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6.5mo suddenly screaming before every sleep?!

6 replies

Corbiere92 · 20/08/2022 07:18

My 6.5mo DS has never been a perfect sleeper, and it’s not something that worries me - contact naps regularly, needs my help to fall asleep etc. Overnight he wI’ll normally do a 5-6 hour stretch, wake for a feed and then go back to sleep for another 3 hour stretch before next feed and so on.

He is BF and starting solids although not super interested so on one meal a day atm.

He is just getting over a virus, not sure what but he had fever for 4 days and has now got a slight cough but otherwise ok.

Reason for post - the last 2 days have been a nightmare to get him to sleep! He has gone from being fairly easily settled with minimal/no crying to screaming the place down, whatever we try to do to settle him, then waking 20 mins later - for naps and sleep.

He has also taken to grabbing and pinching my face/neck when I’m trying to settle him, he gets into a real temper!

I don’t have a set routine, just follow sleepy cues which normally means first nap is 1hr45 after waking, lasting 1-2hours, second nap 2hours ish after waking, another 1-2 hours and third cat nap of about 45 mins 2-3 hours after waking, bedtime 2 hours later. Worked well until the last couple of days which are now a battle every time.

Help!! Is he overtired?? Is it the virus, is he in pain (seems okay the rest of the day!)?? Could it be a developmental thing? Any opinions/ ideas/ experiences welcome!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Milkand2sugarsplease · 20/08/2022 07:31

Every leap my DS2 went through caused unsettled naps for a few day and he would fight them. Look at Wonder Weeks App

Alongside this is the realisation that sleep CAN be fought - a new "skill"

Alongside this can be disruptions from weaning - different feelings inside the body as it gets used to processing other foods than he's ever had before.

Over tiredness from fighting naps

Like you said, a virus.

For small packages, babies sure cause big questions....

Keep going! He'll get back to his normal x

Milkand2sugarsplease · 20/08/2022 07:34

Also, might be wort trying naps in his cot or in his pram etc if you're on the go (mine flat out refuses on the go naps) it'll help set up a good routine for him as he leaves little baby days behind and becomes a creature of habit x

Corbiere92 · 22/08/2022 07:59

Thanks @Milkand2sugarsplease

I’ve downloaded wonder weeks now thank you! Very enlightening!

He does seem slightly more settled than he was a few days ago, although not 100% and funnily enough we’ve just started trying naps in the cot upstairs which went better than I expected!

I’m hoping it is developmental, and he settles down again soon…

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sunflowerandivy · 22/08/2022 09:56

His awake windows seem really short for his age and I don't think there's enough sleep pressure. Bedtime 2 hours after last nap? My 7 month old would never sleep after 2 hours awake! He's having 3 longish naps in the day. He sounds like he's consolidated his naps and is due to transition to 2 naps a day with longer awake periods. I've just changed up my 7 month old naps from 3 to 2 and it's been amazing

6:30 awake
9:15 nap 1 (1.5 hours)
2pm nap 2 (1/1.5 hours)
7:30 bedtime

We were getting split nights, early wakings and she cried a fair bit at bedtime too. Two naps seem to have sorted out the issues.

sunflowerandivy · 22/08/2022 09:57

Also I was only contact napping until 10 days ago! All naps now in cot!

Corbiere92 · 10/10/2022 18:16

Thanks @sunflowerandivy after your suggestions I did a bit of tweaking and I think I was trying too soon and he wasn’t tired enough! I tried to be more tuned into his tiredness cues and didn’t rush to try and get him to nap unless he seemed tired and it worked wonders … don’t get me wrong he’s not perfect but no more screaming blue murder!

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