My 5 m/o wont sleep through....

[Dandansmummy]

Hi there

My 6 month old won't sleep through, he's been weaning since he was 4 months old and now has 3 purée meals a day, he hardly takes any formula, maybe about 20oz a day, I can't get him to take anymore. He wakes up at around 2am for a bottle and has about 4-7oz. Is this because he isn't getting enough milk during the day?

I could (sort of) cope with the night feed however the situation seems to be getting worse, he got up at 2am for a bottle last night and then stayed wide awake like it was day time until 5.30am. He refused to go back in his cot and instead just laid on my bed repeatedly tapping me lol. This is happening more and more often. He hardly sleeps through the day, between 1-2.5 hours only.

(he did sleep through for a full week when he was about 4 1/2 months old, and despite racking my brains I can't think of anything different in his routine etc from that week)

My MIL says my husband was just the same when he was a baby but offered no solution.

I'm going back to work next week so I'll be getting up at 5.30am, which will mean next to no sleep for me, not ideal when going to work with stroppy teenagers!

Any suggestions/advice would be much appreciated!!! I'm at the end of my tether!

It's really normal sadly - mine is 7 months and showing no signs of sleeping through. My husband didn't sleep through till he was 2!! Not saying that to scare you but children are all different and feeding them won't 'make' them sleep through the night. I don't have any advice I just wanted to assure you your baby is being totally normal xx

My dd started sometimes sleeping through at about 10 months. She's now 14 months and sleeps through roughly 2 out of every 3 nights, but goes through phases of not sleeping through at all for a week or so. Sorry, probably not what you want to hear. I also work with stroppy teenagers!

Sorry to tell you but mine are 15mo and don't sleep through. A 5mo sleeping through would be incredibly lucky. When mine were 6mo we did CC which cut their night wakings from 4 times a night to 2 - I thought that was good.

Babies are not designed to sleep through and resettle themselves like adults. 5 months is very young and there are still so many changes to come.

Asides from growth spurts, hunger and thirst, there are many reasons babies wake as it's a normal part of their development. Things change all the time, one week it's a cognitive leap and they need extra comfort, the next it's teething, the next it's something in the day leaving them unsettled (new food or change in routine etc). That's a lot of solid food for a young baby too.

Some need fresh air or a routine or quite and dark to nap well, each child is different so following their needs is very helpful.

Thank for all your reassurance. My first son slept through no problem and slept well during the day X looks like I'm just going to have to suck it up lol X

4 months is very early to wean, are you sure he isn't getting any tummy aches from the food? At 5 months his nutrition should be coming from milk (up until 12 months milk should be the main source of nutrition) so I would increase the milk in the day time.

My first dc didn't sleep through until 18 months so I feel your pain. Could your dc have got stuck in a bad habit on a wonder week?

Don't worry OP I think it's shocking when people have a 'good' sleeper and then one who takes a bit longer - it's like hey who broke my child?! But they really are so different. It could happen at any moment. 8 months, 10 months, a year, 15 months etc - don't look for it as you'll drive yourself mad! It'll come xx

We started to wean him at 4 months firstly because he was trying to eat his brothers food and would carry on when he didn't get it and secondly because he never kept his milk down. He loves his food so I think he was definetly ready. He's hardly sick at all now X

It's certainly been a shock, he's so different from how is brother was! X

Thank you all for your support X

Ha ha ha ha ha! My DD started sleeping through at 2!

DC1 reliably slept 9pm-7am at 9 weeks.
DC2 occasionally did this by the time she was 3.

Both are extremes, but both normal.

My 20 month old won't sleep through either ...

Sorry OP, it's entirely normal

All is sleepless mamas are here for you with solidarity!

All us*