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Sleep problems

5 replies

JessUKUS · 04/09/2019 08:04

Hi. My 5 month old is sending me insane. He's never been a good sleeper but now he's taking the piss a bit. He's been through the regression and has settled a little but has a habit of waking around 4/430 and it's playtime. I sometimes can get him back to sleep but it's until around 5/515 and that's it. I've tried leaving him in his cot, he either screams or just gets silly and will not fall back to sleep, I've tried rocking, sleep with me, the rooms always dark, he isn't cold or hot, he sometimes wants food sometimes doesn't, I don't talk to him. I'm at my wits end with it and am desperate. I've previously tried letting him cry for 2-5 mins and it made absolutely no difference to him, I tried this for a solid 2-3 weeks too, he has to be held up for a good 20 mins or so as he has severe reflux (which is very well managed) he 80% of the time is awake, or wakes up when he's put down but isn't too bad. He a wriggly monster during the night, he is day and night anyway! I don't mind feeding him during the night because it is only once, or sometimes twice which is an improvement on his previous 6 times at 3 months!

His naps are an utter nightmare in the day time. He sleeps 30/40 3x a day and 1.5 hours later afternoon (230-4ish) but he won't sleep alone, pushchair, caR, with me etc. I haven't stopped doing these, I'm aware they aren't great, however i would much rather him actually get some sleep!

Also...slightly off topic, yet not....he sleeps o his side, he almost immediately turns over once you put him down, but not puts himself on his tummy to sleep - is this ok? He can roll into his tummy but doesn't know how to get himself back over, that's my concern? I've tried putting him back on his side before I pop off to sleep, but off he turns again!

Nightmare! Any advice, very very much appreciated before I possibly die with exhaustion.

OP posts:
ALoadOfTwaddle · 04/09/2019 20:02

Ok, firstly, there's some pretty solid evidence that controlled crying before six months is damaging to infants and can cause attachment disorders later on. So don't do it again.

Secondly, he's still little, so if he wants to sleep on your for naps I'd let him- he won't want to for long, trust me. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Thirdly, lots of kids do just wake up at around five naturally, but if it's bothering you, you could try the little ones sleep program. You do have to pay for it but it is quite good in my experience. Or the Huckleberry app.

Good luck!

Sunflower160 · 04/09/2019 20:16

This sounds quite typical of a 5 month old if I’m honest. Some are just naturally early risers, or it could just be a phase and he’ll start sleeping a little later. As for his napping, it sounds like he’s getting a decent amount of sleep in the daytime! My 5.5 month old only naps for 30 mins 3 x day. I would love for him to have that 1.5 hour nap in the afternoon!

But please don’t do controlled crying or CIO, especially on a baby younger than 6 months!!!

burritofan · 04/09/2019 20:33

The 4am start sounds grim but if he's only waking once overnight can you just go to bed earlier to make sure you get enough sleep? Even just a couple of nights a week might be enough to refresh you.

he won't sleep alone, pushchair, caR, with me etc.
I'm a bit confused by this, he won't nap at all in any of those scenarios; or he will only nap in the car/pushchair/on you? Sounds fairly normal to me judging by friends and family experiences; personally I'd kill for a pushchair nap over the multiple sling naps that are doing my back in.

JessUKUS · 04/09/2019 22:25

Thanks everyone for the replies! I haven't done controlled crying, that's a whole different ball game. He's been left to cry for a couple minutes too because in these scenarios, nothing has settled him at all, not even holding him.

OP posts:
UnderTheSleepingBaby · 04/09/2019 22:43

Accepting that all babies are different and this won't work for everyone, I found the baby sleep site's wake window times really useful. I didn't know about it for my 1st child and he was a classic half hour napper and very early riser like yours. With my 2nd I tried to consider this and although she would only nap on me, she slept plenty in the day and slept quite late in the morning (although stole my whole evening, so swings and roundabouts I guess) most babies are chronically overtired and this makes them more likely to wake early. Even now when my son gets overtired at nearly 5yrs old he will start waking super early.

Either way it does get better!

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