Advice for 7mo sleep please!

gkok · 2023-01-03T13:19:58+00:00

Really struggling with DS sleep. 7 months corrected age and teething but he’s been having these issues for months. He will not go to sleep until 9pm every night and cries if we put him down. Sleep training hasn’t helped and he will keep crying til 9pm. During the day he will only nap for 30 mins at a time and probably gets an hour or slightly longer total throughout the day. Sleeps through the night til around 8am. Any suggestions please to get him to bed earlier and nap for longer during the day!

ramblerambleramble · 03/01/2023 21:14

Hi, does he sleep from 9pm to 8am without waking? I'd wake him earlier in the morning if you want him to go to sleep earlier than 9pm. Move him gradually by 10-15 minutes each day.

BuffaloCauliflower · 03/01/2023 21:18

He sounds perfectly fine? 30 minute naps are normal at this age, and sleeping through 9pm-8am is a dream for a 7mo! That’s not usual. I’d say your baby is a better sleeper than most is there a reason you’d really like them to go to bed earlier? You could try waking them earlier in the morning consistently so they’re tired earlier in the evening, but you’re unlikely to make them sleep a longer period over night, 11 hours is plenty for many babies. Naps may get longer in time, but with such a good stretch of sleep over night they may just not need more day sleep.

Hatscats · 03/01/2023 21:19

9pm to 8am sounds amazing?!

if you want an earlier bed then you’ll need to wake them up earlier!

Original poster

gkok · 04/01/2023 08:43

BuffaloCauliflower · 03/01/2023 21:18

He sounds perfectly fine? 30 minute naps are normal at this age, and sleeping through 9pm-8am is a dream for a 7mo! That’s not usual. I’d say your baby is a better sleeper than most is there a reason you’d really like them to go to bed earlier? You could try waking them earlier in the morning consistently so they’re tired earlier in the evening, but you’re unlikely to make them sleep a longer period over night, 11 hours is plenty for many babies. Naps may get longer in time, but with such a good stretch of sleep over night they may just not need more day sleep.

Thanks for the advice. I guess I just thought a few of his daytime naps should be longer, as every single one is 30mins. Also probably selfish reasons too as I have no time to do anything before he’s awake again and am slightly losing my mind !!
Seen that recommended sleep for 7mo is around 14-15 hours in 24h, but he’s only getting around 12 max. Maybe he’s just one of those hyper babies who can cope with less!

he always shows sleepy cues around 7pm ish though but still won’t let himself drop off til 9 or later every night. Sleep environment is good, relaxing bedtime routine, fed and changed but won’t get off!

OP posts:

FlounderingFruitcake · 04/01/2023 08:52

9-8 is a good solid chunk of overnight sleep. If you want an earlier bedtime to get your evenings back then start waking him at 7 and putting him down at 8 but I’d probably do this gradually, every 15 minutes at a time. I wouldn’t mess with naps either if the overnight sleep is so good. If he gets an hour extra in the day but cuts down to 10 overnight as a result then that’s counterproductive.

BuffaloCauliflower · 04/01/2023 09:24

@gkok sleep recommendations, and needs, are actually a lot broader than that. A maximum of 12 is just fine, your baby just seems to have the lower end of sleep needs. As he’s getting such a good stint of night sleep that’s clearly setting him well for the day. There’s so much more variation in normal than it’s often presented as.
My DS has always been similar in showing sleepy cues at night for a long time before actually sleeping, just needs a lot of wind down time. Best thing you can do is follow their lead and try not to worry too much. If he’s tired, he’ll sleep.
As he gets bigger he may well take longer naps, but again I wouldn’t stress about it.

Original poster

gkok · 04/01/2023 14:05

BuffaloCauliflower · 04/01/2023 09:24

@gkok sleep recommendations, and needs, are actually a lot broader than that. A maximum of 12 is just fine, your baby just seems to have the lower end of sleep needs. As he’s getting such a good stint of night sleep that’s clearly setting him well for the day. There’s so much more variation in normal than it’s often presented as.
My DS has always been similar in showing sleepy cues at night for a long time before actually sleeping, just needs a lot of wind down time. Best thing you can do is follow their lead and try not to worry too much. If he’s tired, he’ll sleep.
As he gets bigger he may well take longer naps, but again I wouldn’t stress about it.

Thank you and everyone for the advice! Feeling more reassured now, will try to stop fixating on making him sleep !

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