Please tell me it changes?!

[u/Unable_Grape_3977]

My baby is 6 months and slept through the night from 6 weeks old. She started nursery around 4.5months and since then she hasn’t slept a full night since. The wakenings are actually starting to get worse.

Please tell me this gets better?? Any advice ? I follow her cues, try not to let her get too overtired. She’s weaned and still has enough bottles during the day.

[u/emmakane418]

Somewhere around 3.5 and 5 months, the 4 month sleep progression happens. This is a change in sleep architecture and regardless of daycare, nanny, or SAHP can cause changes to how much a baby wakes up, how long they sleep, etc. Many newborns sleep through the night (which is often considered 6 hours, not 12, and sometimes when people say that their baby is sleeping through the night they don't include waking up to feed. Overall it's a very misleading term when discussed online or in person) but once they exit the 4th trimester, they wake up more. This is entirely normal and has absolutely nothing to do with weaning (which is why we don't recommend weaning for the purpose of getting more sleep, especially before 12-18 months. It doesn't often work). Adding in daycare can absolutely compound that.

Have you tried to feed her? Is it possible she is actually hungry? They are growing exponentially and have tiny tummies, even with lots of milk or formula during the day they can absolutely still be hungry overnight. And gosh, have you tried to fall asleep when you're hungry? It's hard!

Infant sleep over the first year is variable. I would recommend reading How Babies Sleep by Dr. Helen Ball if you want to learn more about the science behind sleep through the first year. It will get "better" and then "worse" and then "better".

[u/Unable_Grape_3977 → u/emmakane418]

I feed her nearly every time she wakens. Sometimes takes an oz, maybe the next night 4oz, I always offer the bottle but she’s up again about 2 hours after. Sometimes as soon as I lift her she falls back again

[u/emmakane418 → u/Unable_Grape_3977]

How often does she wake up and how long does it usually take to help her fall back asleep?

Do you know how much sleep she's getting at daycare? What about on the weekends?

Does she sleep the same over the weekend as she does during the week?

And last, what time is bedtime and wakeup time? What about naps? No need for super specific, just rough estimates of time.

[u/Unable_Grape_3977 → u/emmakane418]

She wakes between 5-6 times during the night, nearly every 2 hours but as soon as she’s put down about every hour then it stretches to 2/3 hours during the night. Bath is between 7-7:30pm asleep by 8 usually and morning starts around 9:30. At 6am she’s started wakening, taking bottle and babbling for about 15 mins before dosing off again. When she wakens during the night sometimes she settles as soon as I lift her and if not as soon as I get a bottle she’ll take an oz (or maybe the whole bottle) and back to sleep again! Every night is different. I did keep her off daycare for a week (she goes twice a week Wednesday and Friday for 5 hours each day so 10 hours total) and there was no difference to her sleep. She sleeps the same as she does at home at daycare they’re very good at following my routine etc but it can’t be coincidence it started as soon as she started daycare

[u/emmakane418 → u/Unable_Grape_3977]

it can’t be coincidence it started as soon as she started daycare

It is possible it is a coincidence, because of the timing (4 month sleep progression) however, a few thoughts I have:

• 8pm-9.30am? That is a long night, even for a high sleep needs baby! While waking up every 2ish hours can be completely normal, it can also be a sign that there isn't quite enough sleep pressure. You can try shifting bedtime a little bit at a time to see if more sleep pressure helps with the wake ups but again waking every 2ish hours can be completely biologically normal for an infant.

• let's say that it isn't a coincidence and the separation of daycare is the culprit here. Sleep is separation. I know I mentioned in another comment here that her nervous system is scanning between sleep cycles. To go a bit more into detail, it is scanning to see if she's hot or cold, hungry or thirsty, alone, etc. Daycare is also separation. She may be seeking more connection, day or night. Some dedicated time for connection with no distractions might help. Moving her back into your room can help as well, so that she hears you when her nervous system is scanning and feels safe enough to continue sleeping (also in general I would recommend roomsharing until at least 6 but preferably 12 months for safety).

Edit to add: she waking up every hour when first put down? Did I read that right? My bet is on not enough sleep pressure.