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Parenting

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7 month old who doesn't sleep!!

4 replies

anon1411 · 12/06/2026 21:39

I feel burnt out and exhausted... my 7 month old just does not sleep. He sleeps at most maybe 2 hours through the day and this is usually split into 2 or 3 naps. He fights going to sleep and when he finally is gone he wakes up after 20-30 minutes. Once he's awake he will not settle back down to sleep either, no matter what we try.

If he sleeps on one of us he can stay asleep for an hour or more but the moment he's put down he's awake. We've tried getting him to sleep in his cot or on his snuggle bed, in various places by himself without being on us but he just sobs and sobs. We've tried putting him down as soon as he's in a deeper sleep but he wakes up within seconds. He's in our bed most of the time at night too although he will stay in his cot for maybe an hour to an hour and half at a push.

We have tried so much but he just won't stay asleep unless he's on us and this hasn't been the case in the past, he's mostly been quite good at being put down to sleep or in his cot etc but the past 2 months have been incredibly hard. We literally do not get 5 minutes to get anything done or have a few minutes peace. He's like it when awake too, if we leave him on the play mat or in his seat he sobs, if we leave the room he sobs, he just doesn't want to be away from us at all which in one way is lovely but in another its bloody tiring. I think he's so emotional and clingy because he's so tired all the time but I'm out of ideas!

What can we do? Please help 🙏

OP posts:
Holidaysandsunshine · 12/06/2026 21:50

How about in a pram for day time naps will he sleep if he is facing you and you push him? My baby 1 was a terrible napper. Would go to sleep in the pram fine but would stop as soon as I stopped moving until 10 months when he consolidated his sleep and then took one long nap. Also if he sleeps in the sling why not make sure his afternoon nap is a long one and on you I used to go walking (which I love) and practice not being on you for sleep in nap one then when you have cracked pram sleep do both in the pram (or cot if u like I just am not one for being indoors so can’t advise) also what about getting a moments peace first thing so all of mine would do 40 mins in the morning (wake milk nappy then 40 mins in a bouncer) and this was my time to eat shower do the washing put on some moisturiser. U could set a clock by when they all got bored but it was just enough to see me through till bedtime. Migjt need to give extra toys or put music on or a recodong of your own voice if they are extra clingy (I didn’t do that but I know someone who did and swears it let’s u be there not be there) good luck.

WonderingAboutBabies · 12/06/2026 21:52

Oh OP, that sounds so difficult. Tbh, 7 months is still very young and he probably just needs you both.

Is he still feeding overnight? We had to night wean my DD at 13m as she was waking constantly for milk. She is now 18m and has been sleeping through for a month now. Some of my friends had magic babies that slept through from 4 months...

Other things to consider are where he sleeps, bedtimes, wake windows, etc. We found my DD slept slightly better in the cot away from me but in the same room. And she needed a big wake window before bed (bigger than recommended for her age).

comealongdobbeh · 12/06/2026 21:56

Can you give us an idea of his routine / how the day runs?

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TheyGrewUp · 12/06/2026 22:01

Have you had his ears checked?

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