[Emma H]

Hi Diana!

It sounds like you’re experiencing some changes with your little one’s sleep patterns. Before I can give you some suggestions, I have a few questions:

1. When did these changes start?

   • Did they begin when you moved him into his own room or did you move him into his own room at 5 months?
   • Did they coincide with him starting to crawl?

2. Can he roll from his back to his tummy on his own?

3. You mentioned his previous routine looked like this:

   • 6 AM: Wake
   • 1st nap around 8:30/9 AM (wake at 10/10:30 AM)
   • 2nd nap around 12:30/1 PM (wake at 2/2:30 PM)
   • 3rd nap at 5 PM (wake at 5:30 PM)
   • Bedtime at 7 PM
   • Overnight wake for a feed between 11:30 PM – 2:30 AM

Does his routine still look like this?

4. You mentioned he is waking often during the night—are there specific times he wakes, or is it every two hours from 7 PM onwards?

5. Also, you mentioned he is harder to settle for bedtime and naps. Is he still able to fall asleep in the crib by himself, or are you placing him in the crib and then moving up the settling pyramid, eventually picking him up and rocking him to sleep?

One possible reason for the sudden change in his sleeping patterns might be that he is ready to drop his third nap and transition to a two-nap schedule. Babies typically make this transition between 6 and 9 months of age. Do you think this might be the case? Here are some signs that indicate your baby might be ready for this change:

1. Trouble Falling Asleep at Nap Time: If he struggles to fall asleep during his usual nap time, especially in the afternoon, it might be because he isn’t tired enough and needs more awake time between naps.

2. Difficulty Falling Asleep at Night: If he used to fall asleep quickly but suddenly resists bedtime, it could be due to the last nap of the day being too close to bedtime, not allowing enough awake time to build sufficient sleep pressure for the night.

3. Waking Up Earlier Than Usual: If he starts waking up earlier in the morning, such as shifting from a 6 AM wake-up to 5:30 AM, it might indicate he needs to drop a daytime nap. As children grow, their overall sleep needs decrease, and excessive daytime napping can reduce nighttime sleep duration.

4. Shorter Naps: If he begins to have shorter naps, waking up much earlier than usual, it might be a sign that he’s ready to drop a nap. This often happens because they aren’t tired enough for a long nap due to shorter awake periods.

Thanks

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Harish,

I’m so glad you liked the course!

It’s great to hear that your six-month-old has been sleeping well. Feeding her to sleep doesn’t seem problematic at this point, especially since she only wakes once a night for a feed and her naps are going well.

There are potential issues that can arise from using a bottle as a sleep association. These include:

1. Frequent Night Wakings: Some babies who are fed to sleep might wake more often during the night. They may wake up every sleep cycle needing the bottle to fall back to sleep, or they might have a solid stretch of sleep at the beginning of the night and then wake every two hours from the middle of the night onwards.

2. Short Naps: Feeding to sleep can sometimes lead to short naps. Babies may only sleep for one sleep cycle (30-45 minutes) during the day and struggle to link sleep cycles for longer naps.

3. Dental Health: Going to sleep with a bottle can increase the risk of tooth decay.

If you notice these changes, you might want to start offering the bottle earlier in the bedtime routine so she doesn’t fall asleep with it.

I hope this helps!

Emma

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Emma H.

[Emma H]

Hi Maddie!

Yay! 2-hour stretches of sleep would feel so much better.

It’s great that she’s going down pretty easily now.

Before I provide some suggestions to help her sleep longer, could you tell me about her current nap and bedtime routine? What does her new routine look like?

Also, you mentioned before that your partner enjoyed contact naps during the day. Is he still doing this, or is she now napping in her crib during the day too?

Since she’s waking every few hours, can you also describe what her nights look like? Specifically, what time does she go to bed, when does she wake up for a feed, and if she still has that long period of being awake in the early morning hours?

Thanks!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Carter!

Another Aussie! Welcome!

It’s so nice when they start to stay awake for longer and you can actually play with them.

During the newborn stage, it often feels like it’s just feeding, changing diapers, and then back to bed again!

Enjoy the playtime!

[Emma H]

Hi Jennifer!

That’s fantastic news about her daytime naps! It’s great that she is starting to have longer naps too. As she approaches 6 months, you should notice she settles into a 3-nap schedule, with the last nap of the day being the shortest (around 30-45 minutes). Her morning and early afternoon naps should lengthen.

It’s also good to hear that her wake windows are lengthening again. It can change so quickly, can’t it? It’s not unusual for that final wake window to be slightly longer than the others.

If you feel more comfortable, you could try reducing the speed of the patting very, very slowly until you eventually stop. This process of slowing down the patting could take a few minutes. Once you stop patting, rest your hand on her chest for a few minutes before moving away. You may find that she doesn’t get as distressed if you do it very slowly. What do you think?

Regarding overnight: Since she goes back to sleep easily after a feed for the 11 PM and 1:30/2 AM wake-ups, I recommend continuing to feed her to sleep.

Also, just wondering what time you and your partner go to bed? If it’s around 10:30/11 PM, it might be interesting to see if going to bed a little earlier or later affects her 11 PM wake-up. It’s possible that entering the bedroom at this time might be rousing her if she is in the lighter stages of sleep or partially waking.

For the 4/5 AM wake-up, it can be more challenging to get her back to sleep because sleep pressure is low (as she has already been asleep for 8-9 hours) and she’s likely in a lighter stage of sleep.

In the meantime continue:

• Keeping the environment as consistent as possible: Ensure the room is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature. Use white noise to mask early morning sounds that could disturb her.
• Helping her learn how to fall asleep on her own: As she learns the skill to fall asleep on her own, these wakes should start to naturally reduce.
• To pause when she first makes a sound: This allows her a chance to drift back off to sleep if she is just briefly waking between sleep cycles.

I hope this helps!

Emma

• This reply was modified 1 year, 9 months ago by  Emma H.

[Emma H]

Hi Jennifer,

It’s great to hear about the progress you’re making with Eva’s sleep routine!

I’m glad you’ve been able to move away from rocking to sleep, using singing and patting instead. However, I understand your concern about these becoming new sleep crutches. To prevent this, you can gradually reduce your involvement before she fully falls asleep. For instance, you might start by singing to her as she lies in your arms, then place her in the crib and move up the settling pyramid as needed and then back down so that she does the final step of falling asleep by herself. For example, once she’s calmer, slowly decrease the patting, eventually resting your hand on her chest, and then step back, continuing to shush from a distance, and finally stopping altogether before she falls asleep.

You mentioned her naps are going well. Does this mean Eva is settling easily, or are her naps becoming longer? Based on your description, I’m picturing a daily schedule like this:

• 7:30 AM wake-up
• 9:30 AM nap for 2 hours
• 11:30 AM wake-up
• 1:30 PM nap
• 2:00 PM wake-up
• 4:00 PM nap
• 4:30 PM wake-up
• 8:00 PM bedtime

During the night:

• Wakes at 10:30/11:00 PM, stays awake for about 1.5 hours
• Sleeps from 12:30 AM to 1:30 AM, wakes for a feed
• Wakes again around 4:00/5:00 AM for another feed, followed by contact napping until 7:30 AM

Is this correct?

Additionally, when she wakes for the 1:30 AM feed, does she return to sleep immediately, or does she stay awake for a while? Are you feeding her when she wakes at 10:30 PM?

I’d love to hear how the last few nights have been for both of you.

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Vivian!

I’m thrilled to hear that adjusting the wake windows has led to longer naps—that’s a big win!

I have answered your questions below.

Should you cap naps at 2 hours?

Generally, capping naps can be helpful to make sure your baby sleeps well at night. If longer naps during the day are making it hard for your baby to fall asleep or stay asleep at night, you might want to keep daytime naps shorter. However, every baby is different. If he still seems tired after waking up from a two-hour nap, it might mean he needs to nap a little longer. You could experiment with letting him sleep up to 2.5 hours, and see how that affects his overall mood and nighttime sleep.

What time should the last nap end?

It really depends on what your little one can tolerate. As a general guide, babies from 4 – 6 months of age can usually stay awake for 2 – 2 1/2 hours. So if you’re aiming for a 7 PM bedtime, try to end the last nap by 4.30 pm. This should give him enough time to build up enough sleep pressure to be ready for bed at 7 pm. However, if he still seems wide awake at bedtime, you might need to end the last nap a bit earlier to ensure he’s ready to sleep by 7 PM.

Understanding “watch and listen”

When your child starts fussing as they settle down for sleep, it’s helpful to pause and observe without immediately stepping in. This can tell you if they need your help or if they might fall asleep on their own:

• If there are pauses between the callouts or cries, he might be settling himself back to sleep.
• If the crying gets louder or continues, he might need you to step in and help him settle.

This approach gives him the space to learn how to soothe himself to sleep and lets you know when he truly needs your assistance.

In regards to toddler resources on sleep, I do have a few videos on YouTube. But I don’t currently have a course.

I hope that answers your questions!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Vivian!

Yes, what you’re describing is quite common among infants who are going through the catnapping phase. When babies take shorter naps throughout the day, putting them to bed early can help offset the lack of daytime sleep and prevent overtiredness from building up too much, which indeed helps them sleep longer stretches at night.

If you notice that the early bedtime consistently results in longer, more restful night sleep and a happier baby the next day, it might be a good strategy to continue during this phase of frequent catnapping.

I hope this helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Maddie,

It’s good to hear about those longer stretches of sleep you’ve been getting, though I understand last night was a bit rough.

Adjusting your feeding strategy as you described—feeding before the bedtime routine and topping up as usual—sounds like a good plan. This could help ensure she’s full and potentially help her sleep longer stretches.

Your question about the menstrual cycle potentially affecting your little one’s sleep is an interesting one. It is possible that your milk supply may change during your menstrual cycle. Some mothers notice a drop in their supply during the luteal phase, the second half of your cycle leading up to menstruation. This might be why your little one is feeding more frequently at this time.

It might be worth noting this down and seeing if it is a pattern that continues to happen.

Let me know how it goes with the adjusted feeding strategy, or if there’s anything else you need!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Maddie,

It’s great to hear that she slept for 3.5 hours straight the other night and went back to sleep after her overnight feeds – that’s a significant improvement!

It’s also encouraging to hear that she went down easily for her first nap and slept for an hour and a half. Even though the rest of the day’s naps weren’t as successful, it’s a good sign that she’s starting to get the hang of things.

Turning up the white noise can definitely help, so it’s great that you found that adjustment useful. Just make sure to test the sound levels to ensure it stays within a safe range.

It sounds like you’re on the right track with the transition to her own room, especially if she’s already napping there. Introducing her to the crib and letting her nap in her own room should help make that transition smoother when the time comes.

Were you able to leave the side of the crib up and try the watch-and-listen step from outside the room for the next bedtime?

Hopefully, things keep getting easier for your little one!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Elen,

It’s great to hear that she has been falling asleep quickly over the past few days!

If she continues to wake at 7am, you can shift her bedtime back 30 minutes to 7pm. As I agree, 12 1/2 hours in bed overnight might be a bit too long.

Napping for 90 minutes a day is perfectly fine. You might find that her naps continue to lengthen, as they have only recently become consistent and increased in duration. But if they don’t, 90 minutes is still great.

I hope this helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Katerina and Kostas!

It’s so good the strategies worked for Helen!

I am sure if you continue:

– following her cues and putting her to bed when she is tired

– letting her sleep in an environment that is cool, dark, and free from sudden loud noise

– using the settling pyramid to help her fall asleep

– pausing when she stirs

she will start having long naps again.

Have a great weekend!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Anastasia!

It’s great that you have a great sleep environment and a regular nap and bedtime routine.

Your plan of getting him comfortable on his back and used to the crib sounds good.

When he’s more settled, you can start trying the settling pyramid again.

I hope that helps!

Emma

[Emma H]

Hi Anastasia,

It’s great to hear that you’re having more success getting the timing right and he is just falling asleep with shushing and patting while in your arms. Before him falling asleep while you shush and pat him, have you been able to start a nap and bedtime routine or have a song that you sing just before this step? If not, it would be great if you could, as this routine or song will become a sleep cue you can use when he becomes more comfortable with being placed in the crib.

I also wanted to check if you’ve had a chance to consult with a paediatrician about his reflux. They might have additional suggestions to help minimise his discomfort.

To reduce the chances of him startling and waking when you transfer him from your arms into the crib, you can:

– Use a swaddle where his arms are positioned down by his side. If you’re using a swaddle where his arms are up by his face, he is more likely to startle when you move him away from your body and then again when you place him on the mattress. This can cause him to wake up. On the other hand if his arms are swaddled by his side, the startle reflex is dampened and less likely to wake him.

– Reposition your arms before laying him down. Often when we hold a baby in our arms, their head is resting in the elbow crease of one arm that wraps around the top of their body and the other arm runs along the underside of their body. Below is link to an image showing this position, as it’s hard to explain. It’s the photo titled: ‘How we usually hold babies in our arms’ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uhz_LAhz7UqZnA4dNaPnQGPMDXCit9fu/view?usp=sharing

If you go straight from this position to the crib, the arm running under his head is challenging to remove, without causing lots of head movement.

So before you place him in the crib, reposition your arms so that the supporting arm, which usually runs along the underside of his body, runs along the side of his body (so the side that isn’t against your body) and holds his head in your hand and the arm which was supporting his head (in the elbow crease) moves down to support his body. Below is a link to an image showing this position, as it’s hard to explain. It’s the photo titled: Repositioning arms to reduce the chances of a startle reflex

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uRP3FL_idkRchoyFULwJycg6CjSDFu8J/view?usp=sharing

Then, when he is lying on the mattress, slowly slide the hand supporting his body out by moving it to the side, and then slowly side the hand, holding his head out by moving it to the side.

– Lay him in the crib, legs first. When you lower him into the crib, do it so that his legs touch the mattress first, then his bottom, trunk, and head. Lowering him onto the mattress this way reduces the likelihood of triggering the startle reflex.

– Hold his arms and legs. Once he is lying on the mattress, if he moves, place one hand on his arms and the other hand on his legs to reduce the movements and dampen the startle reflex. This step is particularly important if you’re using a swaddle with his arms up by the side of his head.

I hope that helps!

Emma

drive.google.com

How we usually hold babies in our arms.jpeg

Adorable little baby with pacifier in mouth sleeping peacefully on hands of her mother

[Emma H]

Hi Maddie,

It sounds like you’re navigating a lot of changes, and while the progress may not feel straightforward, it’s definitely there! It’s great to hear that she’s less frustrated about not being fed to sleep, and it is easier to settle, even if the settling pyramid is still a challenge.

It’s also good to hear that she has stopped lifting her legs and hitting them on the mattresses overnight. You may notice that when they learn a new skill, they practice it at night too, but this usually stops soon after it starts (like you’ve seen with your little one).

As she is nearly 6 months of age, you may find that she is a lot more aware of her surrounding. Because she is so aware, she might find it easier to settle to sleep if you’re not in the room. Often what happens is we place them in the crib, they see us in the room and then they start to protest because they can see us but we aren’t doing anything. We’re just looking at them. This can then lead to them protesting a lot more than they would if we weren’t in the room.

How would you feel about completing the nap or bedtime routine, laying her down in the crib, walking out of the room, closing the bedroom door, and completing the ‘Watch and Listen’ part of the pyramid outside the room?

If you’re happy to do this, you can continue to monitor her outside the room using a video monitor, similar to the method I demonstrate in the “Live Example: Reading Cues at 5 Months of Age” video.

If while you’re watching her, she calls out, but there are pauses between the call-outs, then this doesn’t necessarily mean she needs you. It’s more like her way of saying, “Hey, this is different! Where are you?” and it could also be her way of settling to sleep. We all take time to settle to sleep, and it can take up to 20 minutes for babies to fall asleep. So if she calls out but there are pauses, just give her the space to fall asleep without you in her room.

However, if she calls out and there are no pauses, then that is her way of telling you that she needs you. At this point, you would enter the room and move up the settling pyramid.

Regarding moving her to her own room, the American Academy of Pediatrics and Red Nose Australia suggest room sharing until your baby is 6 months old. Around that time, if she seems more aware of her surroundings and you think she’d sleep better in a quieter space, it might be the right time to transition her to her room. You might find that when you move her into her own room, she wakes less often overnight because she isn’t accidentally being roused from her sleep by you or our husband rolling over in bed or anyone snoring. You might also find that if she does wake up during the night, she might go back to sleep without your help, as she cannot smell you or your breastmilk.

Before you transition her into her room, make sure it is conducive to sleep—dark, cool, and quiet. Test the room’s darkness during the day, adjust for any light leaks, and put her white noise machine in it.

Once the room is set up, move the crib in the new room. I recommend moving the crib into her new room before bedtime. At bedtime, the circadian rhythm and sleep pressure work together to encourage her to fall asleep; therefore, she is more likely to find it easier to drift off to sleep. It’s not usual for babies to find it initially a bit challenging to fall asleep in an unfamiliar room, but since she has been sleeping in a crib, this disruption should be minimal. Once you have moved the crib into her own room, I recommend she sleeps in this room for naps and overnight. This consistency will make the transition easier for her.

I hope this helps!

Emma