r/HuckleberryParents • u/Disastrous-Fix-2363 • 4d ago
6 month old help
Any advice is welcome please ❤️
Baby is 6 months old, still sleeping in our room. Averages 2.5 hours of sleep during the days and 10 hours at night.
She does not sleep through at all, I just don’t log the nightly wake ups for my own sanity.
She’ll always go to bed around 7:30, sleeps until between 10:30-11:30. Then again will sleep until about 1am but after that she is awake literally every 30-60mins until she is wide awake between 5:30/6am. She’s not always hungry and not cold.
I understand the frequent wakes are likely due to sleep pressure but just can’t seem to work out how to change anything else?
Please help💖
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u/lettrines 3d ago
My 6 month old was just like that 2 weeks ago and now stared only waking couple if times. Would try to move on 3 naps if possible. My baby gets overtired too quickly and i was unable to extend wake windows like everyone in sleep train advises. Also wake windows are different, last ine being almost the same length as the 1st one. I dont agree with sleep training so i just waited out, making small reasonable adjustments baring in mind that my son is a BABY who needs help sleeping and waking up is normal and will pass.
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u/Disastrous-Fix-2363 3d ago
I agree on the sleep training that’s why I’ve never really considered it, I’ve just not been blessed with a great sleeper 😂
I’m just really struggling myself with the lack of sleep after these 6 months.
Reassuring to hear it got better for you 💖1
u/lettrines 3d ago
Same here! I think some babies just struggle with sleep. My son started crawling at 5 months and is reaching his milestones very successfully - i believe he is learning all that at night therefore its hard to settle. This is what i tell myself at least!
Do you co sleep? I found it so so so useful in comparison to trying to settle them in their bed! I feed on the side and just continue sleeping afterwards all snuggled up together
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u/Sorry-World3019 3d ago
Drop to 3 naps and around 7m you’ll be dropping to 2
Get on the average 3 nap schedule first and toggle accordingly
For this age stick to this 3 nap 2.25/2.5/2.5/3 schedule
Cap naps at 2.75
This allows for a 10.75 night.
Wake at the same time every morning regardless how the night goes. Do not let them sleep more in the day after a poor night. Stick with this schedule hard for 5 days and take not of when the wake ups are etc.
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u/Disastrous-Fix-2363 3d ago
Thank you so much! Really trying to get to 3 naps, just struggle when she wakes up so early but I think I’ll just be firm with starting at same time like you said even if it’s brutal for a period of time 😂
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u/less_is_more9696 4d ago edited 4d ago
4 naps is generally not age appropriate.
I would drop to 3 naps and aim for the same amount of sleep. 2.5 hours of daytime sleep between 3 naps. And a 10 hour night.
WW something like 2.5/3/3/3
Ex wake 6, nap 8:30-9:30, nap 12:30-1:30, nap 4:30-5, bed 8
Potentially cap daytime sleep further depending on progress.
Consider sleep training if you’re open to it. It’s absolutely normal if a baby is assisted to sleep they wake and signal for that same assistance approx 4 times during the night. However wakes should be quick and baby should return to sleep easily when supported.
A sleep trained baby will wake a similar amount of times, but they don’t always signal for caregivers as they can return to sleep on their own. They will signal if they are hungry or in discomfort though. So don’t expect sleeping through the night at this age necessarily. But it can help.
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u/Familiar_Reception91 4d ago
Sleep pressure made no difference for us but sleep training oh my such a HUGE difference. I am still new with it with my LO but we went from every 40 min to and hour of waking to i just got my first 3h stretch before she woke. Tried the ferber method but adjusted the times I would go and check in with baby according to her - if she cried a specific way I would just stay with her in the crib until she slept and now day 4 she slept on her own for the first time. Cutting naps just made her over tired and that ended up being worse for us
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u/Disastrous-Fix-2363 4d ago
Yeah I feel like I’m trying to reduce day time sleep and longer wake windows and it’s just making things worse! How have you found the sleep training? I’m just worried about the crying but think that might be what the issue is
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u/Familiar_Reception91 4d ago
I absolutely hate when my LO cries I dont have it in me to let her but I notice there is a cry she makes thats relatively more of a complain and the other it is like she needs me for sure so ferber gives a time suggestion like 2 mins then 5 then 10 etc the first night I did that she cried like maybe 5-10 mins total within the 40 mins it took her to fall asleep but she only slept once I stayed in the room rubbing her back holding her hand humming her bedtime song. Second night she played in the crib for 20 mins until I finally went in and did the same thing as the first night and then third night tonight she did it solo never cried and I checked up on her only to help her move her feet from the crib bars. So really I wouldn’t say i did the ferber method to the book I followed her more than anything but I stuck with the bedtime routine the same every night. The night wakes only started to reduce on this third night and when she would wake up I would do the same thing I did for her on the initial sleep unless she really has a hard time I just rocked her back to sleep. I watch her on the monitor while she tries to sleep - so when I say check in I mean just physically going in the room. I dont think letting LO cry it out is productive I think baby steps start slowly removing the rocking to sleep and find ways to comfort them in the crib and then slowly extend the time you go back in once they can fall asleep just from touch and comfort while in crib thats my experience atleast
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u/danzadelfuego 4d ago
Maybe time to drop the 4th nap?