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At the end of my tether with 6mo - is this normal?

5 replies

SharpPinkDuck · 10/04/2025 09:35

I have a 6 month old DS who never slept well but has recently taken a turn for the worse beyond even the 4 month sleep regression which lasted 1.5 months for us. We’ve only really had about 2 good weeks of sleep since beginning of the year.

I started weaning at 6 months and while that’s going ok, I’ve decided to stop breastfeeding as he just isn’t sleeping more than 2 hours at a time, 2.5/3 at a push and I’m desperate for some help from my husband or family. I’ve introduced formula, and while it says on the tin they need 5 x 210ml a day, he’s chugging through 3 x 210ml plus 5 breastfeeds and 2 meals a day (porridge, veggie pasta, etc) and having at least 3 feeds at night.

I can’t understand why he is taking on so much and nothing I do in regards to feeding is making any difference. Is it normal for a 6 month old to need to eat this much?

He goes “to bed” at just gone 7, wakes 10, 12, 1 3, at 5am wakes for about half an hour and then wakes for the day at 7.

Im absolutely exhausted and feel like I can’t keep this up for much longer - I don’t know if it’s a schedule issue but I can’t settle him in the night without him feeding and he is taking the milk. He settles himself at bedtime and we’ve been working on this. During the day his naps are all over the place in terms of length, they can be 20 mins or 2hrs there’s no consistency so it makes it hard to keep to our set bedtime in terms of wake windows.

if anyone has any advice I’d be so grateful as I’m trying to save for a sleep consultant.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
AirFryerCrumpet · 10/04/2025 09:45

Sleep isn't really about feeding. How is he getting to sleep? Can he settle himself when he stirs in the night or does he need adult input?

April1stbaby · 11/04/2025 09:06

I could have written this myself. No words of wisdom I’m afraid mama. Just here to say you’re not alone with this :)

SharpPinkDuck · 17/05/2025 23:57

Update for anyone interested: he suddenly started sleeping through the night and dropped all night feeds one day to the next, about a week after I wrote this, and is still doing so at 8 months. It’s a wild ride! So just in case anyone sees this, it does and can get better in its own time ❤️‍🩹

OP posts:
TheTealBiscuit · 18/05/2025 01:19

Yay mama!
This gives me hope. Currently 3 months in with DD who's a terrible sleeper.

April1stbaby · 18/05/2025 05:37

@SharpPinkDuck so glad to hear this. My DD also just suddenly started sleeping most of the night and sometimes sleeping through at 8m.
you’re right it’s a wild ride. Maybe some babies it just clicks and developmentally they’re ready
Hooray for sleep

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