Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Original poster

6 month old not sleeping please give some advice

18 replies

Nicolle1810 · 15/04/2025 08:22

Hi, My boy is a few days short of being 6 months, for the last 5/6 weeks he hasn't been sleeping great at all. Previously he was sleeping all night going down about 7/8pm waken up about 6.30. For the last 5 to 6 weeks he will sleep for maybe an hour or 2 then is up when trying settle him back down, rocking shushing bum pats nothing works until I feed him back to sleep, this continues all night. He will nap during day the usually a couple of shorts naps 20-30mins with one longer one maybe an hour. It doesn't seem to make a difference the time of his naps. I'm breastfeeding and was advised he perhaps wasn't getting enough milk from me so I'm now combi feeding given him 2 to 3 bottles of formula a day the last being before bedtime. Any advice would be greatly appreciated I'm physically exhausted and don't know what to do for the best.

OP posts:
Blackoutbeans · 15/04/2025 08:42

He could be going through the 6 months regression, it is a huge leap around this age. Usually if they have previously been good sleepers once they master their new skill they get back to sleeping well.

My little one is the same age and also Ebf but still wakes 4-5 times a night to feed 🫠

Personally, if your little one is only waking once and then going back to sleep after feeding, I would carry on with that. He might just need the extra calories for a while.

Original poster
Nicolle1810 · 15/04/2025 09:02

Thanks for your reply. Sorry Maybe my post wasn't too clear he continues to waken every hour to 2 all night last night for example he was in bed at 8.20 last night, up around 10.30pm, then 11.30pm, 1.40am, 2.30am, 5am then we got up for the day at 7am do you think this is just him learning a new skill? And perhaps needing the extra calories.

OP posts:
peacelil · 15/04/2025 09:55

I’m so sorry it’s really rough. I remember this age being tricky for sleep. Baby sleep isn’t necessarily linear and can go back and forth all the time. Just to reassure you that it will pass, you’re doing nothing wrong and everything right by responding to him. I just fed back to sleep immediately as it was the quickest way for him and me to get back to sleep. Early bed time for you too if you can, and take things as easy as you can during the day - I did slow mornings, minimal housework etc in order to get through. Solidarity! It’s so difficult and you’re doing an amazing job.

AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 15/04/2025 09:57

Baby sleep is not linear. Their brains are developing at the speed of light and it’s disruptive. I’m a counsellor and often find clients’ expectations are the thing that need changing when they’ve had a baby, in many, many ways.

mewkins · 15/04/2025 10:02

How is he getting to sleep? If it's always by feeding to sleep then he's going to struggle transitioning to his next sleep cycle without also feeding.

Original poster
Nicolle1810 · 15/04/2025 10:12

Yeah I've always fed him to sleep. Was advised my health visitor to try put him down while he is sleepy but not quite asleep but if I do this as soon as his head touched the cot he is wide awake so it's been easier to just feed him completely to sleep but don't know if this is what's best for him or if I should be trying to stop this.

OP posts:
AmIHumanOrAmIAYeti · 15/04/2025 10:13

If you’re happy feeding him to sleep, you can keep doing that. You won’t still be feeding him at 14, whatever anyone says. Month 8 can be a tricky one. Some people will sleep train at 6 months in hope it will be permanent. Others just ride the waves.

Sunshineclouds11 · 15/04/2025 10:15

We went through this, it was so hard.
nothing I tried worked unfortunately and we had to ride it out.

littleprawn2024 · 15/04/2025 10:16

My little guy is 6 months and he really struggled at first. During the day was worse as he would cat nap! I’ve found leaving him to self-soothe (even at night) works best. He does cry when he’s had enough but they need space to learn how to get back to sleep. I was so bad for nursing him back to sleep - I do still feed him when he’s hungry but most of the time at night he just wakes up to find his dummy. It will pass and get easier ☺️

Cinai2 · 15/04/2025 10:18

We’re going through the same thing…DS was a great sleeper until 4 months old and then it got worse week by week. Now at 7 months we get a 2-3 hour stretch followed by not much more 😵‍💫

BC2603 · 15/04/2025 10:22

We still feed our LB to sleep. We had a very experienced nursery nurse visit and say that’s absolutely fine if that’s what he needs however reduce the amount being fed overnight. So say 4oz to 3-2-1. We had to try to increase the food intake in the day as he was eating more overnight. This has worked and we’ve gone from the same wake ups as you to the last week having only 1 wake up. We are giving him 4oz for now on that feed and will start reducing that one over time to wean off of night feeds.

We found that by having a proper breakfast (weetabix) helped wake up his daytime appetite too so he’s now getting more in

We had awful sleep from just after 4 months (mix of regression and him being poorly at the same time) that lasted 8 weeks…I understand the pain.

It could just be the 6 month regression and it’ll regulate but just keep an eye on it

MammaTo · 15/04/2025 10:25

I’ve only got the one child’s worth of experience to go off but now nearly 3 years in, the only thing I can say is baby’s sleep is always going to be up and down. We can have months of blissful sleep and then out of the blue have a month of terrible sleep. Things got a lot better once she turned 2, might wake once in the night to get in our bed but then does sleep through. I’ve found all we can do is ride it out.

Foxtrotbeta · 15/04/2025 10:25

I'd really recommend following Lyndsey Hookway if you're on Instagram, really reassuring, qualified sensible advice on infant sleep. She has suggestions and ways to improve sleep without sleep training or cry it out. But mostly I find it reassuring to be told how normal changes to sleep are at this age.

converseandjeans · 15/04/2025 10:43

Are you not feeding any solids? If so I would guess he is hungry & the milk is only filling him up for a short time.

Original poster
Nicolle1810 · 15/04/2025 13:58

Just started him on solids about 2 weeks ago started with breakfast last night he had supper as well so just gradually building up what he eats during the day.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nicolle1810 · 15/04/2025 14:01

Thank you so much everyone for your advice and just general understanding makes me feel better just known I'm not alone. First time using mumsnet and will take the advice on board and see if it helps.You guys are great thank you 🥰

OP posts:
Chattie89 · 15/04/2025 14:11

My DD turned a massive corner in terms of sleep when we introduced 3 meals a day, they don't have to be big or complicated. I suddenly found a little bit of baby rice and some mashed avocado about 5pm would help her do a really long stretch from 7pm till about 1am and within a few weeks of eating solids she was sleeping 7-6.

My friend got a sleep consultant in around 6 months as her DS was waking every hour, she was told to immediately start 3 meals a day and keep offering more until he's making it clear he's full. She kept breastfeeding alongside. She said it changed her life.

Hang in there, it will pass!

Eagerlywaiting1990 · 14/04/2026 19:30

Just came to offer some solidarity. Could have written this post myself. The lack of sleep is grim. We get so many false starts too x

New posts on this thread. Refresh page