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5 month old sleep advice

2 replies

cgwx · 16/01/2026 01:31

Hi All - so daughter is our 3rd and final baby, and I am hugely struggling with the sleep and attachment thing. I don’f ever remember it being this hard with my other 2 (all be it they are now 11 and 8 so could be that I just forgot it). She always wants to sleep on her side even when I put her on her back, she hates gro bags so bad to get those versions of the onesies instead. She needs her dummy to settle / encourage self soothing. But it’s almost like she wakes every 30 mins after being put down at night for bedtime but then within 2 hours she’s ok and asleep. She then wakes up for a bottle and sometimes she struggles to settle back off other times she doesn’t. We have to hold her or cuddle her until shes half asleep and then place her in her crib. Shes had Bronchiolitis, Flu and conjunctivitis which I think could be adding to the pressure because she’s then naturally wanted more comfort because she’s been unwell and now it’s almost as if she can’t cope without having constant contact even during the day which then makes me think is that a build up to the night time problems.

I don’t know what to do but having 2 older kids and trying not to wake them (they are SEN so absolutely don’t want to risk the wake up from them) and also trying to get sleep yourself and function at a normal level the next day is a lot. She’s always crying or screaming for me too, regardless of what I’m doing. Even if I place her on her mat with some toys for tummy time and practice rolling etc.

thanks C x

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
TheHumanRepresentative · 16/01/2026 05:40

Sounds normal, unfortunately, so I'm going with you just forgot 😅. Or maybe you had unicorn babies with your first two! It sounds very similar to my dd at that age anyway. It's so so hard in the moment, but it's likely just a phase that will pass.

It's okay to let her sleep on her side though! I'm guessing you've tried most other things? Noise machine, black out curtains, different room temperatures ect?

Peonies12 · 16/01/2026 10:39

If she's waking so soon after bedtime, that suggests she needs to have a longer time awake before going to bed - so either finish last nap earlier, or later bedtime. It's completely normal for babies to want constant contact - what she's doing is normal, it's not a problem. Are you able to set up a safe co-sleeping arrangement? It's fine to sleep on her side, mine always did as I breastfeed lying side to side, then she'd fall asleep and I'd leave her there - we shared a double bed just me and her for the first 6 months. You could use a carrier during the day so she's close to you but you can do things.

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