Fidgeting Restless Six Month Old

[YfenniChristie]

Hello! I've posted before about DS fidgeting in his sleep many months ago and with everyone's help we figured it was wind. I'm back again with a similar problem.

For the last few days, DS has been restless and fidgeting in his sleep. If he falls asleep during a feed, I'll hold him and he'll start off still but then will then start throwing himself around (in my arms!) as if he can't get comfy.

If I can get him to settle, he'll start fidgeting almost as soon as his bottom touches the cot mattress. He'll start rubbing his face, pulling at his ears (he does this while breastfeeding too), kicking the bottom of his cot, flailing his arms around and scratching the sides of his cot. He always looks like he's about to drop off, his whole body relaxes but then he starts off again. Nine times out of ten, he will wake himself up and start whinging; otherwise he will self-settle but it can take a while, a long while.

I don't think it's wind. I've tried winding him and I get nothing out of him. I'm wondering if it's developmental as he's figured out how to pull himself up from sitting and can stand with our support. Plus he's discovered shrieking!

Any suggestions? Anyone else experienced this?

Everything you describe there is baby trying, not very successfully, to self settle.

All of that thrashing around is baby frustratingly trying to say "I'm sooooo tired and want yo go to sleep. But I cannnnttttttt. Augh!!!!"

Solving it means helping baby find a more effective way to go to sleep.

I would suggest after feeding and winding baby, put him in the cot straight away.

Use your body touch and closeness for reassurance. So place one forearm across babys legs, the other arm kn babys chest. Keep your face close to babys (so lean into the cot), so he can see, hear and feel your breath on his cheek, smell you and feel your touch throughout going to sleep.

A dummy will help a lot to allow comfort sucking too.

Yes, baby will likely cry. You may also get him trashing against you, but try to keep him feeling still and contained in your arms, whilst in the cot.

The idea is he falls asleep in the cot, but with lots of your help, then stays there and doesn't have to move again once asleep.

When he is asleep, wait a while before extracting yourself and even then, do it very slowly and very, very carefully.

Thank you! I will give that a go tonight. It took me nearly two hours last night to get him to properly settle. 😵