More Sleep Issues

maritimeme · October 2013

DD is almost 6.5 months and I'm still waiting for her sleep to improve. This includes naps.

We have done a bit if sleep training and she can put herself to sleep with 5-10 mins of fussing for naps and no fussing at bed (7pm and sometimes she nurses to sleep). But her naps are never longer than 30 mins! I try and let her fuss for 10-15 mins after waking to make sure she's in the crib for a total of 1 hour and have started scheduled naps. Nothing has helped.

Then for nights, about once a week he will do a 5 hr stretch. Otherwise she's up at least three times a night. Again, I give her the chance to go back to sleep but she never does. I used to be able to do checks and she'd settle down but now it's pure wailing if I go in an try that. I always end up nursing her back to sleep. She does eat but not a ton. She wakes every 2-3 hours now. Tylenol doesn't make a difference.

I guess I just need to wait it out? She has never slept through the night but has done consistently better than she has been doing the last few months. We have sleep trained but I don't really want to let her cry in the dark alone longer than the 10 mins or so we are already doing. Any tips about naps? I'm just confused as to why she can put herself to sleep but not back again after waking up!

jannv11 · October 2013

That was DD up until the last week and she will be 7 months on the 6th. We tried sleep training and it didn't work but she could put herself to sleep when put to bed at night. I've been keeping her up longer between naps and longer before bedtime and seems to work for now.

jonesie2010 · October 2013

I don't really have any answers, but wanted to let you know you're not alone. DD is almost 6.5 months and we're still having some trouble too. We've had some success with CIO in that she can now put herself to sleep with just a little fussing. And she sleeps like a champ from 6 p.m. to 2 or 3 a.m. But after that it all falls apart. She still wakes to eat around then, and is very difficult to get back to sleep, just lightly catnapping so I can't lay her down. And CIO is much harder in the middle of the night when I'm just laying there thinking she might be scared or hungry. She cried for 40 minutes the other night (and I did too) before I gave up and went to get her.

Naps seem to be improving sloooooowly. We now get an hour+ nap several days a week.

Not sure what to do about night time. I may try to keep her up later in the evening, but by 6 p.m. she is usually a cranky beast (esp if she hasn't napped well). And the times we've tried in the past, she still woke up at 3 a.m. anyway.

Oh well. I just keep telling myself that at least it's better than it was during the 4 month regression. That seriously was the worst month of my life!

Kara13360 · October 2013

How much is your LO eating during the day? Once my DS started eating a very good amount and also on solids he started to sleep through the night (also had to let him CIO for a few days though). He would wake to eat at night but once I knew he didn't need to eat and was getting plenty during the day, CIO worked. I use to try letting him CIO before and it never worked cause he genuinely was hungry. My LO is just over 8 months and he started STTN at 7 months.

mrsdeanna · October 2013

Do you have a video monitor? That is my only saving grace when it came to CIO. I could watch him and know that he was ok. If you know her belly is full, she is warm and not in any pain, then Letting her cry is sometimes the only way. But consistency is key. Believe me we just got thru it, he is now STTN but naps still are somewhat of a mess. He will only nap 20-40 min but he wakes up happy so I'm ok with that. I remember DS1 being the same way and naps started getting more consistent around 7 months and after he was getting a good nights sleep. My friend talked to a personal sleep trainer for her twins, (yes there is a profession for it and they make a ton of money) but told her the only way is letting them cry. Making sure the room is dark, Going in and patting their belly a few times, not saying anything, then walking back out. For her twins, First night took 45 min, second night, 30 min and the last night 10 min. The sleep trainer said it would take 3 days and it did. But consistency was key. She did it at 6 months and they were STTN and their naps went to 2 hour naps each.

I'm sorry I wish I had more advice. Just know there is light at the end of the tunnel and it does get better.

momofmanyinthemitten · October 2013

DS is 8 mos and we're still dealing with this. You're not alone.

maritimeme · October 2013

Kara13360 said:
How much is your LO eating during the day? Once my DS started eating a very good amount and also on solids he started to sleep through the night (also had to let him CIO for a few days though). He would wake to eat at night but once I knew he didn't need to eat and was getting plenty during the day, CIO worked. I use to try letting him CIO before and it never worked cause he genuinely was hungry. My LO is just over 8 months and he started STTN at 7 months.

She has a tiny appetite and solids aren't yet well established. I know that she needs to eat in the middle of the night but not necessarily every 2-3 hours! I am hoping once she eats more during the day that nights will get a bit better. They are just hit or miss these days. I'm surprised I'm not as tired as I think I should be!

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