HELP! Desperate!! Over 3 weeks, waking 6 times every night at 7 months!

[ToSleepPerchanceToDream]

Hi all,

Really desperate for some advice to break a new horrible, horrible routine.....Our LO is 6.5mo old and Spirited/Touchy.

She has always been very difficult to get to nap and sleep, but we somehow managed to get her to sleep through the night (8pm-7am) by being very persistant/strict and switching her to a 4 Hour EASY at 4mo.  Prior to that she was difficult day and night.

She is/has been healthy and well, breastfeeding and having 3 small meals of solids a day (fruit/veggies) and pooing well.  She has never really self-soothed no matter how we have tried...usually needs shushing to sleep.  Moved to her own room 3 months ago.

We have been able to manage the difficult days thanks to the fact that she was sleeping through....Now that's gone   

For the last 3 weeks she wakes every hour crying.....requires either shushing (dropped the patting months ago) or a PU/PD to settle back down.    We don't run in immediately and it's not just a Mantra cry.  Also, over the last month or so, only Mum can settle her - when Dad tries to do the same settling, she just winds up and screams more - very stressful for both of us.   She's not obviously teething or reached dramatic milestones.  She won't take a pacifier, just plays with it and spits it out a lot.  Does not seem to be overtired most of the time - we think she is just a short-napper

Routine Previously:
E - 7.30am
A
S - 8.30am (Self-settled) until 10.15
E - 11.30am
A
S - 1.30pm for 30mins (She will never nap more than this during the day despite all attempts at extending) after shushing for 10-30mins
E - 3.30pm
A
S - Never
E - 6.30pm
A
S - 8pm after shushing
E - 10pm and sleeps through

NOW (changes highlighted):
E - 7.30am
A
S - 8.30am (Often needs settling) until 10.15
E - 11.30am
A
S - 1.30pm for 30mins (She will never nap more than this during the day) after shushing for 10-30mins
E - 3.30pm
A
S - Never
E - 6.30pm
A
S - 8pm after shushing - then wakes every half hour, needing either shushing or PU/PD
E - 10pm and then wakes every hour, needing either shushing or PU/PD


HELP - we need to know how to break this routine of Mum having to wake and go back in every single hour.......We're wondering if it could be separation anxiety or if the shushing has become a prop....

Please accept our thanks for any advice in advance!

[Rach03]

Sorry to hear your not sleeping. Don't have much help to offer, but I can sympathize:)
DD is almost 6 mths and not sleeping either. She got croup which set her off intially then stomach flu and teething. Could your LO be sick or teething??

Someone with more experience should respond to you too, but I THINK, that after 6mths you are not suposed to shh/pat anymore because it distracts older babies. Instead you do pick up/ put down. There is a support thread for this technique.

Also... with our son, when he went through this too, around same age too! I ended up sleeping on the floor in his room for a few nights until things settled. Sucks, but sleeps now... kinda ...lol!

[*~goldie~*]

Hi there,

could your little one be teething/having developmental milestone/growth spurt?

Do you still do evening bulking up and a dreamfeed? (is the 10pm eat intended?)

With it being winter are you overdressing her for bed so she may be too hot? Is a noise waking her up? Have you tried to introduce a lovie like a favourite blanket or fleecy toy?

How long do you wait before going into her room? Has something happened for her to be anxious? eg starting with childminder or day care that could hinder the trust?

Personally with the info given i would put the time solids are given later into the cycle as she may not be sleeping out of hunger especially if having a growth spurt....

Also is there any possibility she's showing signs of overtiredness as 3.30-8 seems a long time to go at her age although I know some babies do handle this.

Does baby have a sleeptime routine like a snuggle or story,bath,massage etc?

Mybe able to advuise further in answer to my questions especially the answer to how long you wait before going to her room....

[Sarah - Enfys' Mum]

I'm sorry but it sounds to me like she is desparately over tired.  I would cut back her A time after her first nap; it's over three hours now which is probably why she's only napping 30 minutes and then she's awake until 8 pm.  Also, if she wakes at 7 and having her first nap at 8.30, she might even be UNDER tired then and not able to take a long am nap so I would actually move the first nap back slowly till 9, hopefully she'll then sleep till 10.30 and then you could do 1 pm?  for the second nap.  hth

(My dd is 22 months and gets up from her nap at 3.30 for bed at

[ToSleepPerchanceToDream]

Thanks for the reply so far.  As for the questions,

She doesn't seem to be teething or be going through developmental milestones, I guess she could be going through a growth spurt.

We don't specifically bulk up at the 6.30pm feed, but the 10pm feed is a deliberate dreamfeed each night.

Her temperature seems to be fine and her room is quite quiet.  She does not have a favourite blanket or soft toy in the cot.

The time before we go in the room is variable, but we always wait for her crying to escalate before going in...it's usually about 1-2 minutes after she starts.

She is probably a bit overtired by 8.30pm, but it has always been almost impossible to get her to have a third nap before this without rocking/bouncing her to sleep (which we don't do).

Her regular routine at the end of her feed at 6.30-7.30pm, is a story, then nappy change and then bed.

Thanks again.

[ToSleepPerchanceToDream]

A quick update - or LO has now been waking 5-6x every night for 3 1/2 weeks now with no improvement  (
For example, last night she slept from 8.00pm until 11.30pm, but then woke every hour or so - many times inconsolably screaming   The night before, she would not sleep early and then only really settled after 4am......

We have tried a number of things to try and get it right:

1) We have altered her routine to pushing her harder to get a third nap during the day, which she is managing after abut 30-40 minutes of settling.
2) We now feed her solids at 5.30pm, then her final breastfeed is at 7pm and sleep at 7.30 and have dropped the 10pm dreamfeed.
3) We are feeding her more solids to tank up for the night
4) We make sure we do not pick her up to resettle her when she wakes up overnight, rather we just shush her, unless she screams for a few minutes in which case we do a classic PU/PD.

Any ideas would be SOOOOOOOO welcome

[Rach03]

Wish I had a miracle cure... I'd use on my DD right now
Hmm..
How long is her total nappinng during the day? Could she be OT?
Does she seem to want anything when she wakes up? Is she gassy? In pain?
Did you introduce a new food when all this started.. could be a reaction... maybe stick to gentle foods... cereals (rice and oatmeal) and see if that helps??
She happy during day? or when distracted?
I know this sucks! Especially once you have gotten used to getting sleep to have it taken away is really hard and frustrating.... try to get some help so you can either sleep (if you can) or just relax.....
let me know how you make out!

[gemtreacle]

I'm in the same situation and Im stuck for ideas now. My LO will have about 3 hours in naps, is on solids, not hot or cold. She gets to about 11 and wakes every hour!! She needs comfort. I just cant understand how she will go straight to sleep at 8 but cant settle herself during the night.
I feel your pain.