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6 month old still isnt sleeping

My son is 6 months old and still isnt sleeping through the night, he has a big feed before bed and a set bed time but still wakes up every couple of hours. he wont go to sleep unless i'm either feeding him or me or my bf are patting him on the back. I've tried controlled crying but within a couple of minutes he's screaming to the point he starts choking and when he does drop off he wakes up again within an hour and it starts all over again. I breastfeed so noone else can take a turn doing the feeds and i havn't had a full nights sleep in over 7 months. has anyone got any advice? i'm exhausted.

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by JCTL2402 2 September 2011

  • it sounds to me like sleep seperation anxiety, a friend of mine breastfed her little girl and then she wouldnt sleep without being cuddled she tried everything but the only thing that worked was when she stopped breast feeding in the night, the last feed before bed she expressed into a bottle and fed the baby that way but when that didnt work right away she either put the baby in her bouncy chair or put a pillow between her and baby while feeding her with a bottle. this worked and the baby now sleeps as good as gold on her own, it took a couple of months but with support she got there in the end. your partner can also help with feeds if you express and you can get some sleep/rest.

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    by Jaymi 23 September 2011

  • Try expressing milk so others can feed him with a bottle. You could try putting him to bed later - some kids sleep through the night better if they're not allowed to doze off until like 10 or half 10 and then they tend to sleep till later because they're so tired. With some babies they get overtired though if you do this. It may just be you need to give it time.

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    by lifes_a_test 23 September 2011

  • You could express some milk, it might work as then he isn't getting any physical contact.
    It hasn't really worked for my son though, he is almost 5 months and even though i don't pick him up of a night and put him to sleep by putting him in his cot and settling him there, filling him with food and milk, and making sure he has been awake for a few hours & is tired, he wakes a minimum of twice.
    He might just be late doing it, my niece didn't sleep through until she was 7 months old.
    Maybe try some type of sleep training? You can leave them to cry it out (if there is nothing wrong but tiredness) or leave them to cry for 5 mins, go settle them by talking to them, stroking face, but not picking up repeat that for about half hour and then settle them every 10 mins. There are lots of different methods, but one might work for you. After 6 months old it's okay to let a baby settle themselves, but shouldn't start sleep training before that time.
    If you look online for some you might find one you like and want to try. You have to be persistent with it, and might take a week or 2 but hopefully it will help :)
    Good luck X

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    by MiaLola 24 September 2011

  • Oh my god I have the ame problem! My lg is 6 months old and is up more than a new born. What is sleep training?xx

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    by aimeeday 9 January 2012

  • my baby's 6 months too and he still gets up atleast 2 twice in the night. before i stopped breastfeeding i gave him1 bottle of formula (aptamil) before he was due a sleep and that use to help him sleep a little longer. have u tried playing some soothing music or maybe hes just not ready to go to sleep yet :S..

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    by Tiarra92 9 January 2012