6mo just wont sleep..

[HakunaMatataa]

My 6mo DS just will not sleep longer than a couple of hours at a time at night, if I'm lucky. He is breastfed and weaning. I either feed him back to sleep or resort to putting him in bed with me just so I can try and get a little sleep but even then sometimes he wakes every 20 minutes. He doesn't sleep much during the day either (unless in the car). I'm just wondering if anyone has any advice or suggestions please

Oh no, how tiring for you. I really feel for you as interrupted sleep makes you feel so exhausted.
How are his naps during the day? Does he settle on his own at bedtime or do you feed him to sleep? My DS didn't naturally start sleeping longer on his own until I started teaching him to fall asleep in his cot, at first with lots of patting and company from me, and taking longer naps. Even now if he falls asleep feeding by accident at bedtime occasionally he will wake up more than if he nodded off in his cot, it's like he wakes up somewhere else (not on the boob where he fell asleep) and is confused??

@shreddednips Thank you, yes I'm in full on Zombie mode now.
He doesn't really nap during the day unless we are in the car. In the house he has 20 minutes a couple of times a day. I take him up to his bed when hes tired. He seems tired all the time.
He is still in a next to me crib but thinking to move him into his cot.
Yes the confusion makes sense. I've tried leaving him to settle but sitting with him, patting and singing to him ect but to no avail.
I really need to stop his comfort from being milk at night as I dont think hes hungry but feeds at least 4-5 times in the night. I just dont know how.
I also have a DS with SEN so the no sleep is quite draining.

@shreddednips sorry I feed him to sleep as otherwise he just cries

Just bumping in hope of some replies

Sling for daytime sleeps, bed share for night time?! That's what we are doing! It's very hard, I feel for you

Thank you @LuckyKitty13 he does end up bed sharing with me but still wakes just as frequently and will not sleep in sling anymore .
I've just got him off for a nap now but again, I fed him to sleep after trying everything to get him down in his cot.

I'm glad you've found what works for you

Can you feed to sleep in the sling? Sorry if I'm missing the point

@LuckyKitty13 i've never fed in the sling.. if this continues I may have to learn

In reality I would like to be able to settle him without feeding now as I know alot of the time he isnt hungry he is just suckling for comfort and it makes it really difficult to do anything with other DS or around the house. Of course, when hes hungry and feeding it's a different story.

It is really hard, but remember hes still so tiny. Please dont worry if hes still feeding to sleep at this stage. He wants to suck for comfort, this is what your breasts were designed to provide for him. It's natural and normal. Do what works and be kind to yourself, you're doing a great job, and this will pass. What kind of sling to you have? With a soft structured carrier/ buckle carrier it's super simple, just loosen slightly and bob him down and slightly to the side, lift your breast and allow him to latch. Make sure once asleep you lift him back up to a safe position.

I am going through nearly exactly the same with my 7 month old.

Things got better when I moved the next to me crib at the foot of the bed, she's going into a cot in our room soon . My daughter could smell my milk so wine frequently.

I breast feed to sleep night and day but this last week I've only kept her on my boob once. Try bum patting and shushing when putting down.

My daughter is very difficult sleeping always has been but a belly full of food in the evening, bath, booby and sometimes calpol if teething gives us a few hours sleep at night.

Wakes not wine lol*

Also I've been told bananas in the evening helps as they contain natural sleep inducing stuff.

Thank you @LuckyKitty13 I know this time is so precious. I do the side by side feeding. It means a little sleep and lots of cuddles which is great. Thanks so much for the kind words. Sometimes that's all we really need I have one of those fabric slings so may need to invest in a good one.

Thank you @Pippinsqueak I've heard the same about bananas!

So today I switched out the next to me crib and sorted his cot. Pre-arranged our room so hes still next to me and can see me and fed him until he was sleepy. For the first time when I laid him down he didnt cry and settled himself off to sleep. I'm so pleased! although probably a fluke but hes been sleeping since 7.30

The Ella's kitchen banana pouches are an easy quick mess free way to get them into baby.

Hope you had a better night sleep last night

I have a connecta carrier which is simple and not over engineered- recommended to be for feeding from our sling library. You're doing great, well done!!

I'm going to try the banana he loves banana!
I will look into that carrier, thank you.

Much better night last night. Only woke up twice for feeds just typical that I couldn't sleep.

He also had a 2 hour nap today in his cot which is unheard of and settled himself.