Hello, exhausted mum of DD who is 6 months old. As a newborn she was great and all she did was sleep and kept to a routine. 5 months came and bam sleep regression I think kicked in. But I am exhausted and really don't know what to do as speaking to other mums i get ride it out, get a sleep consultant, get snooze pod etc.
Basically, in the day time regardless of wake windows or her cues she will only do 30 minutes. She will also only do a pram nap or contact but can time 30 mins and she wakes up on the dot. I've tried patting and shushing her just before 30 mins is up, giving a dummy, rocking and still will only be 30 minutes. She likes to be awake for around 2 hours before a nap, bar the morning depending when she wakes can be only 1.5.
I've tried napping in a dark room with white noise and it takes about 20 mins to rock to sleep and then sleeps for 10 mins. She also does not cry, she's not a big crier. She just lies there and babbles plays with feet and laughs. Same with after waking after 30 mins she is happy smiley and babbly.
This would be fine if mornings she woke up consistent time. She used to wake up at 7am every day and sleep through tbe night but not anymore.
She goes to bed at 7.15pm we've tried pushing it later and she has a mental breakdown and even kf she went to sleep at 8 or 9 she still gets up same time.
She wakes up between 4.30 and 5.30 to start the day. We've tried rocking her back giving her a feed etc and nothing. She doesn't want food she's not a big milk drinker in general never has been, won't be rocked and wants to play. Again doesn't cry when wakes up. I've tired putting her on me at 4m30 to see if she'll sleep and she might do another 10 mins but then wakes up. Because of this by 7am she's knackered and falling asleep downstairs. She's got black out blinds white noise etc. She has been eating food for last.month and is eating well so not hungry. And doesn't want milk when she wakes anyway.
It's all on me 24 7 as my husband works away alot and we have no family near us
I'm also someone who likes routine and consistently so really struggling with it.
People in mum groups telling me to get sleep consultant or just accept it but I can't I'm exhausted.
People saying she needs 3 naps a day not 4 but we tried 3 and she had a breakdown from 6pm till bedtime and still slept terribly. She needs a cat nap between 5 and 5.30.
She used to do 1.5 hour naps and slept 8pm till 7am with bottle at 10ish. Now it's 30 mins every 2 hours bed between 7 and 7.15 with a massive bottle then wakes at 4.30am. I've tried giving her dream feed and she doesn't take it. Tried bottle at 4m30 and again doesn't want it.
Seeing online these plans for a 6 month old should be 3 naps and like 1 hour long? I also don't understand how I'm meant to put her down to sleep wnd her jsut sleep without help? I can't do cry it out as she doesn't cry 🤣🤣 I've genuinely left her in a cot for over an hour and she just laughed and babbled. And soon as went out for a walk she went to sleep. I'd really like a consistent schedule and help to get her to sleep and not needing as much contact naps or me waking for miles.
I like routine and really trying to enforce one but when she's getting up different times every morning it's hard to implement one.
Thanks from a very tired mam currently who was up all night