much longer I can cope 😭

frockdestroyer · 07/09/2020 06:12

@SauvyB sleeping through is a developmental milestone. I don't want to get into a "sleep training" debate but babies shouldn't need to self-soothe. They are babies. We can't self-soothe when we are upset as adults so I don't know why we try to force babies to.

Blondebear123 · 07/09/2020 06:42

I've got an 8 month old and a 3 year old.

The 8 month old....slept great until we hit 5 months then from 5months until 8 months multiple night waking was horrendous. We tried offering water instead of milk but she quite liked that so not the intended affect! Then we tried just putting habd in cot and not lifting her old. Was a little better but still waking. About 3 weeks ago i stopped offering the boob at the feed before bed and giving her porridge and formula. Last 2 weeks she has started sleeping from 8pm to 7am. Fingers crossed it lasts!

The 3 year old normally sleeps till 7am then she started waking early. Got her a gro clock. Was a bit dubious but turns out its magical. She now wakes up but stays in bed ' until the sun comes up!'

Blondebear123 · 07/09/2020 06:43

sorry for mistakes in above damn autocorrect!

SauvyB · 07/09/2020 10:10

You're incorrect, they do need to self soothe. 7 months is the prime time to do it.

They need to learn to settle themselves back to sleep and there is nothing wrong with that.

And you're also incorrect, we do self soothe as adults. We put on podcasts or we have a cuddle, we watch tv etc. We know how to settle ourselves. What a ridiculous statement.

frockdestroyer · 07/09/2020 10:30

@SauvyB erm, that's exactly my point. That isn't self soothing - we use the podcast/wine/bath etc to HELP soothe. A baby can do none of those things and therefore needs help from its parent. Because it's a baby.

Or do you expect a baby to pop a podcast on and chill out?

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