Seeking opinions on DD's sleep at 6 months - normal?

[zazenist]

I just want to run this by the smart mamas here and see what you all think since I wonder how far off the norm DD's sleep is. DD will be 6 months tomorrow and she only sleeps for a total of 7 or 8 hours a day. That's IT. She does not nap at all except to take a couple "power naps" of maybe 20 minutes each. She will sleep about 6-7 hours at night (waking anywhere from 1-3 times) and then the power naps, and she's seriously DONE. Oddly, she doesn't seem crabby or sleep deprived most of the time, but boy I do! Maybe once every 2-3 weeks she will have a night where she will sleep 7 or 8 hours straight, but that's it, and that usually seems to happen after a growth spurt or a milestone.

She's super active - I wouldn't say she's high needs, but she's just WIRED about all the time and insanely curious and intense. When something interests her, she can focus for what seems like a long time for a baby her age. She gets fussy and I honestly think it's because she wants to get up and GO, but can't yet. When she's lying down, she frequently kicks and flails around and when she's up she often reaches and grunts and flaps her arms in what seems like frustration. She is sitting on her own already, and has been for a couple weeks. I have a feeling that once she's mobile she is going to be a real handful, not in a bad way, she's just going to be into everything, nonstop.

I laugh when I hear all this advice for establishing a sleep routine, bedtime, etc... we've tried, and this child will NOT sleep for anything. Is this totally outside the boundaries of normal? Is there something we can try? I'm fine with her being herself, and I try to accept that she is probably just going to be a poor sleeper, but I am so.totally.tired!!!

[Asparagus78]

I thought DS1 was extreme; he only slept 6 hours at night (and never straight...) but he would take at least one longish nap during the day (about 3 hours). He started sleeping more at night around 1, and now sleeps 12 hours (he's 3). DS2, who's almost 6 m/o, sleeps 10 hours at night (2-3 wake-ups) and takes anywhere between 2-4 naps a day, ranging from 30 mins. to 2 hours each. No advice, mama, but I know how hard short nights can be. Do you bed-share? Maybe that would help her sleep more? I know it does for me!

[karika]

Is she getting caffeine through your breastmilk? That will make for a no sleeping baby IMO... babies normally sleep 12-14 hrs in a day at that age. She is not getting enough rest it sounds like. I would begin investigating for stimulant type things in her or your diet, and environment (this I am not sure of, but paint chips, leaves of plants?). I agree sleeping with the babies helps them stay asleep. Mine will wake up if I am not with her, unless she is sleeping on my roommate...

[zazenist]

Hi mamas - we co-sleep and I haven't drunk caffeine in years. I eat a little bit of chocolate here and there, but nothing that seems like it should be causing this. I'm a vegetarian and I eat very little processed food, so I don't think my diet has much in the way of artificial chems that would be contributing... I'm at a loss. As far as environmental factors, that's hard to say. Nothing sends up a red flag...

[karika]

zazenist,

I don't like to say this, but it sounds like some testing may be in order. That is not much sleep for a baby. Maybe you can look up conditions that present as low sleep/ high energy, not sure what they may be- perhaps thyroid? I am not a health professional. I do not do vaxes or WBV for my children, so I am not one to say "Take them to the doctor to have it checked" when people write in about a fever, etc... but this sounds like maybe you should have it checked out. Or, if you feel it is fine, then don't worry about it, she will likely make up for it later. Maybe some other caffeine free moms had the same experience, but I did not, mine both slept a total of 12-14 hrs a day at that age. hope you get hubby to take a 2 hr shift and take a nap...