7mo suddenly refusing to be put down for sleep - feeling like a terrible mummy

[Songbird21]

7mo baby has turned into an absolute nightmare for every nap and bedtime.

From around 5mo she’d only been doing 2-3 hour stretches anyway with the occasional 5hour. (Before 5mo she had a dummy and was a champion sleeper but completely refuses it now).

Things have got decidedly worse over the last couple of nights. Screams and screams (even rocked in arms) for up to 90 minutes before bed. Then up anywhere between every 25mins-1h. She eventually falls to sleep in arms but will not be put down.

Naps have rarely been longer than 30mins unless I rock her back to sleep and hold her (which I have been doing to try to stop her getting horribly overtired). Yesterday she was up at 8 (in our bed from 5.30). Slept 10-10.45, 1-3 and then we still had a screamathon on our hands for bedtime at 7.

I’m at a loss. Any ideas? Or anyone who has been through this and can reassure me it will pass? I can deal with the sleep deprivation but all the screaming is really upsetting and makes me feel like an absolutely terrible mum ☹️

Not necessarily got any answers but yes it will pass! I’ve got a 4 year old and a 7 month old. Baby is also in a “don’t put me down” mood at night (naps are a bit better). In our case I think it’s teeth (first 2 just cut) and trying to crawl, and possibly starting solids - she’s not taking to it so still very early days and might be upsetting her tummy. At the moment I’m co sleeping with her from about 1am after my husband tries to console her and get her down before that. We’re shattered but it will pass

I’m in exactly the same boat @Songbird21 - if it’s any consolation my DD uses a dummy and STILL wakes constantly, even with it still in her mouth so I don’t think that would make any difference. I’m hoping it passes. I’ve read a lot that 10 months can see improvement so I’m holding out til then…

Is she maybe underwired instead of overtired? My 7mo only has about 2 hours of daytime sleep and falls asleep quickly at bedtime. He still wakes every 2-3 hours but those wakes are easy, half the time he just rolls around for a bit and puts himself back to sleep, and the other half are a quick feed and back to sleep so he’s definitely not overtired.

Thank you for the solidarity! Still much the same here. (In fact we had a bad patch of illness so sleep was even worse for a while!). We’ve had a few really good stretches on the odd night but as far as I can tell it’s completely random.

I thought about under tiredness but if she had her way, she’d crash out for 2 x 25min power naps a day and be done with it which surely can’t be right at her age?

Really hope this phase passes quickly!

if she had her way, she’d crash out for 2 x 25min power naps a day and be done with it which surely can’t be right at her age?

Try it and see what happens? 🙂 One day of crap naps isn't going to do her any harm, and since bedtime is already a mess it's not like you'd ruin something that's working. The amount of daily sleep babies need can vary by up to 8 hours (!!) between individuals of the same age! Maybe she's just lower sleep needs than average.

When my first woke that frequently it was teeth, I suspect that's your problem. Possibly try Calpol and see if that helps?

Have you had her ears checked? Earache is agonising and gets better when the child is vertical and gets much worse when horizontal. Ear infection is a very common cause of little children and babies being very distressed when being laid down. Teething often causes congestion in the middle ear and is very painful.