HELP- sleep problems with a 6 month old....

[tessie31082]

my DS used to sleep quite well 7-10pm then a 'dream feed' then through until 6am(ish). Then we tried not doing the dream feed about 8 weeks ago. He never from day one woke up expecting it so we thought great he is having enough now in the day. We also started weaning him at 4 1/2 months. Since we stopped the dream feed and he started solids and since he started the process of teething all he does from midnight onwards is roll from one side to the other in his cot (not onto his tummy but side to side). It is sometimes 3-4 times an hour, so he is whinging/crying/waking up for his dummy/comfy blanket as he loses them when he moves around his cot! Do you think it's because he has got used to us giving it to him or a mixture of him teething etc? Surely if he was hungry he would cry and then I wonder about him being cold but again wouldn't he cry? The room thermometer says 21c so he has a vest with either long sleeve PJ's or a sleepsuit with a 1 tog sleeping bag- is this enough? Am I a panicking 1st Mum, or is something wrong? I am slowly going mad and cry most days probably through lack of sleep but sometimes I wish I could walk away or work more then I feel guilty for thinking that and I would never leave anyway as I love him too much!
Can someone please help/give advice?
Tessie

I'm sorry, I don't have any advice but you sounded so desperate I didn't want to read and run. There will be someone along soon I'm sure.

Thanks Fairy :)

Hi, I don't really have any good advice as my 5.5mo isn't teething yet and I never did the dream feed either, but wanted to bump for you as you sound like you need a bit of advice.

The only tiny (v unhelpful probably) thing I can ask is if you have a nightlight in the room? I found that my son finds it easier to put himself back to sleep since I put a really dim blue nightlight on as even if he starts to get a bit grizzly he seems to be able to spot his comfort blanket, stuffs it into his face and falls asleep quite quickly!

My LO never slept well so not sure how relevant my advice will be. But I wanted to try and help because I got so desperate at times and know how you feel and Mumsnet was a big help to me!

So, some thoughts:

Is he defo teething? If yes are you giving him appropriate amounts of calpol and / or calprofen? Thats what they are there for IMO! At first I was so nervous to give my DS any medication but then I realised that the manufacturers would be crazy to sell something that might harm babies so now I just use them as and when needed, as much (within the guidelines) as needed. It makes a massive difference (he is 15 months, molars coming in .

Is it possibly a sleep regression or a developmental leap rather than teething? Try googling The Wonder Weeks about this. I found this book AMAZINGLY accurate and a really big help.

Could it be to do with the weaning maybe something your LO is eating is not agreeing with them? The moving from side to side makes me think of what I do when I have a sore / bloated tummy. It needn't necessarily be a scary allergy or anything, just maybe a bit much / new for his wee tummy?

We went round the houses about temperature stuff and now I tend to just think - would I be warm / cool enough wearing that in this room now and then think about how much more quickly babies get warm / cool because they are so small and work it out from there. Obviously the younger they are the more important temperature is for safety reasons, so my comment is more about comfort IYSWIM?

Finally - I know this is the most infuriating thing to hear but I also now know it is true - it will get better. It may just be a phase that will pass and then you'll forget all about it. Try to just take care of yourself and be kind to yourself. Do a little bit of research and you will see that it is perfectly normal for a baby of 5.5months to have disturbed sleep. Its not really helpful but I found it a comfort to know that it was just another part of life that would pass.

x

From what I remember, a 1 tog at 21' is fine. Just check the manufacturers instructions to be sure. Thats leaves hunger or teething. Its unlikely he would start needing more nutrition at night, especially if he's on solids. That leaves you with teething? How are his nappies? If unsettled in his tummy, maybe. I would ask your hv or gp for advice.
Sleep deprivation makes everything unbearable and unfathomable! ! Please dont be hard on yourself. It will get better, and in my experience, when you least expect it

Its quite common for children with dummies to wake up looking for them. You could try putting lots in his cot so it is easier for him to find one.

Thanks everyone for your advice and experience x I will take a look at all your points and go through them one by one and rule them out one at time to see if I can work out what's causing this sleeplessness (if anything) :)
Tessie