Getting My 6 Month Old to Sleep Better

Updated on January 17, 2007
T. asks from Midlothian, IL
4 answers

Hi Moms,

My son is going to be 6 months old tomarrow and he's still getting up at least once or twice at night. He won't settle down until 11, then he gets up by 2 and again around 5. I am an accountant, and this time of year i'm working 60-70 hours a week so I am despirate to get some solid sleep. I'm nursing so my husband getting up isn't a solution. I am hesitant to let him cry it out becasue he gets very loud and shares a room with my 2 and a half year old, who is finally sleeping in his own bed.
Thanks in advance for all your help

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K.

answers from Chicago on

A couple suggestions:
1. You need to get him to bed earlier. Start by cutting out the afternoon nap. Don't let him nap after 4:00 PM. There is good evidence that babies that go to bed earlier sleep later.
2. Does he nurse when he wakes at night? 6 months is old enough that he can easily go 10-12 hours without nursing. You can gradually "wean" him from this habit by decreasing the amount of time you nurse him each night
3. If he wakes up and it's not one of his "usual" snack times, make your husband go in to comfort him instead of you. Your son smells the milk on you and knows that he gets to eat when you're there. This is not the case for your husband.
4. I have had great luck with the Ferber book. I know it requires some crying, but I think you can probably make it work if you "practice" the method with naps. The key is to help him learn to settle himself instead of relying on you to help him.
5. You might try moving his crib into your bedroom for a week or so and covering your ears and doing the Ferber thing there, so that your older child doesn't get disturbed.
6. Have a bedtime routine. For us this includes active play until around 6:30. Then a bath, then I nurse him, and then he goes to bed. He is usually awake when I put him in bed at 7-7:15, and quickly falls asleep on his own. This is really the key - he knows that when his bath starts, it's going to be time to sleep soon.

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from Chicago on

Is he waking up to eat in the middle of the night? If yes, I suggest (if you haven't started already) maybe try a little rice cereal before bedtime. It worked for us.

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K.S.

answers from Chicago on

Hah, wish I could help, but I can't wait to read other responses as I am going through the exact same thing with my 6 month old girl. I am so reluctant to let her cry it out, but my husband really wants to do it and I am just on the edge of a breakdown due to exhaustion. It's nice to know at least I am not the only mom running to her baby's room all night long!

N.P.

answers from Chicago on

I wish I could offer you some advice. I am going through the SAME thing. I have twins... specifically my son. Maybe it's a boy thing? If anyone shares any wisdom... please let me know. Good luck.

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