Six month old sleep trouble!!!!!

[MissTawnie]

My son is 6 months old today and we're having some problems with him and his sleeping habits.

He has always slept somewhat decently since birth, at least until the past 2 months.

So many forums and people told us you cannot spoil a baby...they're wrong!

My son refuses to be set down for more than two minutes without pitching a fit, which makes doing ANYTHING near impossible.

Pack N Plays, jumperoos, bouncer/vibrating seats, Bumbo, swings...nothing but being held or carried all day.

I'm glad he feels happy and content in our arms, but it is frustrating.

We recently went to visit family and he refused to let anyone else hold him besides his parents.  Everyone was amazed at how spoiled and demanding he was.

Getting past that, now he doesn't want to sleep!

We tried to stop swaddling him, but he wants his hands in his mouth and starts wiggling himself awake.

I bought him a new organic cotton swaddle and it seemed to work okay...but it gets soooo hot in our room that I worry he's gonna overheat.

We can't run our central air yet and we keep two fans and a cool mist humidifier on all night.

He still wakes up around 2 am and screams horribly, and is obviously sweaty.

I have to unswaddle him and keep him next to me so I can keep his hands out of his mouth so he can sleep.

I love him sleeping with me, but I can't get much rest because I'm on high alert to keep him safe and comfortable.

I'm worn out!  We're spoiled him by holding/patting him to sleep everynight...and now he is 6 months and can't self soothe himself.

Everyone says to let him cry it out, but I can't consciously do that and feel okay.

We've recently stopped middle of the night feedings, but he can't go to sleep without out help...or stay asleep.

It wouldn't be so bad if we didn't have to carry him literally all day.

I hope I get positive suggestions and not ridiculed for anything.

I need advice on helping him stay cool through the night (while swaddled), how to get him to self-soothe, and how to be able to be put down without traumatizing him and making him feel abandoned/unimportant!

[DaisyMae08]

Have you tried the Adan + Anais muslin swaddling blankets?  They are super light weight and very breathable.  I might try that with your son in just a onesie or even just a diaper if it's really warm.

[Mama2Kayla]

Why did you cut out feedings at night? I think babies that young still need to eat.

honestly, your 6 month old is just being a 6 month old. My littlest is that age and sounds just like yours. Clingy, restless sleep, etc.  Like all things with babies, it usually doesn't last long.

Babies that young cannot be spoiled. Really, its ok if your LO needs you more right now. It doesn't mean you've done anything wrong as a parent. Ignore everyone who says otherwise 

[nstewart]

Babies don't have bad habits and you can't spoil a baby.  They can have expectations.  Your son expects you to give him what he needs.  While maybe frustrating to you, I don't think it's unfair on his part and right now what he needs is you.  He's still so young at 6 months.  Think about it.  

I agree with pp.  Why did you cut out night time feedings.  According to Dr. Sears, you should expect babies to need to eat at least once over night until at least 1 year!  If he's so desperate to get his hands to his mouth and is having sleep issues, have you considered that he may be teething and in a lot of pain?  This would also help to explain his daytime behaviour as well.

[Greenlea]

You say he can't go to sleep without help...I would think most 6mth old babies can't.  I'm not sure if you're FF or BF, but doesn't he get a feeding before bedtime?  I nurse my LO to sleep, and he still wakes up every 2 hours to eat.  And I mean eat, not just use me as a pacifier, he gets a whole big nursing meal LOL.  Maybe your LO is hungry at night and needs to be fed; I agree with PP that cutting out night time feedings at 6 mths is odd.  My older son was still up 1-2 times at night to eat at this age.

And again, I agree with PP, he may be teething.  If he is, and you're nursing, he's going to want to nurse even more for comfort, especially at night when teething can be bad.

He sounds like a typical 6 mth old.  Have you tried wearing him during the day?  And, if this is something new, and not something that started from birth, I'd say its a phase and it will pass.

[BabySmurf]

i bet that he's "overly clingy" because he is overtired =P i recommend reading the no cry sleep solution and the wonder weeks books.  as pp have said, 6 month old babies are typically clingy and wake to eat.  they are discovering just how big the world is around them, and it's a lot to take in! these books helped put some things in perspective and helped me help my ds get through some of these milestones. also that having a good routine is important in terms of helping your baby have expectations of sleep.  you don't need to go crazy with a specific schedule, but teaching babies cues will help tremendously in teaching them how to sleep, and they can be comforted by knowing what to expect.  you haven't spoiled your baby :)

[MissTawnie]

No, we haven't.  My son manages to get out of blanket swaddles easily.  Plus he's been rolling over while swaddled so we stopped swaddling him.

[MSWmama]

We're having 6-month sleep troubles over here, too! I highly recommend the No Cry Sleep Solution. We've noticed that the more consistent we are with it, the better he sleeps. We also notice that DS gets veeeeery clingy (and, quite frankly, annoying ) when he hasn't had enough sleep. 

You absolutely cannot spoil a baby this young! He's still learning about their world, and one of the things he needs to learn is that you are there for him when he needs you. You're doing a great job! This can be a really hard age ... 

[Ginger Bean]

There's a big growth spurt around 6 months, plus it's when separation anxiety starts. It's all totally normal.

May I ask why you stopped night feedings? He's probably hungry. Even Dr. Weissbluth "allows" 1-2 nightfeedings until 9 months.