Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

6 month old waking every 2 hours

14 replies

prettyprinceofpartiez · 27/08/2021 19:43

I need advice quite desperately.

Apart from the early newborn days, 6 month old DS has slept relatively well, going to sleep about 10.30pm and then waking once or twice a night for a quick feed. In the last week or so, we've managed to get him down earlier by 8pm, but from 11pm onwards he is now waking every hour/2 hours before waking for good at 6am. I am utterly exhausted.

He seems to be waking up at the end of his 2 hourly sleep cycle and then needs to boob back to sleep. I've tried leaving him and rocking him/putting a hand on but he just gets more and more awake until he's groaning/crying, and the only thing that gets him back to sleep is 5 mins of boob. He was sleeping much longer stretches before and I'm fine with boobing him back to sleep but not every hour overnight! I really don't think it's hunger, it's just the waking up and the inability to get back to sleep without a short feed.

Is there anything I can do to get him to sleep through into his next sleep cycle and/or settle himself? He won't take a dummy!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Mousetrap5671 · 27/08/2021 19:46

Following as my baby is same age and doing the very same, its relentless

LakeShoreD · 27/08/2021 19:49

Could he be teething?

FTEngineerM · 27/08/2021 19:49

At 7.5m I stopped offering boob at night and just offered water and a cuddle, still close skin on skin. First night he took water twice and had a little cuddle back to sleep then by (I think) the third/fourth night he was sleeping much longer.

I don’t what age it’s ok to do that though, but if you don’t feel like he’s eating then it maybe worth a try? Have you started weaning?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3-6 months old 6-9 months old Babies & sleep Children's sleep

Original poster

prettyprinceofpartiez · 27/08/2021 20:08

I don't think he's teething yet, can't see anything and doesn't seem uncomfortable or anything.

Haven't started weaning yet either yet as don't quite feel he's showing the ready signs (he was a month early too so in no rush.)

It really does seem to be connected to going to bed earlier, just not sure how to crack it!

OP posts:

BelleOfTheProvince · 27/08/2021 20:13

If you can break the feed to sleep cycle do it now! It's harder to break later(trust me, I know!)
If you can afford it we have a sleep book called it's never too late to sleep Train. I wish I had had it at six months. Could have saved a lot of hassle and sleepless nights. We're slowly breaking the reliance on use to go to sleep but wish I'd have capitalised on the six months regression.
Good luck whatever you decide. But be proactive now and you'll get an easier.ride!

Twizbe · 27/08/2021 20:18

Both mine did this at 6 months. For one it was teeth, for the other it was just one of those things.

It passed

Paris2019 · 27/08/2021 20:26

We've been going through the same since DS was 6 m/o (before that he was sleeping long stretches with 1/2 wakes) and he's now 9 m/o. It hasn't improved... wakes every 2 hours and totally reliant on boob to resettle. We've been co-sleeping to get by and now debating sleep training options. So my only advice is don't expect it to get better on its own... you may need to be proactive in addressing it, as PP said.

becca3210 · 28/08/2021 09:18

Lucy Wolfe baby sleep sleep solution - great book with lots of tips and a plan you can follow to help with sleep 6 months plus

CourtneyCox2021 · 28/08/2021 18:37

Break the cycle of feeding to sleep if your strong enough! If not you may end up like it for quite a while. I would suggest as a previous poster - water. It probably will be very tough for you x

Twizbe · 28/08/2021 18:40

I disagree with breaking the feed to sleep cycle.
If it works don't change it.

FWIW I did it until it stopped working which for both mine was around 9 months. Then we sleep trained.

Before that if feeding them to sleep, got them to sleep then crack on

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 28/08/2021 18:48

I have no advice, it seems to be pot luck. I have 4 DC and they all started sleeping through at different ages.

OatyBarKid · 28/08/2021 18:53

6 months is common for babies to have sleep issues, they generally have a lot of development going on and night time is when they process it.

CremeEggThief · 28/08/2021 18:55

Try putting him down later again is what I'd suggest!

MumChats · 28/08/2021 19:05

Following with interest. DS is 7 mo and a terrible sleeper (similar 2hr wake ups, boob back to sleep although sometimes crying and cant get back to sleep although clearly tired). Sleep advice always says to look at sleep for a 24hr period when trying to improve things, so consider naps as well as the night.

Naps are also bad for us so hasnt got me very far but this may help if you can think of any daytime improvements!

Flip