https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:27:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2768443 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 22:47:52 +0000 LCTBQE 2768443@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@maggierose: didn't read through everything but wanted to tell you that the key to getting my not-great sleeper trained was making sure he was getting all the milk he needed during the day--he was waking at night out of hunger because he was a distracted, infrequent nurser during the day. so then he'd wake at night and nurse really well, so he was happy and I was a zombie. I moved heaven and earth to make sure he was getting all the ounces he was taking in a 24-hour period during normal waking hours, and it changed everything. Anyway sounds like you're on a good path :) and good for you for separating the kiddos! I'm in a small apartment as well and dreading this for #2, so good to get some pointers. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2768441 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 22:09:22 +0000 pinkcupcake 2768441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This sounds so familiar. My son shared a room with us for 11 months - we were in an apt while our home was being constructed - and he was waking up, literally every 2 hours. I was going crazy, was such a mess. We moved him out to his own room as soon as we moved and the first night he slept 10+ hours. It was amazing. It's been about 1.5 months and he regularly sleeps in 10 hour stretches. </p> <p>I would rearrange things however you can to try to put baby on her own room. That ended up being key for us. Good luck!! It is so, so hard :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2768439 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 22:00:27 +0000 delight 2768439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm glad you have found a solution that is working! I was also going to suggest you move her out of your room too. My DS who is 9 months is a great sleeper with 1 wake up at night and the occasional night he will sleep through 12 hours. However, recently we had to share a room at the cottage due to space issues and it was awful. He woke up when I came to bed, every time I rolled over, when I got up to pee. I was so worried about waking other people I would just quickly nurse him but I was doing it 3-4 times a night. I think some babies just sleep better in their own environment. </p> <p>If your DD continues to stay in a good routine, hopefully you can move DS back to the room and you can have your space back too. At least for now you can catch up on some sleep and also enjoy some cuddles with your son! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2768392 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 15:26:47 +0000 maggierose 2768392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks, everyone! So we moved my son upstairs with us to our bed two nights ago and already it made a huge difference. The first night, she woke up as usual at 10ish, but I let her cry with 5 minute check ins. 30 minutes later she fell asleep on her own. She didn't wake up again until 3:30 and I fed her at that point because it had been 8+ hours since her last feed. She went back to sleep until 6:30. Last night was even better... only one wake up at 3 and back to sleep until 6:30! I am hoping these weren't flukes and this will keep up. If she can maintain this only one wake up I'd be fine with it. My son kicking me all night long isn't fun but I'm still sleeping more this way! </p> <p>@Mrs D: I don't know why I had no idea there was a 6 months sleep regression. That would explain the last week or two of craziness and also could explain why she is doing ok, that combined with the room move.</p> <p>@catomd00: this gives me sooo much hope! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2768016 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 21:50:51 +0000 catomd00 2768016@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like my second. At 9 months we moved her out of our bedroom instantly got her back down to 0-2 wakings a night, down from basically living on my boob all night. We were waking her up I guess she is a light sleeper. She had her own room, but it was right next to her sister's and she never woke her up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767978 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:28:23 +0000 catlady 2767978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hugs. We went through something pretty similar, although we are fine with CIO so we tried that first and it didn't work as well on our 2nd baby as it did on our first. It did eventually work, but it took multiple tries and we had to be incredibly consistent, even though he kept going through mini regressions ever few weeks. From 4 to 6.5 months, he was really bad. We also are in a 2 bedroom and share a room (not directly, but his room is a tiny study that is connected to ours with no walls or doors to block sound). Honestly it was so hard dealing with it, especially since our 3 year old is in the room next to the baby's AND we share walls on both sides with neighbors. But CIO was the only thing that worked for my baby, even though it took awhile.</p> <p>One piece of advice I got was that at the very least, use CIO to start the night and up until 5 hrs after they have gone to sleep (so it was around midnight or 1am for my baby). A 6 month old baby should be able to go that long before nursing. That is probably what helped us the most. My baby still woke sometimes after that but he had previously had a habit of waking at 10 or 11pm, and then again every 1-2 hrs. Once we got him through that first wakeup, the rest of the night came together more quickly.</p> <p>Just to end on a positive, at 7.5 months, my little guy slept through the night. He's 8.5 months now and either sleeps through the night or only wakes once (usually around 4am). I never would have thought I'd be here now when he was 6 months and waking every 1-2 hrs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767972 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:19:48 +0000 erinbaderin 2767972@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man, this is so hard. I went through this with my first and, I'm sorry to say, the only thing that worked for us was CIO. It only took a few days to totally change his sleeping. As for her only wanting you, my son was also like that, which was another thing we just had to deal with - we did that first, and then nights.</p> <p>The other thing that jumped out at me is your husband gets mad if you don't get her after a few minutes. That is a lot of burden to put on you - he's not on board with CIO but he doesn't have to deal with the current situation. You guys need to get on the same page, and it needs to be a page that doesn't involve you dealing with 5 night wake-ups every night. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767967 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 14:05:13 +0000 Ajsmommy 2767967@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hey fellow Feb 2017 mama!! Just checking in to say I'm sorry you're dealing with sleep issues. By far the hardest thing!!! DS still isn't doing the greatest but he tends to only wake up 2-3 times now.... Blah.... I'm just plugging along waiting for it to get better </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767962 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:48:26 +0000 skinnycow 2767962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sorry you're dealing with this - DD was a horrible sleeper at that age also. We did zero CIO/sleep training (my heart can't take it). A few things that helped us:</p> <p>- Not sure your feelings on this, but I let her sleep in the bed (safely!) with me from her first wake up until morning. She was able to nurse whenever and it helped me get sleep/keep my sanity. We did this from probably 6/7-12 months.<br /> - Moving her to her own room totally helped also. She went from sleeping 2-3 hours the first stretch to 4-5.<br /> - I did dreamfeeds for a few months right before I went to bed. I'd go in her room and quietly nurse her and put her back down. This usually gave me a few hours of uninterrupted sleep.</p> <p>Good luck! My horrible sleeper sleeps from 7-7 every night now. She won't be up all night forever :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767957 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:36:09 +0000 Mrs D 2767957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry, I know how hard it is. Especially going from a great sleeper to a 'normal' sleeper! I feel your pain.</p> <p>DD2 was a bit of a troublesome sleeper at times. Here are my thoughts:</p> <p>1) There is a 6 mos sleep regression. It may just be a 1-2 week stretch that is like this. I know 2 weeks of no sleep is brutal but an end may be in sight?<br /> 2) Does she use a paci? Do you think its because she loses it? I have ended up with two children who lose their mind when they cant reach a paci. I use bumpers - I know its controversial - but even the mesh ones work great at just keeping a paci in the crib so baby can find it. Or you can be a desperate mom like me and put 4 paci's in the crib...just so that they can always get one quickly!<br /> 3) CIO - I know you said you dont want to do this and I get it - it was hard for us. At first it was like I was up and in her room before I realized what I was doing. Whoops. DH was opposed to it at first too. Then it was - we gotta try anything. I'd go in the first time - check her over (temperature, diaper, etc) and then rock her for a minute before placing her in the crib. For 2-3 nights in a row she cried for 20-30 mins - then passed out. It was always like she'd pass out mid cry. I'd totally stare at the monitor irrationally needing to see her move so I could rule out that she just stopped breathing.</p> <p>Perhaps you could start by putting her in a porta crib of sorts in another room in the house? See how the distance goes? Then if she still does it consider CIO - if thats a route you decide to go down? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767956 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:32:47 +0000 oscarthegoon 2767956@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a similar problem. I ended up bed sharing (safe surface, just me and baby) so baby could nurse back to sleep quickly and I at least could stay laying down and go back to sleep faster. It was a lifesaver. You gotta do what you gotta do. Hope it gets better for you soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767951 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:18:45 +0000 LemonJack 2767951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry. She sounds like my first, who was a terrible sleeper.</p> <p>If you think it's being near you that's part of the problem, could you set up a pack n play in the living room and try that for a few nights to see if it improves?</p> <p>With DD1 we tried CIO, but she would amp up, and had the personality where she would have just kept going. She threw up after just a couple of minutes because she was so distressed. It was at that point that I decided it wasn't worth it and just brought her into bed with me. I got rid of my pillow and comforter, and just slept with her next to me. When she woke up I would nurse her back to sleep while lying down and would go back to sleep myself. It wasn't ideal, but it saved my sanity that first year.</p> <p>I'm so sorry. I know how hard it is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767948 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:09:59 +0000 avivoca 2767948@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My girls (3.5 and 10 months) have shared a room since the baby was 10 weeks. The baby RARELY wakes up the toddler, but I also can get to her super quickly. I also tend to not let her cry because I know nursing to sleep is going to get us going faster so I just nurse and all is calm.</p> <p>Moving the baby out of our room was a life-saver. We were waking each other up all the time and sleep did get better. But there is a six-month sleep regression too, so baby might be going through that as well. </p> <p>Good luck! Don't be scared to move the baby in with the toddler. They might do better than you think! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/i-have-not-slept-in-six-monthshelp#post-2767939 Tue, 15 Aug 2017 12:52:17 +0000 maggierose 2767939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My daughter is 6 months old and is a terrible sleeper. I am not used to this because I have a 3-year-old son who was an amazing sleeper - slept through the night for the first time at 3 months, and was sleeping 10-12 hours consecutively by 5 months with only an occasional wake up. Needless to say I am losing my mind this time around and have no idea what to do.</p> <p>Starting around 3 months she went from like 2 wakeups a night to waking up every hour or two, which I thought was an early 4 month sleep regression. I did everything to get her into a good groove, but it has not improved at all since then, and in the last week or two it has gotten especially bad. </p> <p>I try to put her to bed more or less at the same time although with an older child to look after it is slightly less consistent than I would like, but she is generally down sometime between 6:30-7:30. We do bath, book, dim lights, sleep sack, and nurse. Sometimes she falls asleep nursing, but often she doesn't and is able to self soothe to sleep within a few minutes - no problem there. She has a lovey she sleeps with.</p> <p>She used to be able to sleep from 7-1 but the last week or so she has consistently been waking up at 9-10, and then again 1-2, then again 4-5, then up at 6:30. This is clearly some habitual waking or her moving through a sleep cycle and not able to fall back asleep.</p> <p>When she cries, I usually give her a couple minutes, and then go to her. I try other things first - giving a pacifier, shushing her, patting her - this just makes her madder and makes her cry much harder. I HAVE to nurse her to get her back to sleep. Which means it's all on me and my husband cannot do anything in the middle of the night. He's tried and she just gets more riled up. </p> <p>The other complicating factor is we only have a two bedroom home so she is still in the room with me. She seems to be a light sleeper and I think having me right there/hearing me/smelling me is also what is making her wake up. The only alternative is to put her in the crib in my son's room (which was the original idea, that they would share a room) but since she wakes up so frequently I rather she just wake me up and not wake up my toddler, too.</p> <p>This further complicates the idea of sleep training her or doing "cry it out" because we have a small house and I can't really let her cry for 20-30 minutes without waking up everyone. Also, my husband is not on board with it and gets mad if I don't get her after a couple minutes. I would prefer not do CIO, but at this point I am willing to do anything. </p> <p>I don't know if she is really hungry at night but she is a very petite baby so I feel like I should be feeding her...but doubt she really needs to be eating as often as a newborn does at this age. </p> <p>I just don't know what to do anymore and feel like my options are even more limited because of our sleeping arrangements. Her naps are pretty good, she is in daycare so I don't have much control over the schedule, but they put them down for two naps a day and she sleeps at least an hour or two for one of the naps, the other is usually hit or miss...like 20-30 minutes. When she first started she didn't nap for the first month but now does better.</p> <p>So, my question is HOW can I get her back to doing a long stretch, at least at the beginning of the night? I would be ok with like... 1, maybe 2 night wakes but these 4+ night wakes are making me a crazy person.</p> <p>Sorry this post was all over the place but anyone have advice for sleep training with a small place where sound carries everywhere, a toddler, and room sharing? </p>