Help! Nearly 6 months old and still not sleeping well!

[mrs_bear]

Hi, I'm new to this site. I would really appreciate some help.

I have read Tracy's original book "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer" and the new one - "Solve all Your problems", however we are still having problems!
I have a little boy Daniel who will be 6 months old on 26 April. He is a beautiful baby, bright and lots of fun, but is a great challenge to me. I think he is a Touchy/Spirited baby.

I have tried to do a 4 hour schedule with him since he turned 4 months. This is tricky during the week as I also have daughter Kristen who is nearly seven in Grade 2 at school. We have to have Kristen at school by 8.30 and need to leave by 8.20 and get home by 8.45. Then we have to be back leave for school by 2.40 and get home by 3.15. It has been almost impossible to have a 4 hour schedule. There are people who could help with picking her up, but not every day - so again that would not help with a schedule. I know that Daniel is a lot better with a better schedule.

I am breast feeding and started solids just after he turned 4 months, as he was not putting on a lot of weight. I have started rice cereal,pureed fruit - apple or pear, and pureed veggies - sweet potato, pumpkin, potato, zucchini, squash. He has at least 5 breast feeds a day and 3 solid feeds. We find tat he always wakes up at the "dream feed".

During the day he has 2 sleeps of usually 1- 1 1/2 hours and sometimes a catnap of 30 to 40 minutes.  He is a very active baby, who has been rolling both ways and pushing up on his arms for some time now. The last week have has been getting around the floor quite a bit, pulling himself along or rolling.

We usually try to get him to bed by 7 to 7.30 at night. Dinner is 5.30, bath 6.00 and last breast feed before bed at around 6.30. Often he goes down and then wakes quickly and is hard to settle back to sleep. Often he has screamed and cried for up to an hour. I now do "pick up, put down" as he is upset by patting or shushing. I try to pick him up and talk quietly and say "its okay you're just tired, sleep time now" and put him down before too long. Often he is still screaming both in my arms and when I put him down! Once he finally does go to sleep, he only sleeps for about 4 hours at the most.  If I add up the sleep he had last night it is only 8 1/2 hours total!!!

Please help a very sleep deprived mum.

[Mia & Scarlett's Mummy]

Hello - just bumping you up, It sounds like your doing a great job.  I don't know what to suggest in all honestly because you are doing everything that you should as much as you can.  He could be overtired.  I've got no experience of having to fit a routine around an older child so I'm a bit lost here.  I'm sure another moderator will jump in.  If not I will get back to you once I've gotten a bit of advice.   

[Jaime]

hi,   

my second is a Touchy too... yikes!   

around 6 months i found it worked a little better if i set nap times for him....  i think if you can set a 7-7:30am wake up time, you should be fairly okay with a 9am first nap, which should work out okay with your morning schedule.  for the afternoon.... i dunno... maybe a 12:30-1pm nap time?  then at least you can get 1-2 hrs before you need to pick her up.

you may also need to do a catnap around 5 for a little while longer to help him get to bedtime.  i think he's fighting you so badly casue he's overtired and just can't deal with it anymore...

anyhow, hope something in there helps!!   

[mrs_bear]

Thanks so much to Miasmom and Jaime-Jaina & Luke for your replies. It's good to have other mum's input and advice. I think my lo may be teething too, so will watch it for a couple of days and see if a tooth comes through. I will keep trying to get a couple of sleeps in around 9 and 12 as you suggest. Thanks for the encouragement and support. I really apreciate it!

Thanks!
mrs_bear

[Katet]

My girlfriend who has a school aged lo & a 9mo, actually found the 6month mark great as far as a routine went

her lo woke around 7.30 & She could do breakfast & milk feed before doing the school run, then she used to get home, have a short play & a 9.30-10.30am nap, then a 1 - 2.30pm nap & then a 4.45-5.15pm catnap... she hates it now as the 2nd nap messes with the school run, as she can't get him down until 1.30pm & then has to wake him & he won't last past 6pm.

I think if you can make sure he isn't awake longer than about 2 hours & still offer the catnap... both my ds's didn't drop it until around 8months, you may find he is less tired at bedtime & settles better... I find that even now with my 11mo, that at times I have to move bedtime to earlier otherwise I know if I keep it at 7ish, then nightwakings will be my "reward"

Also I'd actually not offer any orange vegetables in the PM, but that ALWAYS upset both my boys tummy's & I know other Mum's have menetioned it too.

[mrs_bear]

Thanks Kate. I especially appreciate the info about the yellow veg at night. I will cut them out from now on, and hopefully it will improve.


Thanks 

Linda - mum to:

Kristen - 18 June 1999 &
Daniel - 26 October 2005