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Original poster

Five month sleep regression..please tell me it ends

15 replies

Spanglyprincess1 · 10/12/2018 23:12

He has been a good sleeper but it's changed. He won't be put down now and sobs. I have to breastfeed him.to sleep and he will only nap 1-2 hours. He's exhusted , poor chap
Is there anything I can do to help him? Is something wrong? Or is the norm at his age?

OP posts:

fedupandlookingforchange · 10/12/2018 23:23

You have my sympathy it’s a horrible stage, it will end. I found pushing DS out in pram worked to get him to sleep, I then left him asleep in the garden and he slept longer in the fresh air, even in winter. Overnight it all changed and he suddenly slept better.

ethelfleda · 11/12/2018 15:40

for you

I have a 13 month old and that sleep regression was by far he worst thing so far. It’s bloody hard and bless you for being more concerned about your little boy than for yourself.

He will get through it. Mine did. It feels like it lasts forever though! Just do what you need to do to get through it... feed to sleep, let him nap on you, drive him around (hello McDonald’s drive thru!) rock him - don’t look at the clock and before you know it you’ll have him back again

Original poster

Spanglyprincess1 · 11/12/2018 15:49

Hes getting less than ten hours sleep in 24 and I'm.sure he needs more !

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secretuser · 11/12/2018 15:55

Oh it's horrific isn't it, DS is 16 months old now and the phase you're in now was by far the worst. It feels never ending but it will change, DS was a good sleeper previously and once he'd got over this regression he went back to being good, and we've only had temporary hiccups since (touch wood!).

DS was about 7 months when I did some gentle controlled crying which worked a treat within one night. I wouldn't suggest you do it now and obvious not for everyone at any age, but it might be worth looking into it if you think it might help. I loosely followed the Little Ones sleep guide which really helped, but again I appreciate he's probably a bit too young and it might not suit you.

In the meantime you have y complete sympathy, it is the pits but it will pass

RockinRobinTweets · 11/12/2018 15:57

Ideally move to a sleep - eat - play cycle rather than a play - eat - sleep cycle.

Settle to sleep using shh - pat or pick up put down

Limit awake time to 2 hours

Use a nap time and bedtime routine

abcriskringle · 11/12/2018 15:57

5 months was a horrendous time for sleep for us - DS has always been a bad sleeper but at 5 months it felt like he was awake all the time! You'll get through it. Do what you need to do to survive! It will be ok again at some point!

Original poster

Spanglyprincess1 · 12/12/2018 08:10

Honestly he's been up every 45 min all night since 11pm I'm literally sobbing this morning. I'm terrified I'm going to hurt him as I'm so tired. He's never been like this even as a newborn.
Dp isn't being particularly helpful and just says well we will have to give him.foruma
And isnt doing anything else to help.
I don't know what to do

OP posts:

secretuser · 12/12/2018 09:09

How do you feel about formula OP? There is no shame in it, but equally a bottle of formula won't necessarily mean he sleep lis any better. It might give you the break you need though, if you don't want to use formula will he take a bottle of expressed breast milk? Just so you can give him to someone else (DH, GPs, a friend) while you snatch a bit of sleep.

I can totally remember being tired and frustrated to the point of tears you really do have my sympathy. Is there anyone who can help?

RockinRobinTweets · 12/12/2018 09:13

Your DP needs to step up. Ideally if he deals with him for a few nights, he should get the message that you’re not going to feed him to sleep anymore.

What was the baby doing before the regression? Feed wise, just stick to that and don’t feed any more frequently

Original poster

Spanglyprincess1 · 12/12/2018 10:17

Baby used to sleep 9pm till 7 am from around 11 weeks old. He woke sometimes once around 11pm for a feed.
He's 22 weeks now and been a week with horrifically disturbed sleep. He's waking literally every hour overnight and taking ages to settle.

OP posts:

RockinRobinTweets · 13/12/2018 14:48

I’d not feed between 11-7 then.

tryinganewname · 15/12/2018 03:41

DD is formula fed and this sleep regression is doing just the same so her, tell DH that it doesn't make a difference.

I do think we're coming out of the other side now (she'll be 5 months next week) but the last 3 weeks have been awful. She's managed 7.30-3 tonight and I think she only woke up because of the bloody dog jumping at the door to go out

Hopefully once it's over, he'll go back to his normal routine. I try to remind myself that they're not doing it on purpose and it will end. You have my sympathies though OP

Emelene · 16/12/2018 07:22

Have you called the breastfeeding helplines OP? They have always been sympathetic and helpful and it can be good to talk it through. Sounds like you're doing a great job xxx

Emelene · 16/12/2018 07:23

Sorry that was not meant to be there! Only the flowers! I really do mean I think you're doing a great job!

blackcat86 · 16/12/2018 07:37

DD is 4 months started this about a week ago. She's formula fed so it makes no difference. She's ok at night fortunately once she's settled (I think she's usually shattered at this point) but naps suddenly became a nightmare. She was thrashing around, crying and clearly getting frustrated with herself. It was like a tantruming toddler. Then when I got her in her cot, she'd wake and cry with frustration and tiredness. It was awful. Sometimes she would sleep for 20mins if i was lucky. However she seems to have (fingers crossed) resolved it by herself.

Today she fell asleep on me so down in the cot she went without a fuss. I couldn't believe it. It's been 35mins and she's still asleep! It's a very natural stage.

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