[Emma H]

Hi Stephanie,

First of all, congratulations on the safe arrival of your little one!

Life with a newborn and a toddler must be incredibly busy, and I completely understand why using the settling pyramid for naps would be challenging with a toddler running around. You’re already doing a great job by establishing a bedtime routine!

Bedtimes under three months can be unpredictable and often quite late, but it sounds like your little one is already falling asleep at a great time, which is fantastic.

Helping Bedtime Become More Consistent

You’ve already implemented a consistent wake-up time, which is key in helping his circadian rhythm mature. Over time, this will help bedtime naturally settle into a predictable window (give or take 30 minutes).

One thing you could try is narrowing his morning wake-up range so it falls within the same 30-minute window each day—e.g., 7:30-8:00 AM. This small adjustment can help his first nap become more predictable, which in turn helps all subsequent naps and bedtime fall into a more regular pattern.

Another way to encourage a consistent bedtime is by continuing to cap his final nap of the day, ensuring he’s ready to sleep at the same time each evening.

That said, at just eight weeks old, he’s in the peak of the Period of Purple Crying, so some bedtime unpredictability is completely normal.

Using the Settling Pyramid

In regards to trying to use the settling pyramid there are a few options.

Option 1: Using the Settling Pyramid Downstairs

You could start by using the settling pyramid downstairs, allowing him to fall asleep in his bassinet before transferring him upstairs to his bed once he’s in deep sleep. The goal at this stage is simply to help him get used to falling asleep outside of your arms and without movement.

Since he already transitions well from your arms to his bed without waking, this method shouldn’t cause confusion.

If you choose this option, I recommend slightly extending his bedtime routine to create a smoother transition:

1. Bottle feed
2. Dim the lights in the living room (or turn them off if possible)
3. Swaddle or use a sleep sack
4. Offer a pacifier (if using one)
5. Walk around the room while singing a lullaby
6. Once calm but still awake, lay him in the bassinet and use the settling pyramid

If he fusses and needs to be picked up, you can soothe him in your arms and then attempt the settling pyramid again. However, if you’re exhausted, it’s completely fine to settle him to sleep in your arms. Just make a note of the time he falls into deep sleep without waking—this can help you identify any natural sleep patterns and adjust bedtime accordingly if needed.

Pacifier Tip

If you notice he frequently wakes when the pacifier falls out, it may not be helping him self-settle. In this case, try using it only to calm him. Then, just before he falls asleep, gently place your finger between the pacifier and the corner of his mouth to break the seal and remove it. This way, he completes the final step of falling asleep without relying on it.

Option 2: Gradually Reducing Movement While Settling in Your Arms

If transitioning to the settling pyramid feels like too big of a change right now, you can continue settling him in your arms while slowly reducing movement.

Here’s how this could look:

1. Bottle feed
2. Dim the lights in the living room (or turn them off if possible)
3. Swaddle or use a sleep sack
4. Offer a pacifier (if using one)
5. Walk around while singing a lullaby and patting his bottom
6. Stop walking, but continue patting and shushing
7. Stop patting, but continue shushing
8. Stop shushing and allow him to drift off naturally

By gradually reducing movement in stages, you’re helping him adjust to falling asleep with less external support. Over time, this will make it much easier to introduce the settling pyramid when you’re ready and bedtime becomes more predictable.

Option 3: Using the Settling Pyramid in His Bedroom

Another approach to consider is settling him to sleep directly in his bedroom.

Since deep sleep dominates the first half of the night, your toddler is unlikely to wake when you settle your baby in the crib next door. However, if your toddler is a light sleeper, this option may not be ideal right now, and that’s completely okay.

If you decide to give it a try, you can complete most of the bedtime routine downstairs and then move upstairs while singing the lullaby. Once in his bedroom, gently lay him in the crib and use the settling pyramid to help him drift off to sleep.

Naps and the Settling Pyramid

When it comes to naps, trying the settling pyramid for just 20 minutes at a time can be a good approach (since it can take that long for babies to fall asleep). If you’re going to attempt this, the first nap of the day is usually the easiest.

That said, with a toddler in the house, using a baby carrier for naps is completely fine if that’s what works best right now. The key is keeping a consistent wake-up time and following a wake, feed, play, sleep routine whenever possible. As separating the feed from sleep like this will gradually help your baby learn to fall asleep without needing to feed to sleep.

For now, focusing on using the settling pyramid at bedtime is a great first step.

As he gets older, you can gradually apply the same approach to naps.

Does this sound okay?

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Camilla,

I’m really glad the videos and course have been helpful for you and your daughter.

I’m so happy to hear that she’s doing well and that the darkened naps have made such a positive difference. It sounds like you’re doing a fantastic job!

Now, to address your questions:

Managing Naps While Out & About:

If you’re out for the whole day, it could definitely affect her sleep and mood, both that day and at night. But if it’s just a short outing and she gets her usual naps before and after, the impact should be pretty minimal.

You might find it takes a bit more effort to settle her while you’re out, but if she’s tired, she’ll eventually drift off.

Another idea is, if you have a bassinet pram, you could take her regular swaddle or sleeping bag along. When it’s nap time, stick to your usual routine—get her swaddled or dressed in the sleeping bag, then lay her down in the pram bassinet to sleep. If you don’t have a bassinet pram, babywearing can be a great option when you’re out and about!

Purple Crying/Witching Hour:

Since the evening fussiness happens around the same time each day, it’s probably the Period of PURPLE Crying or the “witching hour.” It’s totally normal and usually peaks between 6-8 weeks, then slowly fades away by 3-4 months. The good news is it’s just a developmental phase, and it will pass, even with a well-rested and well-fed baby.

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to prevent it, but soothing techniques like gentle rocking, white noise, or swaddling can help ease things. In the Period of PURPLE Crying video in the course, I go through some strategies that might help. It sounds like you might already be doing some of them, which is great!
But if you haven’t seen it yet it might be worth checking out.

Long-Haul Travel: I understand your concerns about the long flight and jet lag, especially when she’s 5 months old. Before I can provide advice though, are you comfortable letting me know what country you’re flying into first? This will let me work out the time difference and what you might be able to do.

Thanks

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Emily,

I’m so sorry for the delayed response! For some reason, your post just showed up today.

First off, I just have to say, you’ve been amazing over the last 9 weeks! I can only imagine how stressful and overwhelming it must have been trying to figure out the gassiness and all the breastfeeding challenges. And to do it all while getting little sleep is impressive!

It’s also great that you’ve already identified the milk protein intolerance and made the necessary adjustments to your diet. I’m curious—when did you make this change?

You mentioned that feeding is still taking some time. Could you share how long it’s currently taking to feed your little one? Additionally, how is his weight tracking? Is he gaining at the expected rate and following his growth curve?

In regards to suggestions to help him settle to sleep for naps, I just have a few questions:

• You mentioned he is currently falling asleep for naps while feeding. I was wondering if he can fall asleep in your arms without a feed at all. So are you able to hold him in your arms and rock him to sleep or does it always have to be with a feed?
• You mentioned you’re following the nap and bedtime routine I outline in the course but he will only fall asleep while feeding. Can you describe what his nap routine is and where the feed fits in?
• You mentioned you have been trying the pyramid to help him to learn to self soothe but within 5 minutes he is screaming again. Does that mean you can get him to fall asleep in the crib using the settling pyramid and he wakes 5 minutes later or does he not fall asleep at all?
• When swaddling, are his arms positioned down by his sides or up by his face?
• You mentioned his bedtime is around 9-9:30 pm. Could you describe his bedtime routine and how you settle him to sleep at bedtime?
• Can you tell me how he’s sleeping overnight? Specifically, what’s the timing of his overnight feeds?
• During the night, is he sleeping in his crib, or is he on you?
• Does he have a consistent wake-up time? If so, when does he usually wake up?
• How long is he staying awake between naps before needing to sleep again?
• When he falls asleep for a nap, do you hold him the entire time, or do you place him in the crib?
• How long is he going between feeds during the day?
• Does your little one have breastmilk from the bottle at all? If he does how long does this feed take?
• Can you let me know how many naps he is having during the day and the general length of these naps?

Another thing to keep in mind is that at 9 weeks, he’s likely hitting the peak of the Period of PURPLE Crying. This could help explain why he had such a tough time settling in your arms the other day for over 40 minutes. During this phase, which often peaks in the late afternoon and evening, babies can become incredibly difficult to soothe.

I also wanted to check in—other than the afternoon fussiness, is he generally happy when he’s awake? Or do you find that he’s often unsettled, even when he’s sleeping, like squirming or showing signs of discomfort?

Sorry for all the questions! Once I have this information, I’ll be able to offer more specific advice on how we can help him start falling asleep in the crib instead of while feeding—so you can get some much-needed rest too!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Yana,

It’s wonderful to hear that your little one is sleeping so well overnight—that’s such a great start!

To help me provide the best advice for settling him for naps without tears, I’d love to get a bit more information. I’ve listed a few questions below. When you get a chance, could you please let me know your thoughts?

1. From what you’ve shared, it sounds like your nap time routine might look something like this:

– Closing the curtains (Is this in the bedroom?)

– Dressing him in his Love to Dream Swaddle (Also in the bedroom?)

– Turning on the white noise machine

– Rocking him until he calms down, then standing still until he falls asleep in your arms

– Laying him down in the crib

Is that right?

2. When he cries, is it more of an inconsolable cry, or does it sound like a protest cry with bursts rather than continuous crying?

3. Have you noticed if he seems happier (in that he doesn’t cry as much) when you hold him upright in your arms for naps, compared to when he’s lying down in your arms?

4. Does he use a pacifier at all?

5. You mentioned he takes 2 x 40-minute naps and a few shorter 20-minute naps. Is he currently having about 5 naps a day?

6. Have you been able to follow a wake, feed, play, sleep routine during the day?

7. It sounds like he typically starts his day at 7:30 am. Is this a consistent wake-up time for him?

8. How does he go to sleep at night? Does he cry then too? I’d love to hear more about his bedtime routine.

Thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions!

Emma

• This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by  Emma H.

[Emma H]

Hi Marien,

At 3 weeks old, wake windows can vary quite a bit since sleep pressure is the main driver of sleep. Essentially, babies will fall asleep when their “sleep fuel” is full. At this age, the best approach is to combine wake windows with sleep cues and their natural rhythm to determine when they’re ready for sleep.

Have you had a chance to watch the video titled “Using Cues to Determine When Your Baby Is Tired”? In this video, I break down how to recognise and use these cues to help your little one settle at the right time.

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Marien!

I’m so glad you’ve been finding the videos helpful!

To answer your question—letting your little one sleep on you is totally fine! Contact naps, skin-to-skin, and babywearing are all great ways to provide comfort and connection, and they won’t prevent your baby from learning to sleep in their crib.

That being said, you don’t want every nap to be on you, simply because you want to give your baby plenty of opportunities to practice falling asleep in their crib as well. The goal is to find a balance—enjoying those snuggly naps when you want to, while also helping your baby develop the skills to settle independently over time.

When your baby does sleep in the crib, you can support them using the settling pyramid—responding to their needs while gradually helping them learn to fall asleep with less and less help.

So no need to second-guess those contact naps—they’re totally okay! Just aim to mix in some crib naps too, so your little one has lots of opportunity to practice falling in the crib.

Hope that helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Yana,

Thank you so much for sharing this additional information!

It sounds like you’re doing an incredible job keeping your little one entertained while maintaining a quiet environment for your husband to work—no small feat!

It’s fantastic to hear that your baby is generally content for 30-50 minutes after waking from a nap. This is a strong sign that he’s likely not in pain or discomfort, which helps narrow down why he might be getting upset.

I’m also glad to hear he’s gaining weight nicely. You mentioned expressing a bit of milk when your breasts are overly full, and you’re wondering if this might be causing him to get hungry sooner than every two hours. One thing you could try is holding off on pumping before his feed. Instead, during the feed that follows his nap, let him nurse until he seems sleepy or pulls off. Then, change his diaper (to make him more alert) and offer the breast again. This little break and second attempt can sometimes encourage a fuller feed, which might help him go longer between feeds.

Regarding his cues, it truly sounds like you’re responding beautifully to his signals. Unfortunately, babies three months and under can switch from content to very distressed with little warning, and their temperament also plays a big role. The good news is that at around four months, you’ll likely find his cries become more predictable and he won’t escalate to distress quite so quickly.

On those occasions when he cries loudly and then immediately falls asleep, my advice is to go with the flow. You can lay him down in his crib or hold him for that nap—whatever feels right in the moment. Then, simply try to reintroduce your usual nap routine the next time.

For bedtime, it makes perfect sense to follow his lead based on his last nap. Since he’s sleeping well regardless of whether bedtime is at 6:30 or 8 p.m., continuing this approach is a good idea. By around four months of age, you should see his bedtime naturally settle into a more consistent window, usually within about 30 minutes. Many families find that a bedtime between 7 and 8 p.m. works well for their baby at this age.

To help bedtime become more predictable, continue to wake him at the same time each morning and try to aim for his first nap to happen at a consistent time as well. Once that first nap becomes fixed, you’ll often find the rest of the day’s naps start to follow suit and bedtime becomes more predictable.

When it comes to early signs of rolling over, here are a few things to look for:

• Rolling onto his side.
• Bringing his legs up towards his chest.
• Lifting his hips off the ground.

If he isn’t showing these signs yet then you can use the swaddle.

Please let me know if the Halo Sleep Sack or swaddling him with his arms down helps.

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Camilla,

It’s great to hear that you revisited the Period of PURPLE Crying video! I hope you found some new tips to try with your little one.

Based on what you’ve described, it sounds like your baby’s panicked breathing and crying during the fussy afternoon period—especially with no wet or soiled nappy and cluster feeding afterwards—may just be part of her natural fussy phase.

Preparing for Overseas Travel

When it comes to travelling overseas, there are a few things you can do both now and during the trip to make the experience smoother for your baby.

Things to Work On Now:

1. Establish a Consistent Wake-Up Time: Aim for the same 30-minute window each morning to help regulate her internal clock.

2. Create a Bedtime and Nap Routine: A consistent routine will cue your baby’s brain for sleep, making it easier to replicate this routine when you’re overseas.

3. Follow the Wake-Feed-Play-Sleep Cycle: During the day, use the wake-feed-play-sleep routine, and at night, follow the wake-feed-sleep routine. Keep lights low or off during nighttime wakes to reinforce the difference between day and night.

The goal is to make these routines familiar so you can use them to help your baby adjust to the new time zone.

Before the Flight:

1. Simplify Your Sleep Routine for the Plane: Create a mini version of your nap/bedtime routine that you can replicate in a limited space. For example:
   • Put her in her sleeping bag.
   • Sing a lullaby while gently rocking her in your arms (standing still, as walking around the plane might not always be an option).
   • Lay her down and use the settling pyramid technique to help her fall asleep.

When You Arrive in Singapore and London:

1. Start the Day Between 6:00 and 8:00 am Local Time: This helps maximise sunlight exposure and set your baby’s internal clock. If she wakes before 6:00 am, keep lights dim to signal that it’s still nighttime. If she won’t go back to sleep, keep activities calm and low-stimulation.

2. Expose Her to Natural Light: Once she wakes, get her into natural sunlight as soon as possible. This will help adjust her circadian rhythm.

3. Manage Nap Lengths: Initially, she might want to sleep for long stretches during the day because of the time difference. However, avoid letting naps go over 2 hours to help her adjust to sleeping more overnight.

4. Time the Last Nap Carefully: Make sure her last nap ends with enough time for a full wake window before aiming for a 7:00-8:00 pm bedtime in the new time zone.

5. Stick to Your Usual Nap and Bedtime Routine: This will continue to signal to her that it’s time to sleep, even in a new environment.

6. Expect Nighttime Wakes: Jet lag might lead to wakeful periods at night. Keep lights dim, play quietly, and help her settle back to sleep as soon as she seems ready.

I hope that helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Yana,

From what you’ve mentioned, it sounds like he isn’t always fussy or upset throughout the day. Does that sound correct? If he’s unsettled even when he’s sleeping, though, it could suggest there might be something causing him discomfort.

Is he continuing to gain weight and staying on track with his growth curve?

It seems like he gets fussy when you enter the bedroom, which can sometimes happen if they start associating the bedroom with sleep time. One thing that might help is slightly changing the nap and bedtime routine so that most of it happens in the living room, with just the final part in the bedroom.

Would you be open to tweaking the routine a bit to see if it helps him cry less? Here’s what it could look like:

Nap Routine:

• Before nap time, turn off the bedroom light and switch on the white noise machine.
• Put his Love to Dream Swaddle on in the living room.
• Then walk into the bedroom, singing a lullaby.
• Once you’re in the room, continue singing and do a lap around the room.
• Stand still, keep singing, and gently pat his bottom.
• Gradually stop singing and continue patting his bottom.
• Finally, stop patting and let him fall asleep in your arms.

Bedtime Routine:

• Before getting him ready for bed, turn off the bedroom light and turn on the white noise machine.
• Change his diaper in the living room or a brighter room.
• Put on his Love to Dream Swaddle.
• Feed him in the living room or a bright room.
• Then walk into the bedroom, singing the lullaby.
• Once you’re in the room, continue singing and do a lap of the room.
• Stand still, singing, and patting his bottom.
• Gradually stop singing and keep patting his bottom.
• Finally, stop patting and let him fall asleep in your arms.

Once he gets familiar with this routine and starts falling asleep without movement, you can then transition to using the settling pyramid after you do a lap around the room singing the lullaby.

Also, you mentioned that he prefers to be held upright, so you might want to consider holding him in that position while you sing the lullaby and pace the room. That could help him feel more comfortable and calm.

It’s great to hear that he has a consistent wake-up time already. On the nights when he goes to bed at 6:30 pm, I would expect him to wake up around 6-6:30 am at the latest, as that’s a full 12 hours of sleep. On nights he goes to bed at 8 pm, a 7-7:30 am wake-up would be more typical.

I noticed that his bedtime seems to vary quite a bit—does it usually shift that much, or is it more commonly around 8 pm with occasional earlier bedtimes?

Also, I was wondering if you’ve tried using a swaddle sleeping bag where his arms are down by his sides? Swaddling can sometimes have an instant calming effect, so it might be worth trying if you have one on hand. However, if he’s showing early signs of learning to roll over, it’s best to skip this and start transitioning to a sleeping bag where his arms are free.

Does any of this sound doable?
Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Yana,

Thanks so much for getting back to me and answering my questions!

I just need a little time to think through some options that might make sleep a bit easier for your little one. I will reach out tomorrow with some strategies for you to try.

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Joyce,

It’s great to hear that her wake windows and naps are starting to lengthen!

I’m also glad that you haven’t noticed much leg movement when she’s falling asleep—it’s a positive sign.

One thing you might want to consider is sharing the settling pyramid PDF with her daycare carer and walking them through it. Since she’s currently being rocked to sleep, it could be an easy switch for them to try the pyramid method instead.

Let me know how the earlier bedtime goes once you’ve had a chance to try it!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Rita,

Andrew told me there was a formatting error, but it’s fixed now which is great!

And it’s even better that you received the message when I originally posted it.

It’s wonderful to hear that you’re already implementing the suggestions, and it really sounds like bedtime is moving in the right direction. The fact that she’s starting to self-soothe and suck her fingers is such a positive step!

Once she fully learns how to fall asleep on her own, you should start to see longer stretches of sleep. Typically, the first stretch of sleep extends first, which naturally pushes that initial overnight feed later and later.

Regarding the 5 a.m. wake-up, it’s absolutely fine to help her back to sleep until her usual wake-up time. For now, I’d focus on:

• Encouraging her to fall asleep independently in the crib at bedtime.
• Taking a moment to pause when she stirs overnight. This will help you determine whether she’s fully awake and needing a feed, or just briefly rousing between sleep cycles or during REM sleep.

If you’re comfortable with it, I’d suggest sticking with this approach for the next two weeks. If she’s still waking at 5 a.m. after that, we can explore some additional tweaks to help her sleep until 6 a.m.

It’s also fantastic that you’ve made adjustments to the nap routine as well!

Does this sound okay?

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Rita,

I am so sorry. I was sure I posted the reply below last night but it doesn’t seem to have gone through. So I am so sorry for taking so long to respond.

Hi Rita,

Thanks for taking the time to answer all my questions!

Looking back through our chat, it does seem like bedtime has improved—she’s now falling asleep earlier (8:30/9 PM compared to 10:30/11 PM), and she’s settling easily, which is great!

However, you’re absolutely right that the stretches between her overnight feeds have shortened.

Since she’s waking and immediately falling back asleep after her first and second feeds—and not staying awake for long periods—it’s unlikely that she’s waking more frequently because she isn’t tired. Instead, her sleep pattern suggests she may be waking between sleep cycles and needing assistance to fall back asleep.

At this age (4 months), babies’ sleep cycles shift from two stages to four between 3–5 months. At the end of each cycle, they may briefly wake. If a baby knows how to fall asleep independently, they typically stir and then settle themselves back to sleep. However, if they rely on being held or rocked, these brief wake-ups can turn into full awakenings, requiring help to fall back asleep.

If this is what’s happening, we typically see one of two patterns:

1. The baby wakes every two hours throughout the night.
2. The baby has a longer stretch of sleep at the start of the night but then wakes every two hours afterward.

Your little one seems to follow the second pattern. Additionally, when babies wake between 4–6 AM, it can be especially difficult to get them back to sleep. At this point, their sleep pressure is lower after 8+ hours of rest, and their circadian rhythm naturally encourages wakefulness—often leading to early morning starts.

How to Lengthen Her Sleep Stretches

To help her sleep longer overnight and encourage her to sleep past 5 AM, the key will be teaching her to fall asleep independently in the crib. Once she masters this skill, she’ll be able to resettle herself between sleep cycles.

Since bedtime is now happening consistently around 8:30/9 PM, would you be open to trying the settling pyramid at bedtime? Instead of singing the lullaby until she becomes drowsy before laying her down, you could try singing the lullaby just once and then placing her in the crib while she is awake.

If that feels too challenging right now, you could take a more gradual approach—similar to what we discussed for naps. This might look like:

• Feeding her in a bright, active room to discourage dozing off.
• Once the feed is finished, putting her in her sleeping bag (which may help wake her slightly) and carrying her into her room.
• Turning off the lights and singing a lullaby (just once).
• Walking while patting her back or bottom.
• Standing still while continuing to pat.
• Introducing shushing while patting.
• Stopping patting while continuing to shush,
• Stopping shushing altogether and letting her fall asleep.

As we discussed previously, this approach helps her learn to fall asleep without movement, patting, or noise, making it easier to transition to the settling pyramid when you’re ready.

One thing to keep in mind: while this gradual method will help her get used to falling asleep without movement, we likely won’t see changes in her overnight sleep just yet, since she’s still falling asleep while being held. Her sleep stretches are more likely to increase once she starts settling to sleep in her crib.

A Small Tweak for Daytime Naps

Another small adjustment you could try is shortening the time you spend dancing in a bright room before naps. This way, when you take her to her bedroom for her nap, you can gradually reduce movement and patting, helping her fall asleep while you’re standing or sitting still.

Does this sound possible?

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Joyce,

Thanks so much for tracking this data—I really appreciate the effort you’ve put into it!

From what you’ve collected, it looks like the length of the wake window before bedtime isn’t making it easier for her to fall asleep or stay asleep. In fact, when she had a longer wake window of 2 hours and 40 minutes, her sleep at the start of the night seemed more disrupted.

Possible Reasons for Frequent Wake-Ups at the Start of the Night

In general, there are four common reasons why babies wake frequently early in the night:

1. Difficulty Linking Sleep Cycles – If a baby hasn’t yet learned to fall asleep independently, they often wake predictably between sleep cycles, needing assistance (rocking, feeding, pacifier, etc.) to fall back asleep. However, since your little one is self-settling for naps on the weekend and at bedtime initially—and her night wakings are unpredictable—it’s unlikely this is the cause.

   On that note, do you know how the childcare staff are helping her fall asleep? Are they holding her, patting her in the crib, or feeding her to sleep?

   Also, I noticed she tends to nap around 3–3:30 PM at childcare. Do they attempt to put her down again around 5 PM, or do they keep her awake until you pick her up at 5:30 PM?

2. Discomfort or Pain – When babies wake due to discomfort, their wake-ups don’t follow a pattern and happen at random times.

   You previously mentioned that she’s generally happy and content during the day—is that still the case? Also, when she’s falling asleep, have you noticed her legs constantly moving or “jumping around”?

3. Bedtime Being Too Late – If a baby is overtired, falling asleep and staying asleep can be more difficult.

4. Hunger – Since her final feed is part of the bedtime routine, I wouldn’t expect hunger to wake her just 45 minutes later. It’s possible she might wake 3 hours later due to hunger, but not so soon after bedtime.

   Do you still feed her overnight? For breastfed babies, waking 1–2 times overnight for a feed is typical.

One thing I noticed is that even on the weekend—when her nap schedule is more predictable—her last nap in the crib was around 5–5:40 PM, and she had her usual feed/sleep at 6–6:20 PM. Yet, with bedtime at 8:18 PM, she still didn’t enter a deep sleep until around 11 PM.

Given this, I think it would be worth trying an earlier bedtime this weekend to see if that results in a longer initial stretch of sleep. If it does, that would suggest her disrupted sleep at the start of the night is due to overtiredness.

Since she’s now around 5 months old, her wake windows are likely lengthening, and as a result, she should be dropping down to four naps a day. It’s also common for them to need an earlier bedtime.

If you’re open to trying this, you could follow the 4-nap schedule I outlined in a previous message, or simply cap her final nap in the crib at 5:30 PM at the latest. This way, she could nap from 5–5:30 PM and then go to bed at 7:30 PM.

With either option, we want to avoid her falling asleep during the 6 PM feed. To help with this, you could try feeding her in a bright, busy room to keep her awake. Alternatively, you might consider dropping that feed and instead making it part of the bedtime routine—so for a 7 PM bedtime, you’d feed her around 6:30–6:40 PM.

What do you think?
Emma

• This reply was modified 6 months, 1 week ago by  Emma H.

[Emma H]

Hi Rita,

Before I dive into your question, I just have a few quick things to clarify since it’s been a little while since we last spoke.

• Based on my calculations, is your little one around 4 months old now?

• From what you’ve described, it sounds like her overnight sleep pattern looks something like this:

  Bedtime: 8:30/9:00 pm
  1st feed: Between 11:30 pm – 1:00 am
  2nd feed: Between 2:30 – 3:30 am
  3rd feed: Between 5:00 – 5:50 am

Does that sound about right? You didn’t mean that she is awake from 11:30pm until 1am did you?

If this overnight sleep pattern is right, it looks like she’s initially getting a longer stretch of sleep (around 3–4.5 hours) but then waking every 2 hours after that. This pattern suggests she may be waking between sleep cycles overnight and needing help to fall back asleep.

I was wondering—how are you currently settling her to sleep? I am assuming she’s napping in the sling during the day, but when she’s placed in the crib for naps or at bedtime, is she being held or fed to sleep? Have you been able to try the settling pyramid for any of her sleeps, and if so, how is that going? And have you been able to pair back the movement when you are settling her to sleep in the sling?

You also mentioned that you’re following sleep schedule option 2 with some minor tweaks due to the early morning wake-ups. Could you share what her nap routine looks like, including how long she’s sleeping for each nap?

And lastly, you mentioned that her wake windows have shortened—how long are they currently?

Sorry for all the questions! Just want to make sure I have all the details so I can give you the best advice.

Emma

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Emma H.