Putting 7 mo baby to bed in the evening

[Evenhope]

My DD is 7 mo. Up to now she has always gone up to bed when I do, and it hasn't been a problem. She tends to have a sleep from about 7.30pm for 40 minutes or so.

Last few nights she's been so tired we are having evenings of screaming and she seems to be getting tired earlier. I tried putting her up in her cot when she went to sleep at 7.30, only for her to wake hysterical at 8.10 and scream through the rest of Eastenders!

Is it worth me trying to put her upstairs earlier and how long do I give it before I give up?

She sleeps with me in my bed. DH works nights so I'm doing the evening thing alone.

Do you have a bedtime routine?

Sort of. She has her dinner and a bit of a play; bath and breastfeed to sleep at 7.30. It's after that it all goes pear-shaped.

What is her feeding like during the day - ie, breastfeed, solids etc.

When she has her bf at night (before bed) does she empty both breasts?

is she teething??? or has she had a cold or anything because these can change the routine

She's probably teething and she's got a cold. Tonight she slept for all of 25 mins. Now she is screaming again. It starts like a siren then gets worse. I pick her up she screams. I put her down she screams. She looks really tired. I gave her calpol 30 mins ago as she's red and hot but it doesn't seem to be making much difference.

During the day she is fine. She's not keen on solids so she's having one solid meal at 5pm. I've given up trying to count the BFs! She only ever feeds from one side at a time.

I hate seeing her distressed

How long does she feed on one side? I used to give my dd 15 mins on each side...if she fell asleep I used to change her nappy (which would waken her sufficiently) and then put her onto the other breast

She is probably red and hot from crying. Don't worry about the solids because she will get on to them eventually. If you cannot count the number of bf's perhaps this is because she is 'grazing' and not getting a good feed.

Does she really still need the feed at 7.30?

Im wondering if i would try to lenghten that out to 8ish, then 8.30 ish. Like weaning her into the idea of going to bed upstairs slightly earlier than she is used to.
I mean to not let her have that nap at 7.30 and make her more tired for bedtime slightly earlier than usual.
She could still have the breastfeed but later.

so from what you said, she has always slept with you but now trying to put her in her cot? have I got that right? Have you tried putting her in your bed at 7.30? Maybe get a bed guard and try that. just a thought.

Trouble is it's 7 ish that she starts the screaming, so I feed her and by 7.30 she's asleep.

She just went off again but was still crying in her sleep in my arms. Took her up to bed and she looked shocked. She's still crying.

This is the fourth evening of this and I've had enough of it..

x posts lisa. No I'm not putting her in her cot for the night, but if I put her in the bed on her own and she wakes up she'll go crawling across it and fall out.

I normally put her in her cot while I get ready for bed and last night she went to sleep while I was in the bathroom.

Do you leave her to cry or do you pick her up straight away??

When you feed her at 7.30, how long is it since her last feed?

Don't despair, I think it's all about getting into a good routine and once you have done that then your baby will know what is going on.

Is there any chance you can give an outline or your day?

She will scream, she is used to being settled for a nap then. Shes just asking you to give her what she thinks she should have.

Try dragging it out at 7.30, by 10-15minutes each day. Within a week you will have her settling around an hour or so later.

So into the bath a bit later than usual, bathed for the usual length of time then breast fed upstairs.

She will be more tired from fighting it for a while and will undoubtedly fall asleep quicker.

I would also suggest, that you make sure she has a really big feed that bit later, she may sleep longer than the 40 minute nap she is used to.

If she does wake up after the bath and feed that bit later, i would definitely try to settle her back to sleep upstairs and not in your bed. If thats what you want to aim towards.

She isnt going to like change, but if you really want the change then you are going to have to work at it. Set a routine and set it in stone, she will get used to it eventually. But i would say to wean her into it little by little.

Im no expert, but im sure lo`s dont like change and it takes them some getting used to especially with routines.

I hope this helps.

Well she's asleep and in my bed, so I haven't got long!

I generally pick her up when she cries but it doesn't seem to soothe her ATM.

DH just rang and said he wonders if it's because of the clocks going back, as she usually goes up at 10pm.

Can't remember what we've done today

Will keep a note of feeds etc tomorrow and report back. Thanks for all the suggestions so far- please check back!

Part 2 of this.

Today I had to wake her at 8.30 am to take the boys to school. She normally sleeps until 9.30. After going to sleep just after 9pm she woke (and fed) at 12.30, 4am and 7.20am.

Next fed at 11am and slept until 11.50am

Fed again at 2pm

Went out 2.30- 4.30pm

Fed 5pm followed by solids at 5.45pm

Grizzly between 6 and 7 and couple of quick feeds.

Proper feed at 6.45 and slept

I went out after that and DH took her to work. Picked her up at 8.45 and she slept in the car home. She's now playing and quite happy.