Six-month-old waking after bedtime and overnight, any settling tips?

[rachshelly]

My 6.5-month-old has generally been a good sleeper from early on, but recently we’ve started having some issues. About an hour after going to bed, he wakes up crying, and it can take well over an hour to settle him again. I usually sit with him, offering comfort by holding his hand and gently patting his stomach or back. The only thing that really calms him is when I hold him—he falls asleep straight away—but then wakes as soon as I put him back down.
He’s also been waking intermittently throughout the night. For example, this morning he was awake from 3–4am before going back to sleep, then woke again at 5am crying and wouldn’t settle. He doesn’t seem hungry, but in the end I had to let him sleep on me, which I know probably isn’t helping long-term.
He is teething (he currently has three teeth), so I think it may be a mix of teething discomfort and separation anxiety. He’s still sleeping in our room for now, and we’re planning to move him into his own room after we go on holiday in a few weeks.
Does anyone have any tips that might help—ideally ones that don’t involve me having to constantly hold him?

Sounds like he isn't tired enough for the night. Reduce his nap times and later bedtime. but also just do what works, don't worry about the long term. i coslept from birth but 18 month old now sleeps alone through the night.

Is he going through a developmental leap at all? Learning how to crawl or whatever? That can have a sudden impact on sleep.

Any chance he's too cold?

It could just be a habit he's developed. The more he's convinced he needs to be held to sleep the harder it will be for him to resettle himself. Do you have a partner who could take over the soothing at night? They're often more accepting of being put down again by dad.