Sleep training recommendations for 6mo

[PutAnOliveInIt]

I’m starting to really struggle.
I had an idealistic scenario that 6mo (5 months corrected) DD would suddenly start to sleep better - she’s not and so I think I need to move to formal sleep training.

Pre 4month sleep regression, she was waking 3-4 times a night for a feed and going straight back down in her crib.
During - and since - that regression, she will only sleep in the sling in the day and be BF to sleep and/or cuddled in my arm back to sleep at night. This can range from 4-8 times a night. She either wakes up after immediately being transferred into her Next to Me or, she wakes up after 40mins - a sleep cycle - and moans / cries, realising she’s not in my arms. All night.
Because she was premature, I can’t co-sleep.
So I’m sitting up forcing my eyes to stay open all night, to not wake up the rest of the house.
It’s not sustainable.

Currently looking at “ specialists” on Instagram and wondering if anyone has successfully used any of their methods? They both do online courses you can pay for:

Just chill baby sleep
Calm and Bright

I’m currently getting 3-4hrs sleep a night and starting to turn into a Witch, from tiredness. Not ideal during lockdown.

I’m getting desperate. If anyone has any suggestions or if went through similar and found a way out, I’d love suggestions / recommendations. Thank you

I used Just Chill Baby sleep the 6-9 month course. I have to say I was very very skeptical since my son was a terrible day sleeper. He had every nap either rocked to sleep or in the pram for months and would routinely wake at 4am for the day.

It took a couple of days and a bit of crying (but not as much as I had expected), we still have the odd early wake but huge improvement. And the naps I think he settled himself on the second day and it took about a month for the naps to extend from 40 mins to longer.

Good luck!

Thank you, Niketan, that’s really reassuring to hear!

My 6mo is exactly the same OP. It's so hard isn't it? I'm following your thread to see what OP's advise. We are considering sleep training too and what one to go for....

Following! Our son is 5 months but I think at 6 months we'll have to do some sort of training. He often feeds to sleep or is rocked. He can sometimes go off on his own but it's really hit and miss. At nigh he'll do anything from 2 to 6 hours, but usually 3 or 4...the main issue we have is that he's often awake for 1.5 to 2 hours in the middle of the night 😮 We stopped nappy changes, keep the room dark, minimal interaction etc but makes no difference. Every night I think maybe it will be better and we do have good nights sometimes, but we can't see any pattern!!

@Niketan sorry to resurrect and older thread. But would you recommend the Just chill course? I have a 10 month old who sakes 2,3,4+ times a night and I go back to work soon. I dont want to just leave baby to cry though.

Hey. I really would recommend it yes. What I liked about it was that it’s all about what works for you and your baby they aren’t like you should or shouldn’t do whatever. There were two settling methods to choose from one where you stay in the room the whole time and the other where you leave but come back on a set time each time. We started with the in room one but he got so worked up that after two days we tried the other one and he settled within minutes.

I think that there is bound to be a little protest either way and whatever method you go for.

Good luck! X

@Niketan ah thanks so much. I have actually now bought it. I'm going to start it thursday 😬 pretty anxious though as she has always immediately stood up in her cot and started crying if I so much as put her in there without feeding or rocking her until shes almost asleep. I think I will have to do the out if room settling too just need to decide on time intervals.

@Pastaalldaylong I know that everyone has their own opinions about helping children sleep and you can only do what works for you. All I will say is it took maybe two days and we were really persistent every nap and bedtime etc. There was some crying yes and also there were and still are blips along the way but he and we are so much happier and well rested now and I've never looked back.

Wish you luck.

Hi,

Again resurrecting an old thread but wondered if you continued to have success with this? My 5mo has been in the 4 month sleep regression for the past 7 weeks and in the absence of it just miraculously fixing itself overnight I'll be looking to try a course at 6 months. OP your first post could have been written by me! X

@emmalou19
We did have success! But not through either of the insta ones. I did DM them but neither got back to me and I realised their courses were relatively generic and I wanted more one on one advice. We used a sleep trainer and because we didn’t want to use the cry it out method, it took a couple of weeks. She dropped to waking twice, a couple of days later to once and heading into 4 weeks later, she slept 7.30-7 (and has done ever since, bar the odd hiccup).