My 5 Month Old Fights Sleep

How many hrs a day does she sleep? are u sure she isn't gassy or constipated instead of fighting sleep? Most babies require alot of sleep and i wonder if she's getting most of her sleep in during the day? i would cut out long naps prior to bedtimes so that you can both sleep better and make sure she has all the gas off her stomach. On second thought she prolly is teething. i would give her tylenol or try gripe water (good for teething and colic(gas)--my sister swore by this. teething tablets work great too or just anbesol. Another old home school remedy is baking soda and water; Just get a good regiment and stick w/ it. Make sure she is having a good amnt of bowel movements per day. if she is only going only once a day she is prolly constipated.

This sounds normal, but to sleep-deprived mom, it sounds like torture:) I too work first shift fulltime, so working, nursing, mom-ming... exhausting!

You could try co-sleeping, being very careful so no pillows or blankets near baby. I used a twin bed, and both mine did well this way -- neither would stop crying while trying to use the Ferber method.

I've also used slept-in sleep shirts for baby to sleep on -- it keeps your scent, and infants are very scent-oriented. When she is rubbing her cheek against you, or her favorite blanket, she is actually "marking" it with her scent as "hers", so the more worn your shirt, the more comfort. You could add a warm water bottle or well-wrapped heating pad, or one of the vibrating insert pads used in bouncers and car seats as well.

You'll get your "groove" and it will get better... we are all learning as we go:)

I know you used a swing to try to get her to sleep, what speed setting did you use? I had to use the fastest setting possible with my son to get him to calm down. Just wondering if you have tried that? Good luck and I hope you find something that works for the both of you!

Sorry to have to tell you this hun but 5 month olds aren't supposed to sleep through the night. Through the night for an infant is 5-6 hrs at a time not a full 8-10 hrs. CIO is not good for babies. I know this sounds simple but do you feed her at night? If not she is likely hungry. 5 month olds do get up to eat at night. Does she have music on in her room? Nightlight? One of those womb sounds bears? If she's teething you can try giving her a dose of motrin ( works better than tylenol on dental pain.) or Hylands teething tablets, can be found at walmart of target. Taken her in to the Dr to see if she's got an ear infection. for gas put her on her back and take her legs bent knees, gently push her knees up into her tummy and kind of roll her hips around. Try putting her on her tummy to sleep, she should be old enough to be rolling over by now so it's ok to tummy sleep. My oldest wouldn't sleep anyother way.

Try picking up " The No cry sleep solution" by elizabeth pantley
I went through the same thing with my oldest she NEVER slept, didn't nap didn't sleep at night either , she still gets up at night at 8 yrs old. Some babies/ kids just don't sleep as much as others. My hubby too was overseas when she was an infant and had to do it all by myself as well.
Some night I would end up on the couch with her on my chest with 101 Dalmations on the TV and it would catch her attention and she'd fall asleep or I'd ended up co sleeping because it was just easier , the bed was empty anyway.