Overtired but Won't Sleep

Milestones will throw little ones for a total loop-she's almost crawling, probably hitting that 6 month growth spurt, could have some teething going on. That's an awful lot for a little one learning to navigate the world. Just be patient and follow your gut not to leave her in there to cry. She doesn't understand why you would leave her to cry. I can not stress this part enough-babies must be taught to sleep! They don't automatically know how. Leaving a baby to cry it out doesn't teach them to sleep. It floods their system with stress hormones and raises their blood pressure. Not to say there aren't a few tears when baby is learning to sleep but there is a kinder gentler way to approach it.

If she is showing signs of tiredness, you've gone too far with some babies. With some babies you have to anticipate when you know they will be tired. Meaning, if she consistently shows she is tired at 8 you need to have everything done and have her ready for bed by 7:45. Beat her to getting to the point of fatigue. For some babies that works very well.

I found for both mine that they would "go to bed" much later in the evening when they were tiny but as they got older (around your daughter's age) it became necessary to shift the bed time to much earlier. The bedtime routine has a consistency to it that baby can come to depend on and learn what to expect and what is expected but it also has to shift and flow to follow baby's changing needs.

Make sure baby is getting naps during the day as well. A well rested baby sleeps better at night.

Also, I found invaluable advice, tips, tricks and education on infant sleep and how to teach my babies to sleep in 3 books-Dr. Sears Baby Sleep Book, The Baby Whisperer, and The No-Cry Sleep Solution. I didn't follow any one to the tee but used things from each to form a sleep plan that worked for my babies that didn't involve them crying themselves sick.

Hi M.-

I have found that when kids start rubbing their eyes, they are already over tired. When kids miss the "bedtime window", they become overtired and are too stimulated to sleep, and often do exactly what your daughter is doing. Cannot sleep, is very active, has short catnaps, but wakes often then wakes early the nexts day.

Here is what I've found that works, start putting her to bed 30 minutes earlier each night until you find the correct time for her. This time will change over the next few years as she grows and develops, especially during growth spurts, which I think you're in right now.

You should find that the earlier bedtime not only helps her get to sleep faster, but she'll stay asleep at night better and sleep longer in the morning.

Remember, at 6 months, she should have about 14 hours of sleep a day, including naps. So, it would be, 2 hour morning nap, 2 hour afternoon nap & 10 hours of night sleep.

Good Luck.

R. Magby

I was going to say everything Dori said. Try some Motrin - if she's teething it will help, if it doesn't, she's probably not.

If you've exhausted your options (pun intended) and you think you want to do CIO, make a plan and stick to it. I have no objection to ferberizing, but I do think it's a little mean to keep switching it up on the baby. (I know you didn't mean to do that, and I'm sure she's totally fine).

Good luck! She will sleep again, I swear.

In addition to what the others have said, I want to share something that worked really well for us.
I would lie down with the baby and slow my breathing down incrementally. This created a calm and quiet environment to slowly help them relax and gently fall asleep. Both my husband and I found out that the more stressed out we were, the more difficult it was to put them to sleep.
Also, sleep patterns as you describe are usually caused by a growth spurt. It will pass. Hang in there.