6 Month Old Not Sleeping

I had a problem like this when my daughter was 11 months old. From the time she was three months old, she'd go to bed every night with no problem and would sleep through the whole night (usually about 12 hours). Then, around 10-11 months, she'd wake up during the night crying and she was having trouble going to sleep . She'd start screaming when I would walk out of the room. I wasn't sure if she was testing me or if something was wrong, but knowing that that was not her "normal" behavior, I'd go into settle her down or rock her to sleep every time she cried. I am also not a fan of the cry-it-out method. Anyway, to make a long story short. She was teething. She had 4 teeth coming in all at once. That lasted about 1-2 weeks. Every night the same thing. Now, her sleeping habits are back to normal. I just put her in bed and she goes to sleep on her own and is sleeping through the night again. I am glad I went my gut and was able to be there to comfort her.

My DS (now 1 year old) started waking more frequently around 6 months, too. I think it was both teething and separation anxiety. A lot of places will tell you to let the child sleep 10-12 hours without eating at night, but with nursing I think that's too long of a stretch (at least for my DS). I wanted to continue nursing on demand, so I put a twin bed in our room so DH can sleep and DS and I can co-sleep nearby. We'll see what happens down the road, but for now this has been a great way to keep nursing, and both of us get our rest. I don't even wake up to nurse anymore, and we all feel much better in the morning (DS wakes up smiling, too)! Hope this helps...Good luck!

Maybe she cutting teeth? I use Hyland's teething tablets for my children. Sometimes I use them even when they are not teething as well. THey are homeopathic and have ingredients like chamomile. They work really well for my kids to help them get to sleep.

Good luck!
R.

My son is 7 months old, and hes been doing something similar. Ever since his 2 little teeth came in, hes been waking up 2-3 times per night, whereas before the teeth came he was sleeping all the way through the night. I think it has to do with teething.

I haven't read what everyone else said yet, so this may be a repeat. The growth spurt (as I found out) can last a couple of weeks. My son decided to grow and get teeth at the same time. Those two weeks were pretty tough, but things have evened out since then. Try making sure she's eating lots during the day so she won't be as likely to wake at night, and you might also try some Tylenol before she goes to bed (she's waking because she's in pain--her bones hurt!). Just remember that it's not permanent...

Teething? My son is miserable everytime he gets a tooth sometimes for up to a week.

Have you read the book, "Wonder Weeks"? It talks about several crucial weeks in baby development when babies get cranky and wake up all the time and are like different kids - it usually means they are on the cusp of a big developmental leap. I would support her in this time - good for you for not making her cry it out. If she is up this much at night, she is feeling like she needs something, and even though it's hard, she will trust you more and have a better relationship with you in the long run if you are meeting her needs. It may not last much longer...hang in there!

The same thing is happening at my house! My 6 mo. old started waking up around 2:00 for a bottle (we was sleeping through the night before) and then around 5:30 just to be rocked back to sleep. It's making me nuts! I was really getting used to a solid block of sleep.
I was going to say all the things everyone else said - maybe teething, maybe a growth spurt, maybe just missing you. I like the suggestion that maybe he's cold. I"ll try a warmer swaddle tonight.
Anyway, you're not alone. I hope it passes quickly for both of us!

I know the crying method sucks, but it does work. Some times it is easier to let them cry. It is hard with the first couple of times, but they do stop. I would not feed her at night. I know that my pedi told me to stop night time feedings when my girls were about 4 months. Your daughter might be teething maybe? Both of my girls had problems with sleep when teething.

hopefully it is a phase have you tried co sleeping. you may be able top get more sleep that way. there really is not much you can do but help her go back to sleep, i myself do not believe in cio. i dont cosleep but when my 6 month old has nights where he just wants to be next to me i let him but i try not to do it too much. i love my bed to myself i hate sharing my bed. will your baby take a paci? have you tried one of those lil blankets that you where it or sleep with it for a day and then give it to baby, baby will think your near her.

This is usually the age when baby's start remembering you. She's probably not waking to eat, but more because she wants to see you. So instead of nursing her everytime she wakes during the night you should just go in there quietly comfort her and assure her that you are still there and let her go back to sleep.

M.

Back in the day when I had little ones that woke during the night my now husband got tired of it and he answered the call. Funny the babies didn't smell milk and settled better for him than for me.

I'm not sure that I have any advice for you, but most babies do go through a growth spurt around 6 months, and it can last a couple of weeks. Hopefully, you'll be back to a full night's sleep soon. Good luck!

Peace,
S.

K.-

my firt thought is that at 6 months is when they start learning object permanance and teething, both of which include waking up in the middle of the night. When she crys is it the blood curdling cry...or is it just fussing. If she is fussing, see if she will fall asleep. This encourages her to self soothe. If you think she is teething, try giving her some tylenol before bed. She could be waking up in pain. Those are the issues that we dealt with. My daughter is 9 months and we learned that she was dealing with both of those issues. I really hope this helps. Good luck.

My daughter who at 6 months starting waking up in the middle of the night and it lasted for 2 months. I have no idea what the issue was. I thought it was growing pains as well. Going on the 2nd month of her waking up, I had to do the cry it out method option because to me there was nothing wrong with her. All she really needed was to be held and I could get her back down for a couple of hours. Finally around 8 months she went to sleep and slept through the night. Now at almost a year she sleeps from 8:30p to 7:30a every night. It could also be that she is realizing that you are going to nurse her and that she could be getting use to that. Make sure before you put her down for the night she gets enough milk.

My daughter did the same thing. They eat more when they are growig a growth spert. So they will eat more. I would say try a bottle so you can sleep or just stick it out. You will get threw it.

Hello K.,
It could be that she is teething. That will last a little time. This is about the age. If you look at her gums and they look kind of red and swollen a bit then it is teething for sure. It will pass and you could give her some infant pain releiver to help her with the pain especially at night when it always seems worse. Good luck. Take Care and God Bless.
Warm regards,
~M. C

My LO did this at 6 months too. After TEN days of it, I had enough. I went into her room when she cried in the middle of the night and soothed her back to sleep. I did not feed her. It took about a week for it to stop.

She was only getting up once though, not 4 or 5 times. GS typically last 3 days. Are you sure she is hungry? Can you help her get to sleep another way?
She might in fact be teething too. Can you tell if she is? Oragel might help that as well.

Also, I would not go into her room if she is fussing. If it is a real cry, then go in. Otherwise she might just fuss herself back to sleep. I always go in too soon and disrupt her trying to soothe herself. My DH is better at knowing when to go into her than I am. He can listen to her fuss and complain, but not cry. I hope that makes sense!

I bet she's teething. Try motrin if your dr okays it, otherwise try tylenol. If that helps, try getting her back to sleep without nursing her if you can, so she doesn't get back in the habit of being hungry at night. If she feels warm at all, take her temp. It could also be a mild ear infection. Tylenol or motrin could help with that pain too. Good luck!

If it's any consolation my 6 year old was having problems recently with waking up at 4 or 5 am. I finally figured it out. I put a fleece sleeper on him and he's been sleeping til 7am!! I think he noticed the colder weather before I did. Hope that helps.