Hello!

Yes a very common question! My baby is nearly 6 months and he is a terrible sleeper, I usually bf him to sleep, he doesn’t sleep for very long periods and often sleeps in the cradle swing.
So I believe 6 months is the age where I should start being more firm. This is my second child. I had problems with the first too. Are there any ideas/plans I should try that have been effective for you? I go back to work in a few weeks and I’m so tired from waking up every hour or so.


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  • Good luck with this. I hope you found something that worked. My grandson was a shocking sleeper til he was 18 months old. Puts pressure on the whole household


  • I’ve found that a routine is great for my baby. I’ll put her to bed after her late night feed just when I can tell she is getting sleepy. I make sure I wrap her snuggly as I find that making her feel secure and safe helps her settle better. I also make sure the overhead lights are not on to keep her alert (bedside lamp on only). If she is unsettled, she enjoys being upright, so one of us will put her over our shoulder for ten minutes and pat her, which helps to calm her down. Good luck!


  • Oh dear, I feel for you. My first was a shocking sleeper too, didn’t sleep well til,he turned 2 :(. My second went to sleep and stayed that way. I found the reason for such a difference between kids sleeping was……me! I was far too attentive for the first, I’ld jump and check on him if he only gurgled. I soon learnt for baby number two tho. So I can’t really help you, but I can sympathise and say it will improve


  • I went through the same thing at 3 months, I would only BF him to sleep and then let him sleep on my lap, and he’d only cat nap. Overnight he would sleep on his own fine in his bassinet, but would still BF him to sleep.
    It wasn’t working for us so I made a change to break the cycle.
    I made sure I fed him up as much as possible when he woke up, then wore him out as much as possible with floor time, then the key thing I was missing was not watching for his tired signs. Once he started showing these, swaddle tightly, tuck under a super tight sheet (so he can’t startle himself awake) and walk away. If he didn’t settle right away, I would return for a quick cuddle, then back under the sheet and same thing until he falls asleep (which he’s bound to do eventually! but would take no longer than 10 minutes all up).
    However, sometimes babies just like to suckle themselves to sleep – it’s not always about a feed, it can also provide the comfort they need (including the warmth of mums body).
    And remember that every baby is different – even your own baby to your other child.
    Hope this helps and good luck with the sleeping!


  • I was having the same problem until I bought my daughter a fisher price babies projector. The projector lights up the ceiling of all different animals while playing lullabies.
    It also has 3 animals on the actual device which light up with the music if u don’t want the projector on. It also comes with a small remote for when the music stops playing after 1/2 hour you can turn it back on automatically as long as the sensor on the remote and the device match up it can save you going back into the bedroom and letting your baby see you.
    Since I bought the projector my daughter goes to sleep easily and I have found she sleeps longer as well.
    The projectors are available at target.
    Hope this helps


  • Wrap bubba firmly even in the warmer weather wrapping is great! Just get something lighter of course.


  • ive got him in a love to dream swaddle bag. he did 4 hrs straight last night! but he rolls in it onto his stomach and get s stuck


  • I swaddled both my boys very tightly in a muslin wrap and they both slept well. My first son didn’t start of being a great sleeper but this totally changed his pattern after a few days of practice (for us both)


  • at the age of 6 month swaddling them up tightly will usually put them to sleep a lot quicker. This message worked for me but now at the age of 3 she does not want to sleep at all.


  • Have you tried lullaby music maybe?


  • My daughter in law is having the same problem, have tried to help her out. Come to the conclusion that some babies sleep better then others. Six children all different only one a good sleeper as a baby, my grand daughter’s father slept for 8 hours.
    Main thing to remember is be calm, let your son know he can trust you to come back to him, maybe lavender spray or bath. Main thing is a routine you are willing to follow and is right for the whole family.


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