How to do bedtime for 5 month old

[Ibizababyy]

Ds2 is 5 months old next week and still generally not going to bed until 9.30ish. I’d love some of my evening back but can’t seem to get it right! He’s EBF and as cluster feeding in an evening reduced he put himself in a routine of bath around 7.30pm with DS1 then a feed followed by a 45 min ish chill/ play then a final feed and falling asleep on me before I put him in bed around 9.30. I’ve been trying to inch this earlier but can’t seem to consolidate these feeds to do so. First night I tried feeding him in the bedroom from 8pm he didn’t stop until 9.15pm, the other night he hadn’t napped since 2pm so tried from 7.40 and was still 9.15pm by the time he went to bed. Tonight I fed him downstairs at 8.15pm and he fell asleep so was in bed for 9pm but he has just woken for a feed at 10.45pm!!

Also he used to sleep around 6/7 hours for his first stretch generally waking once or occasionally twice for a feed through the night. Now he wakes every 2-3 hrs (like daytime) for a feed- is this part of the 4 month regression and will he go longer berr between feeds at night again soon?!

Until I moved mine into their own rooms at 6 months both mine stayed up with me till I went to bed.

At 7ish I would do bath and into pyjamas and a feed then take them downstairs and I would watch tv while they slept on me. Then when I went back up at about 10.30 they would have another feed (unless it was earlier) or i did a dream feed.

They then generally slept until about 2/3 for another feed then went straight back to sleep until 6/7

When they turned 6 months I would do all the same but after last feed I put them in their cots with the monitor on. Occasionally I would have to go back up for a settle but most the time they sleep until (normally) 3am for a feed

However everyone will do it differently and you can only do what works for you and your baby

I took mine back down and would watch whatever I wanted. By the time they got to 6 months they were both rolling so I felt more confident with leaving them on their own in the cot.

Re the regression. Yes you will get this. They will seem like a great sleeper then revert back.

I just stuck to the routine and when night waking I would sit in the nursery with only a tiny light on and no sound. I found this stopped them from waking fully.

Dont forget they only have a few months experience and these first few years especially their brains are constantly learning so you will go through waves of good and bad.

I can say I now have a 3 year old that sleeps from 7pm to 6am (95% of the time) and I have no trouble getting to bed. I have never waivered from routine even when I had to sit by the bed holding hands and doing the moving away technique when we had separation anxiety and more regressions.

Please try not to get to caught up in it all. I know its easy to do. But you will get your evening its just their are times and sometimes weeks when they need their mummies. Especially ebf babies.

waking once or occasionally twice for a feed through the night. Now he wakes every 2-3 hrs (like daytime) for a feed

The calorific need for babies goes up very steeply at around 4 months. It doesnt ever go down or reduce, only increases. So if your baby is needed lots of night feeds, what that is telling you is baby needs (a lot) more daytime calories. If baby was getting all of the calories needed in the daytime then none would be needed at night.

@FATEdestiny I can’t exactly force feed him tough can I so it’s not about me not giving what he needs in the day.

Thanks @Theresapossibility my first was FF and somehow the routine for bed seemed easier but I can’t remember what I did!! Also he was a horrific sleeper from day one so have never experienced a ‘regression’ as such before

I agree. Sometimes I try and pop the boob in and baby just wont drink. We are weaning (8 months) and I cant force the spoon in cause i just get splattered with food

I seem to remember the first time was harder. Possibly cause the 2nd one is having to follow in line and I am probably a bit more relaxed.

Saying that baby decided to have a rough night and reminded me what a terrible night sleep feels like

They have regressions and their little brains are trying to process so much. They also sometimes just want to be close to you.

Just remember you are doing the best you can and eventually you will be shouting at them to get up and ready for school

@Theresapossibility thanks! Oh yes DS1 is already at that stage we have a 4.5 year age gap hence why I’ve forgotten what the hell im doing! Haha! With you on being more relaxed with the second generally it’s just feeds/ routine I’m confused about as I didn’t BF last time

With bf I have always done the on demand thing. I worked out the queue that they want milk. A certain cry, turning head towards the boob area and sucking my arm.

I will say though that by 5 months both of mine would normally only have 1 feed in the night... sometimes 2 but not usually more than that.

They use it for settling as well as feeding.

Follow your instincts. My mum tried telling me to only feed every 4 hours.... I ignored her

@Theresapossibility yes I’m doing on demand and he’s finally going more like 3 hours between feeds in the day rather than 1.5/2 which feels abit liberating but nights have gone the opposite Thankyou by the way for your replies it’s really reassuring