6 Month Old Going Backwards

[Sleepless1nScotland]

My lo (EBF) is 6 months and his sleep is all over the place. He’s never been a wonderful sleeper, only since he was 5 months have we had periods of 6 hours from him. In the lead up to Christmas I thought we’d cracked it; he was going 7pm - 2/3am and then back down till 6/7am when I bring him in with me for a feed and he usually does another 30 mins.

But over the past two weeks he’s begun waking at 10:30, 2ish, 4 and then 6 again and I’m exhausted. I’m happy to cosleep with him and I have been for the past few nights but I’m just wondering how to encourage him to sleep better.

During the day he’s awake for c. 2 hours at a time before naps but he will never nap for longer than 45 mins. This plus his interrupted nights means I’m shattered, feeling a bit like a dairy cow and I just can’t get anything done.

Does anybody have any advice?

No advised but I remember with DD1 6 months was the horrific sleep regression that I noticed. it’s got better after a bit. DD2 is 5 1/2 months, I’m not looking forward to it.

Have you just started weaning? Are you offering milk before food? Maybe offer less food so there is more space for milk.

I remember DS somehow slept a lot better once we started solids, around the 6 month mark. Perhaps a coincidence but have you started at all? It might help

Thanks Selfsettling!

We are weaning, started about 4 weeks ago and it coincided with him starting to sleep much better just before Christmas so we thought food was the thing that was going to crack it for us! He has three meals a day, but always around an hour after a milk feed and I wouldn’t say he’s eating loads, but I might miss a meal and try to encourage him to take more milk to see if it makes a difference.

He’s not fed to sleep, goes into his cot awake and falls asleep (with dummy) at bed time and for all naps, we use white noise, black out blind, great bed time routine, everything I can think of! I’m feeling pretty put out that the kid still won’t sleep or take a decent nap

Good luck for DD2, fingers crossed she just sails straight through it and you don’t notice a difference!

Oh thanks @sometimesalways! Missed your post. I really think you’re right and that food had made a huge difference to him, but it seems like something has changed these past couple of weeks

She is the ultimate Velcro baby. All naps in a sling. she sleeps in my arms over. If she doesn’t there is nothing left for me try.

DD1 slept better when we started cosleeping after 6 months regression but she was ff.

Could it be a random and temporary thing - perhaps illness coming on, or teething?

@Selfsettling3 Ohhhh, there is something absolutely wonderful about a Velcro baby and that’s exactly what DS was for the first four months but he’s so massive (over 23lbs now) that I had to get him napping in his cot because my back was going to break in half. I’d love it if I could still pop him on and get the housework done

I’m thinking if it doesn’t work itself out in the next week or so then I’ll just embrace cosleeping and hope for a lottery win so that I can pay for a cleaner/ chef.

@sometimesalways There’s every chance you’re right. He’s certainly due some teeth as he’s still a total gummy bear at the moment. I continually give myself a hard time about his naps being so sh*te and it’s difficult not to obsess when something else feels like it’s going wrong. I’ll wait and see for the moment. Thank you!

Perhaps try a dose of calpol tonight @Sleepless1nScotland ? If it helps, it might indicate it's a bug or teething

I had the same worries as you with naps, DS was a terrible sleeper during the day (and for what seemed like forever, night too!). For me only time helped. Just persevering with trying and a sense of routine, and him growing. Doesn't mean we are/were doing anything wrong, take it easy on yourself. Not sure that helps you right now, but there's def hope! DS slept through at around 11-12m and has been consistent since (bar illnesses etc of course)

DD2 was 30lb at her last weight in 4 weeks ago. With a 3 year old I don’t have the time or the luxury of staying at home around a baby’s naps this time round. If you want a sling library will help you get a good fitting sling so you can baby wear to sleep.

I do have a cleaner but no chef and need to make a vaguely lunch for 12.30 and dinner for 5.15 or there would be a mutiny from the 3 year old. The key is having food that can be prepare in small bursts throughout the day.

@Sleepless1nScotland
I could of wrote this OP! I actually have a thread pretty similar however little man has always been a good sleeper but is now doing weird things since putting him in his own room! And he seems when he wakes up he just won't go anywhere other than in bed with me which I'm not used too!! Hoping it's teeth and a regression not him the way it'll be forever hahaha x

@sometimesalways I’ve gone for a full dose of calpol tonight and crammed in an extra milk feed today too so we’ll see. I had a good feel about his gums today and I’m pretty certain there’s a tooth about to arrive so you might just be right!

@Selfsettling3 I would love to still be wearing him but I’ve got a chronic condition that affects my joints so it’s for the best that we’ve stopped. Im more or less wedded to my slow cooker at this point too, could definitely still do with that cleaner though...

@Delilah7 Thank you, I’ll pop over and take a look. “Weird things” is such an accurate description I hope he’s back to normal for you asap!