Sleeping Problems with 6 Month Old Daughter

I agree with the Weissbluth book...it really helped. I guess you could try swaddling too but maybe she's too big? But definitely get the Weissbluth book...it is very interesting and helpful (although I didn't find it to be really user friendly...you have to really sit down with it to get the info you need from it). It will advise you how to teach her to fall asleep on her own. Good luck!

We are experiencing the same thing! My son is now 8 months old but has been fighting naps for about 4 months. He's fine at night - even falls asleep on his own. I've read all the books and nothing worked.... he'd just cry for 2 hours and never sleep, etc. I like the Weissbluth book too but every baby is unique and his recommendations didn't work for us. We've been playing around with several factors and it's starting to get better..... play with the amount of time she is awake for example. For a few weeks my son could only be awake for 45 minutes at a time because he was so chronically overtired from not napping. Then he stayed awake for an hour at a time. Now he can go 1.5-2 hours like other babies. It is a major commitment to get her napping every 45min-1 hour but it was the only thing that worked for us. We are also playing around with whether or not to rock him. We HAD to rock him at first but now we just hold him and are easing into just putting him into the crib after some cuddle time. Just be REALLY PATIENT because you need to try something for about 4 days (minimum) to know if it has worked or not. Good luck!!!

Maybe she is teething or you can take her nice warm bath with johnson & johnson sleepy baby wash and it work like a charm.

im also a first time mom my little girl is now 10 months old. me and my husband were have the same prob with our little one a few months ago. so we stared a good bedtime sced. bath at 7pm let her play a little after bath time. then we gie her a bottle around 8pm then after the bottle we put her in her bed. she is normally still awake. then after bout 15mins of her fussing and sometimes crying we go get her give her a little more bottole then she falls asleep. after we started this she has even slepp though the night a few times. the best thing is to get your little one on a sced it works wonders. well hope this helps

I am a firm believer in a book called "Babywise" it is all about babies and how they sleep. It has other stuff in it as well but the sleep patterns are crucial! It also says that a "white noise" can be helpful, like a loud fan. They have a CD that comes with it and has white noise on it if you put it on continuous play it really works. It's hard to see your lil one tired and fight it soo! I do hope you look at the book, it saved my sleep life too!

Here you go with a sure fire idea. Everyone I have given this advice to tells me it works. Take a t-shirt or nightshirt that you have worn and tuck her pillow in it or her teddy bear. What ever she sleeps with, even if you have to stretch it over the mattress do it. It will have your sent and calm her down enough to sleep.

This works even now, as my son is 6 years old. If he is sick and cranky I put his pillow in my nightshirt and he sleeps much better.

try using the Baby Whisperer's EASY method for a schedule, and the Happiest Baby on the Block 5 s's method. Those two combined will make cio not be a needed thing (at that age)
EASY - when the baby wakes up it Eats. After you feed it, then it has Activity - bouncy seat, tummy time, sitting up and playing with toys, swing, exersaucer, etc. When the baby gets fussy check the B's - boredom, butt or burp. If it's none of those then off to Sleep. Don't wait for the baby to do more than get the tiniest bit fussy, then see what is causing the fusses - if it's just that they needed their diaper change do that, but if it's not the activity is boring, the butt is dirty or they have to burp, then put them down. This may happen after as short as 45 minutes, don't freak, it really means they are tired.
Now, to get them to sleep use the 5 s's. Swaddle the baby, hold the baby on their side and sway as they suck on something (paci, your knuckle or their finger/thumb) and make a shush noise. This will calm your baby. When the baby is calm, but not asleep yet, keeping them swaddled lay them in the bed. I like to pat them instead of sway after a minute or two cause you can still pat after they are put down but you can't sway, so pat the baby and continue patting gradually decreasing it as you put them in the bed. Also continue the shushing as you put them down, again gradually getting quieter.
If you do these two you will find a well rested, easily managed baby in no time.

It sounds like you may be missing the early signs of tiredness in her and so putting her to sleep when she is already too tired. I found the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby" invaluable as I did the same with my baby when she was around 2 months and once I worked out how to get her to sleep before she was tired she was soooo much happier. You don't say how many naps your daughter is getting but she may need more and maybe an earlier bedtime. Sleep begets sleep and a rested baby sleeps much better. So the moment you see a decrease in her activity within 2 hrs of her being awake or even one rub of the eye, try to get her to sleep immediately. I helped my little one suck her hands and that helped her self comfort. The book has lots of suggestions. Good luck.

I very, very, very highly recommend Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. I've used it for all three of my children and it's worked wonders!
Best of luck!

Is this a recent change? They go through growth spurts at this age. Also this is about when the teething starts in. I know if I give my guy his teething tablet at bedtime, he falls asleep much faster. Otherwise, he is a bear and fights it as well. Lots of crying and biting his hands.

Good Luck!

A warm bathbeforebed an soft comforting voice. Don't get yourself on edge She needs to feel your calmness

I agree with the other moms. She needs to learn to fall asleep on her own. Something else to think about, she may also be teething.

She sounds overtired. Watch for her signs of sleepiness, rubbing eyes, crankiness, yawning, etc. If you put her to bed at the same time every night now you may want to start putting her to bed about 15 minutes prior to that time. Also make sure she is getting consistent naps during the day. An overtired baby is harder to get down to sleep. Also she is getting to the age where a nice bedtime routine is helpful. So if your not already doing that that may be another nice option. You could read a book, sing one song, and lay her to sleep. Good luck!!

Hi B.,

There are some great sleep books out there. One is "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child" by Marc Weisbluth. It is really good. The basic thing that I learned is to read your child's cues and to put them to bed before they are too tired. We have our 8 month old on a pretty good sleep/nap schedule now and I know that if I put her down (in her sleepsack) before she is tired then she is less likely to scream/fuss. She plays a little and then falls asleep. Lately we have experienced what happens when she gets overtired--screaming and sometimes never sleeping for that nap (she takes 2 a day).

I hope that this helps you. I went through the same things and it was HORRIBLE. The screaming, rocking, crying. It nearly drove me crazy.

In the beginning she will cry some. I would suggest going in and soothing her (paci or no) and then leave, if she cries go back (but try and not to pick her up!--then she will think it is time to play) and do it again if need to. By the 3rd try, our daughter was always asleep.

It will make your life sooo much easier.

Best of luck! Let us know how it goes.

Maybe try putting her down before she shows that she is tired. If you know she's going to get cranky 2 1/2 hours after she wakes up, start trying to put her down at 2 hours instead. You may be waiting too long before trying to get her to go to sleep and she could be overtired.