How Do I Get My 6 Month Old to Sleep Thru the Night?

You are not alone! I've heard many moms talk about similar problems and have had some of the same questions myself. From what I've read, 6 mo. is usually when babies can sleep comfortably thought the night (at least 6 hours) without feeding. You may want to start adjusting your baby's routine a bit, to make sure he's getting his calories during the day (starting solids can help). But also, if you are in an unusual environment, give yourself and baby a little slack. If his routine isn't perfect right now, it won't be too late to adjust it later when things normalize.
I highly recommend Ferber's book, "Solve You Child's Sleep Problems". It's very informative about the science of sleep, age appropriate sleep patterns and problem solving. It gives examples of how other parents have dealt with sleep issues. It also has a section on co-sleeping. He does recommend crying it out but progressively. The first time you do it, you let them cry only for 3 min., reassure them, than wait another 5 min., ect. You work up to longer and longer intervals. He explains why crying it out helps children learn the skill of falling asleep on their own and why babies might feel hungry in the night even when they should be able to sleep through without feeding. Even if you don't feel comfortable letting him cry it out yet (or ever--which many moms don't and there's nothing wrong with that), I think it's a useful book.
My son was still waking up in the middle of the night at 6 mo. and I didn't know how to get him to sleep without nursing him. I finally got exhausted enough to give crying it out a try. It was hard the first night (I cried while he cried!) but was easier the second (I think he was asleep before 15 minutes was up) and after a few days he was already learning to settle himself at bedtime and sleep through. Sometimes his routine has gotten out of wack because of illness or teething and then I've made exceptions like let him nurse for comfort or come to bed with me. I just reapply the method when I think he's feeling OK again and he relearns how to settle himself back to sleep.
Good luck!

Dear N.,
I am so curious, where did you get the idea that a 6 month old should sleep thru the night??
My only advice is to have appropriate expectations. I am sure you can try all sorts of things like changing feedings and environment when you get home (like playing music or using relaxing scents), and all that sort of stuff, but I would just say to be a little more realistic.
Being that you are away from home, your baby can sense it, AND can sense that YOU are different. Maybe he just needs some extra mommy time to feel more safe and secure right now, and that is totally okay. Don't worry about having him in bed with you. He'll be moving away to college soon enough, so enjoy it while you can!
:)
Many children don't sleep through the night for YEARS, and that is okay. It's our job as parents to love and nurture them at any hour of the day (or night). I am a huge advocate for healthy sleep habits, but I would just caution you to not hold your baby to unrational expectations that you may have picked up along the way.
I can relate, because before kids, I had no idea that this would be the way of life for years at a time.
My little girl is almost 3 and my little boy is almost 9 months, so I am well aware of sleep deprivation. It's great when the DO sleep thru the night, but I know not to expect it too often!
:)
Good luck. Please know you are not alone. And do as best as you can for yourself to rest during the day and on weekends and go to bed as early as you possibly can each night to help off set the lack of solid sleep you get due to being up with a baby. And since you are with family right now, have them play with your baby and bond with him while you go nap, relax, and shower on your own so you can have some down time to rejuvenate!
:)
Hope that helps!
S.
www.MomsOnAMission.US

You poor thing! Just from your message, I can tell that you are frazzled and exhausted! Foremost, I agree with the other post that while you are around family, they need to help you get some rest during the day so that you can catch up. I would also say that travel - more often than not - upsets the applecart of sleep habits in children. Especially with a time zone change! Because he has returned to a newborn sleep pattern, you might want to try some newborn standbys like swaddling & pacifiers. My Doctor gave me the best advice when my daughter was waking at the same time every night (and when she reverted to, what I call, the 'napping' sleep pattern of only sleeping for 3 hour stretches). She said to wake her up BEFORE she had a chance to - approx 3 hours after I put her down (in your case about 10:00), and feed her. Sometimes, I swear she never even completely woke up, but she would eat a little and fall right off to sleep again. This seemed to break her 'body clock' habit of waking at the same time, and helped her sleep for longer stretches. There are a number of things that can cause children's sleep patterns to change. I hope this helps! Say hello to my home country! D.

Dear N.,

Hang in there. My son is nearing his sixth month too. He's only just starting to sleep through the night and some nights are better then others, but I attribute that to teething pains. Some nights he wants to nurse but his gums hurt so much he won't latch on correctly, which gives him gas. We're planning a 10 day trip to the east coast...Reading your story makes me worry about his schedule too but our pediatrician says sleeping consistently through the night is a lot to ask of a any 6mo old (especially bcz I'm nursing). Your Alex is in a new place and eventhough he may have reached that "sleep through the night" milestone, he's still just a baby who needs the comfort of his mommy's arms. I think at this age they don't cry to manipulate you but bcz they really need you. . .whether it's your precious milk, or your much needed comfort and protection...or in my son's case, needing help to fart out gas pains. (Thank God for Mylicon- antigas for babies) There's also nothing wrong with him sleeping by your side if it means both of you can sleep better (Mine convinces me more nights than not). Sounds like you're doing all you can do, just wanted you to know there are others who can relate. Good luck!

~Sari
Grad student and a proud, first time 30 yr old mom of a jolly, gassy, teething 6month old, "I hate going to bed @ 7pm", born 7 weeks early cutie pie.