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Sleep

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Original poster

Friend's 6 month old waking 4 or 5 times a night but not wanting feed.

16 replies

Unicornlover · 29/01/2011 18:54

My friend's 6 month old DD has suddenly started waking 4 or 5 times a night. She won't feed and my friend is struggling to settle her. She doesn't do this when she's with her father as the parents are seperated. My friend can't work out what is waking her DD and is a first time mum. Can anyone help please? My friend is at the end of her tether with it

OP posts:

Iggly · 29/01/2011 20:10

Developmental leap? Very common at 6 months - my DS did this around 6 months and it was hard to resettle him. It passed. I read into it - it's just a mental leap where their brains are learning something new and they can't relax. It will pass in a week or so.

chez88 · 29/01/2011 23:41

hi hun its been going on longer than a week she is now seven months but she aint like it with her farther it is happening every night and it has been going on for about 2 months

Iggly · 30/01/2011 07:30

I'm surprised - unless he doesn't hear her wake? It is common for that to happen - that the dad doesn't hear anything and sleeps through it.

She could try giving it a minute or two before going through to her - sometimes DS used to wake but go back to sleep. Also check for teething as well.

Chil1234 · 30/01/2011 08:43

I agree with Iggly.... waking doesn't necessarily mean they need you. Dad will probably be sleeping through when she wakes and/or ignoring the minor noises. Mums are often more sensitised.

chez88 · 30/01/2011 11:15

he dosent as he only sleeps very lightly she is teething bur even wen she gives her calpol she is still waking she dont know if its caus she is getting more attention up at her dads and she dont get as much wen she is at home as there is three more kids

Iggly · 30/01/2011 13:23

I'm confused - are you the OP? chez?

Honestly, babies go through phases of waking at night. Calpol does take a while to kick in anyway. I'd suggest she's consistent, tries to resettle quickly but give her a minute or two in case she does it herself. Also make sure shes not eating anything that gives her wind at night.

chez88 · 30/01/2011 14:41

hi iggly i am the mother she is not eating solids at the min she has got acid reflux thou but does not seem to bother her wen she goes to bed i just dont no want to do

Iggly · 30/01/2011 19:59

Ah my DS has reflux. It got worse around 6 months - I think he had a growth spurt and was taking more milk which made it worse. I had to get his medication sorted. His reflux was worse at night - he'd wake up crying in pain after going to bed ok.

When she wakes what does she do? What kind of cry?

chez88 · 30/01/2011 20:05

she was cryin in pain during the day yesterday but more on a night its a wingy cry its more off a cry were she wants ma attention

Iggly · 30/01/2011 21:07

Is she on medication? I'd get that checked.

At night I'd give her a couple of mins. Then comfort, put down and pat back to sleep.

Is she always ok at her dads? What is different there - the cot? His routine? I'm surprised she doesn't wake for him as babies don't usually wake for attention - so I wonder if he's either not hearing her even if he does sleep lightly or ignores it.

chez88 · 30/01/2011 21:22

he doesnt ignore her and he does here her. she just doesnt wake for him as often she does with me she is o infant gaviscon and pepti junior milk

Iggly · 31/01/2011 05:44

The only think I cn think of then is something waking her at yours like noises at night or is the room colder/warmer.
Also how come she's not having solids yet?

chez88 · 31/01/2011 08:44

she is not ready for solids yet

Iggly · 31/01/2011 08:50

Ok. Well I really can't think what the problem is. It's hard because they wake randomly and not always possible to do much apart from resettle them quickly. DS went through phases like this but would stop. Sometimes it would be wind, other times hunger, or too cold or his mind was going mad as he was learning something new eg crawling/walking etc.

MyLifeIsChaotic · 31/01/2011 08:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MavisG · 31/01/2011 09:02

I know this sounds odd. But I feel for you so here goes: could it be that she needs a wee but doesn't want to go in her nappy? I started offering my son the potty in the night at about 9 months, having read about EC (elimination communication) online and it possibly being a reason for a baby to wake, and I wish I'd known to try it sooner, because my son would never say no to milk, but would feed for a few minutes, drop off to sleep and then wake up less than half an hour later - over and over. It was really exhausting. But of course hunger/thirst wasn't the real problem - he needed to pee and I think it bothered him at night when it didn't (still doesn't much and he's 2) in the day because he had fewer distractions.

I kept the lights low, made sure the potty seat was warm and kept hold of him, holding him over the potty really, his back against my stomach, lifting his legs in the classic helping-your-child-pee-against-a-tree pose. After a couple of weeks I was doing this when I went to bed around 11 and then not needing to until 5 or 6am.

Hope you get more sleep soon.

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