Sleepless At Six Months: What’s Going Wrong?

We all expect a few sleepless nights when we become moms. Night feeds mean you’ll be lucky to get two hours at a time. Still, the majority of mothers keep the six-month mantle in their minds. This is when most babies move on to solid foods. It should, in theory, also be the time they start sleeping through. At some stages, that light at the end of the tunnel will be the only thing that keeps you positive.

That is until you reach the six-month mark and put your baby in their nursery, only to find a good night’s sleep still far away. You may gasp with horror, but this is a reality many mothers face. Every baby is different, and they don’t all start sleeping through the moment they don’t need a feed. The worst part about this is that there’s often no easy fix. At this age, you can’t just give them a bottle and put them down again. Instead, you’ll need to get your detective hat on and consider whether any of the following are keeping your baby awake.

Food is still playing them up

Though you thought food issues were behind you, your baby may still be crying as a result of their diet. Moving from milk to solids is a big leap, and it can often cause digestive issues. If these cause real discomfort, your baby may still cry due to pain. This can happen for various reasons. It may be that those solid foods are causing constipation. It may even be that your baby is experiencing an allergic reaction. If you’re concerned, a visit to the doctor won’t hurt. It may also be worth trying different foods until you find choices that don’t keep everyone up at night.

They can’t get comfortable

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Think about the times you can’t get comfortable in bed. It’s never pleasant. Whether your mattress is too lumpy, or the room temperature is all wrong, you toss and turn for hours. And, your baby will do the same, only they’ll cry about it to let you know. Make sure, then, that you get your little one as comfortable as can be. That could mean altering your room temperature or even investing in something like the baby cribs and Moses baskets at Cuckooland to increase comfort. Something as simple as this could cure all your bedtime woes.

They’re too tired

If neither above of the above seem to help, consider whether your baby is too tired when you put them down. We all know that babies get grumpy when overtired, but they can also work themselves into a state. This could lead to crying which keeps them awake and thus gets them even more upset. It may be worth, then, putting them down earlier, when they’re starting to get sleepy. This is a better option than waiting until they fall asleep to carry them to bed. Getting on the ball here could well unlock those sleepless nights you’ve been waiting for.