Dummy, sleep regression, or teething?

[forgetmenots]

In desperate need of MN wisdom! Had another sleepless night so will just put the facts as best I can and hope that some kind person can shed a bit of light, all opinions welcome... I just feel I'm missing something or conflating issues. :( any sleep specialists about please give me a wave!

-DS is 5.5 months, very active, sitting and trying to crawl. He is now FF and is 90th centile for weight, 75th for height. We aren't weaning yet.

-He's been sleeping through since six weeks, and has a bedtime routine of change, book, bottle and bed. This for a while has started around 9, asleep by 9.30 or thereabouts. He sleeps til 7.30am when he wakes for a feed then back down for an hour.

• he is now getting fractious at night, say 7.30/8.00 which he didn't do before, so suspect he wants earlier bedtime. He naps well during the day (3, sometimes 4 hours)

• He has been in his own room for about six weeks as I'm a very light sleeper and in his cot for three as he was outgrowing his carrycot. He doesn't seem bothered about this and has always napped in it without issue.

• He likes to fall asleep with a dummy. We started having to go and replace it more when we moved him to his own room so we got a sleepytot which worked a treat. He doesn't get a dummy except for soothing to sleep.

• He often goes to bed awake but with sleepytot and occasionally white noise. Settles quickly and easily.

• For the last week he has been much more unsettled again and the past two nights he has needed patting, shushing and handholding almost constantly. He has been a bit more clingy during the day. He isn't distressed at night but wide awake and babbling, looking to play and getting frustrated.

Sorry for being so long, really would love any advice and trying not to drip feed... Not sure what the issue is and so feel a bit helpless :(

Should say he's been showing all signs of teething for about two months but no teeth yet! thanks :)

There are probably lots of things at play and others will have different ideas. But for a start I'd say

• I agree with you that he needs to go down earlier. My DS is 7 mo and goes to sleep at 6.30, bath at 6. 9pm feels very late to you and I think he's getting fractious for this reason.

• see where you are when you have moved bedtime re naps. 4 hours is quite a lot but perhaps not when he is going to bed so late.

• he could also be teething.

• no doubt you'll be advised to start weaning early but in my view you are doing the right thing in waiting: the advice to wait til 6 months is clear.

Thank you so much Bona
Glad to hear you think bedtime might be at least part of the issue, I think when people have heard how well he slept before this period they think I'm mad to change anything, and I've wondered myself, but now feel he is telling me quite clearly it isn't working for him. May start moving it back half an hour every few days and see what happens.

Good plan. If you have quite a clear routine in place already it shouldn't be too tricky as he'll recognise the cues for bed time. If there is a clear point at which he seems to get tired and niggly, I might even be tempted to go straight for that.

The good thing is you'll also have much more of an evening to yourselves. I can't imagine having DS up til 9ish!!

It is tempting not to mess with stuff which is working but you have to eventually and to my mind bed time is the place to start!

Just wanted to update!

started bedtime an hour early so DS was asleep by 8.30. I think he wants to start earlier still so we will push it back again! He only woke twice, needed a pat - slept til 7.30. Thank God (and Bona!) :)