Need Some Advice

[hammerman]

My daughter and her fella have a gorgeous, adorable 6 month old little boy. He's mainly happy, healthy and doing what a 6 month old should do....except sleeping.

He's awake minimum of 6 times a night. They've tried everything...lavender baths, changing his routine, heavier feeds, lighter feeds but nothing works.

He wakes up, wants his bottle, but hardly takes anything and falls back asleep....repeat ad nauseum.

Her half sister is a midwife and just says "that's what babies do" and she's spoken to her health visitor who gave her a few pointers but they didn't work.

My daughter's like a zombie. She wouldn't mind if he woke up 3 times but this is ridiculous.

Any of you good people had problems like this? She's talking of going to the doctor but I've told her to speak to the health worker again before the Doc.

Andy suggestions most welcome

[dannyk13]

Sounds pretty normal for a baby.

[Mamyalynne]

Does he wake and cry or demand attention?

Does he have a dummy/pacifier?

[kvalidir]

I think some just probably do. I know one of my younger siblings woke a lot and none of us had. My Dad ended up having a sort of droning noise playing in her room which seemed to help slightly. I'm not sure if was something like this, but he's here later and I'll ask him. x
https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/white-noise-for-babies#2

[Samuraisan]

Definately look into dummy/pacifier. Put 4 or 5 in the cot incase it falls put of his mouth and he can't find it. Let him use it until he is 2 years old, and then prepare a "ceremony" as he gives it to the dustman.

[andres]

He wants his bottle but only takes a few sips them goes back to sleep.Maybe he's thirsty and needs a drink of water. They have probably done this but if not it might be worth a try. With one of ours it was a bath about 10pm,feed and then put down to sleep. He still grizzled and was restless most of the night.

[ummmm]

Maybe after his last feed at night only give him water to drink.

[Sqad]

"Demand feeding"....never in my day.
Bath him late at night...feed him, then ignore any cries until the morning...that is if you don't live in a flat.

[tamborine]

Have the babe in bed with mother and breast feed, in bed. Some babes just want continual physical contact - especially boys.

[NoMercy]

Hammerman, I don't know what to say. I'm at the other end of the spectrum with a baby (5 months yesterday) who sleeps for England and has done since he was born. I do sympathise with your daughter.

During his waking hours he gets lots of stimulation but I don't have to hold him constantly. He has a little playmat (sensory gym mat, or whatever it's called). He likes watching Tiny Pops. He loves routine.

OH and I certainly take our turns to feed him and see to him and we have a fantastic support network in OH's parents who have endless patience. If your daughter is having to do the bulk of the parenting herself, I can understand how she's struggling - I certainly would, and that's with a very good, contented baby.

I just don't know what to say because, despite him having his moments, he is on the whole a very good, easy baby. I can only imagine your grandson will grow out of it.

[ummmm]

Tambo - at 6 months I doubt the mother could take up breastfeeding.

[Patsy33]

My daughter had the same with her little baby girl. Although she would not be satisfied with a drink. She would cry and scream until she was taken out of her cot. Some babies just need extra reassurance. Perhaps get het checkef out with doctor first, then take other advice from Mum's to start with..

[Cloverjo]

I had the same problem. My son would lose his dummy and wake up 6 times a night. I don't know if a 6 month old could find a dummy at night even if there were 10 of them in the cot. Try to wean him off the dummy, if he has one.

If all else fails, it does end eventually :/

[NoMercy]

As much as I hate to disagree with Sqad, leaving your baby to cry has been shown to create deep-rooted insecurity. Babies need reassurance.

One of my Consultant Paediatrician colleagues told me that you should never take a baby out of its room when it wakes screaming and crying, because you are confirming its fears that they are in danger and taking them to another place suggests to them that you are removing them from that danger - always stay in the room and placate and reassure the baby that they're safe where they are.

[-SharonA-]

My second son was like this. Tried everything, including car rides at 2am!!
I had to go back to work and fell asleep at my desk.
Nothing worked, but eventually grew out of it. I can honestly say the amount of sleep he got per night was about 2 hours. Kept him up in the daytime tho.

[Patsy33]

Ah, that's where my daughter made a mistake NoM. Always took her into living room! She was absolutely exhausted at times..Her husband use to help out though.

[Butterbun]

My baby granddaughter was like that. I found a soft night light and some very low lullaby music in the room did the trick.

[andres]

Is the baby in his own room or in his parents bedroom. With our restless one I dropped the cot side next to the bed .Then I could reach over to give him a pat whenever he became unsettled.

[diddlydo]

Definitely no dummy ever. Take him in bed with you - it's the only way I got even half a decent night's sleep until my now 35-yr old was 18 months old.

[ummmm]

Nothing wrong with a dummy if it comforts them. I also had mine in bed with me but I breast fed which could take ages.

[Cloverjo]

There is something wrong with a dummy when it falls out six times a night and the baby wakes the parents every time.