Questioner: Karen Mitchell
Subject: 6 month old
Question: Hi! My amazing sleeping 6 month old has decided to go from sleeping through the night and napping whenever to only wanting to sleep in my arms. I was able to put him down awake gently swaddled. Now that he is older and can roll around the swaddling doesn't work so I've been putting him down in a sleep sack.
Since he won't go down awake I've been trying to put him down asleep but he instantly shakes his hands and spits out his soother (if I put him down with one, sometimes I don't) and wakes himself up. I go back and forth to his room until 4am when exhausted I bring him into bed with me and he sleeps happily until 8:30am.
Any suggestions for what I should be doing? He's already 22 pounds so holding him constantly is breaking my back!
Thank you!
Karen
Answer: Dear Karen, Where he was already sleeping through the night and had established a sleeping pattern I have to ask what interrupted his processes? I am wondering if he is teething? Or if something in his immediate environment changed?
When there is growth/development or if something significant in the environment changes babies will often regress to what is comforting to them. The good news is you are his comfort. Have you tried a consistent nightly routine like adding in infant massage before he goes to sleep? Combined with a story time, soft music?
My daughter had a wonderful cd with a heartbeat and soft music which even puts me to sleep.
Best Wishes!
M Kay Keller
