My 5 month old is waking every 1/2 hours

[SophialovesAva]

My little girl has always been breastfed to sleep, although she doesn’t need to be when put in the baby carrier. I would feed her and then put her in her cot when she’s asleep, she would then sleep 3/4 hours then wake two more times during the night.

Now she wakes up 1/2 hours (not hungry) just wanting to be comforted by sucking. However I have tried to leave her in her cot (not crying) and see if she will fall asleep, but she will just coo and wiggle about. I will then have to breastfeed her to sleep and she will only sleep for an hour or two.

I just don’t know what to do! I’ve looked into sleep programmes but I can’t afford to spend money on something that doesn’t help. I’ve tried to only feed her when she wakes up, but she will cry when she’s tired to be breastfed back to sleep, which obviously I do.

Can someone please tell me what I’m doing wrong or at least tell me that this will pass, because I literally am so exhausted.

My DS was like this from 4.5 to 11 months. For us, the culprit was teething and the fact that he preferred to sleep on his side. So it was some extra cuddles during the night (given by DH so he couldn’t smell milk). He was also in his own room. For other moms I know, the issue was reflux, room sharing, and food allergies and intolerances. It’ll be a bit of trial and error to find the right fix.

This is my life right now! As soon as he hit 5 months, sleep went out the window. I don't know what the answer is but just wanted to let you know you are not alone!

Is it the 4 month sleep regression? It can start between 3-5 months. If so, your baby has to learn new ways to sleep now. His or her sleep cycles have changed. It’s hard, and there’s no set way to do things that guarantees a result. I’m in the middle of it at the moment and it’s rough.

5 months was rough for us, but it was definitely 4 month regression late. It passed but was exhausting so I feel you!

Now she wakes up 1/2 hours (not hungry) just wanting to be comforted by sucking.

There is an obvious and very simple answer. Give her a dummy.

We are in the midst of this too. Up 6+ times last night and longest stretch of sleep was 3 hours. It’s really hard but I agree that I think you just have to ride it out. Nothing we do seems to make any difference and my DD never feeds to sleep really so I’m trying not to think about it anymore or read bloody google for solutions which don’t exist. I really feel for you though it’s crap. I nearly put petrol in the diesel car yesterday, oops, what I thought I was doing driving I don’t know?!