6m would not sleep at night unless is nursing!

[basilisa76]

My daughter is turning 6 months tomorrow. The first 2.5 months were great at night, she woke up 3 times to nurse but did nurse around the clock during the day. After 8 weeks or so, she started waking up every 2 hours and then often and often with the ocasional 4 hours stretch like 2 days every month

For the last 2 weeks she has been waking up every 15-30 min. every night ALL night with maybe a 1.5 hour strech of uninterrupted sleep. It seems that she is unable to go into this "deep sleep" phase or that it only lasts for 25 minutes and she can't go back to sleep unless she is sucking my breast.

I also have a 2 year old that had a VERY strong sucking instinct and woke up every 2 hours until she was 1 year old but at least once she woke up it only took 5 minutes at the breast for her to fall asleep and I could put her down in her crib... This one just holds on to my breast (with her tiny arms!) and would not let go even if I have been laying down with her for an hour!

Any advice? (we are co-sleeping since is the only way I can get some rest) has any of you experienced the same and survived????

BTW I have plenty of milk and she is gaining weight fine.

Gigi

[AlyssaYoung]

I had the same thing happen to me when my daughter was around 5-6 months old. I kept it up for about a week until I just could not function. That's when a pacifier came in handy. I know a lot of people on this forum are probably very against pacifiers, but that was the only way I could get some sleep. My daughter is 13 months now, and we are still breastfeeding regularly. She does use the pacifier to go to sleep most nights, but quickly looses it.
I think it is just a phase some babies go through, but you definitely need your sleep!
I hope this helps, and good luck!!

[Mama2Rio]

it could be sleep regression..,. i think this is what goes on with my lo... is she mastering a new skill? maybe siting up? getting some teeth? she is about the age for a growth spurt... she'll snap out of it in a few days... i was just there!

[GooeyRN]

We are still going through this at 13.5 months old. As much as I love co-sleeping, I am regretting it now. I need more than 20-45 minutes of sleep at a time. I could do it for a few months... But this is more than a year now. (no, he does not have reflux, no allergies, no recent immunizations, and my supply is fantastic) I wish I would have put him in a crib with a pacifier at this point.

[FernG]

DD does this when she is stressed - vacation away from home, new milestone, teething. It's really tough. She usually slowly starts sleeping better. After about 3 weeks, I usually get a week of "good" sleep where she nurses every 2 hours.

I try to think about how much worse it could be. I can usually sleep while she is nursing, so I just need to help her latch on. And DD goes right back to sleep.

[nj's_mom]

I'm having this issue as well. My five month old won't sleep at night for the most part without my nipple in her mouth. Not sure what to do ... I'm not big on binkies, but she has no interest in them anyways ... I'm wearing out. Don't believe in CIO. Help>!

[happyhousewife06]

same issue here! only my little one is much younger only 2 months. but he will just lay there and gurnt and fuss if he is not nose to nipple with me in the bed! i have no problem with that but im so sore in the morning from sleeping "around" him