Help with getting a 5month old to sleep

Emma - posted on 07/20/2009

thanks everyone- during th day yesterday she put herself to sleep-i wraped her n tucked her in and gently pattered her chest untill she was almost asleep and that semed to work really well but by the nighttime she was sick :( i guess ill have to put this on hold until she is better thanks again also i think i will try a later bed time thanks Jessica

Jessica - posted on 07/20/2009

Try a later bedtime and routine! It worked for me when Josh was that age, he was the same!

Oana - posted on 07/20/2009

Emma, sorry to say but sleeping from 10:30 til 4am it's 5.5 hours and that's not bad at all! Did you feed her at 4am? My little girl went to bed at 8pm, woke up at 2am and 5am and I just put her on the breast and then she was asleep in 10 minutes and me in 15 so I'm not too bothered as long as I get at least 4-6 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I think that at 5 months of age it's a bit too much to ask them to sleep the whole night.



I wouldn't worry about too much sleep during the day as long as you leave the room light and airy, don't pull the curtains closed. And don't tiptoe around the house. If she takes 2 - 3 naps during the day of 30 min to 2 hours each, then it's fine.

Danielle - posted on 07/19/2009

try laying her down in her crib at bedtime with her security of sorts whether it's a bink or a blankie or something and invest in one of those crib rail motion with lights and sounds that plays music or that she can be entertained with my son loved it and he would just watch it til he fell asleep they even have ones you can put on the dresser that she can watch on the ceiling. Good luck and remember hang in there. We've all been there a time or two.

Emma - posted on 07/19/2009

hi everyone- thanks for your help so far...
she is both breast feed and formula (breast in the morning) she is also on two solid meals a day and has been for the last month!
during the day she goes down fine i wait for her to tell me she is tired- gets a little fidgety- i wrap her and most times before i put her down she is asleep...should i be waiting until she is like this at night too??
usually around 6 i start her night retinue- Feed, bath, massage story and bed but she now just wont go down??!!
last night she went to bed at about 7.30 by the time i got her to sleep- woke at about 7.45 and i put her back to sleep this happened a few up to 8.30 stayed awake then untill 10.30 i feed her and then put her back to bed- woke at 4screaming i tried to put her back in her bed after comforting her but that didnt work (tried for an hour or so) so i put her in bed with me.
Im not against the whole co-sleeping i just would prefer her in her own bed as i dont have to worry about her falling out then.
how much should she be sleeping during the day?? maybe i have that wrong??
tonight i am going to try her in her own bed own room n see how that goes- fingers crossed

Heather - posted on 07/19/2009

Have you tried putting cereal in her bottle before you put her to bed? It worked wonders with my daughter. It kept her full all night long and she rarly woke up after she went sleep. I had the same problem before I started the cereal.

Oana - posted on 07/19/2009

Forgot to say, you must make sure she has all the food she needs every time during the day (eat until she is full). It's difficult to know it if you breastfeed, that's why I'm pumping. It's a tough job, but it finally seems to start working.

Oana - posted on 07/19/2009

I think babies need consistency, so whatever routine she has for her daytime naps she should have the same for her night time sleep. I know it's hard, we're having the same problem. I used to rock my baby on a big pillow during the day for her to sleep and that was ok, but I wasn't going to do that when she woke up during the night. So that was sending her mixed signals. Also, she would fall asleep because I was rocking her, not necessarily because she was tired and needed sleep. So, now I pick her up less than I used to and she eventually gets used to it. We still have our cuddles but I want her to feel secure on her own as well. We're still not there yet, but I put her in her cot and I stay in the room with her. I'm mostly on my PC, reading or watching TV, so not doing much, but I can talk to her and go and rescue her if she gets frustrated that she can't roll back from tummy to back ;)

But when she feels tired and needs to sleep she starts whining and I go and sit next to her cot, and talk to her in a soft voice, caress her head, hold her hand or put my hand over her chest, whatever makes her calm at that moment. And I see her drifting away. It sometimes take 1 hour, or 30 min or just 10 min, it varies.

I have tried to crying out thing and it brakes a mother's heart. So, I think that it's not worth it doing it. Instead, pick her up when she starts crying and put her back when she's calmed down. It may take a while. And if she cries and arches her back when you've picked her up, put her back down in her cot, but stay there. That's when you let her cry.

All in all, it's nerve wrecking and takes a few days to turn around, but it can be done. I don't want to jinx it, but this way my baby started sleeping longer during the night and for the first time in 5 months I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, get some hope for the better and feel like a human being.



Good luck, Emma and let us know how you're doing!

Allisson - posted on 07/19/2009

About an hour before I want to go to bed I stimulate him until he's all tuckered out, diaper change, breastfeed, bed, works every time.. Make sure she's not hungry, that overrides fatigue.

Kamila - posted on 07/19/2009

How about teething ? Did she start this yet ? Try to get her some baby powder and give it in the evening. Maybe there will be some result.

Other thing is to relax her before every sleep. Evening bath and cuddles. Is she getting breast or formula ? Maybe she needs more food ?

And in general I know it is hard when she cries, but you have to leave her in a cot (like Stacey said too)

Come to her and touch few times every 10 min or so, but stick to leaving her in a cot.

Amber - posted on 07/19/2009

oh just put her in bed with you lol,,, whateva works i say! do it for a few nights then see what happens.
or try keeping her up till u go to bed

Stacey - posted on 07/19/2009

You will have to keep putting her back into her bed to make her learn that she can't always get out from crying. Most babies love their heads scratched or just their bangs stroked back slowly. Also while doing this softly sing her favorite lullaby to her. Make sure her little feet are all tucked in to give her security. It may take a little while but it will work and get easier and easier each time. Good Luck!

Jessica - posted on 07/19/2009

Try letting her sleep in her own room overnight! It may be the fact that 'mommy is close so i want cuddles'.