I'm at my wits end with bedtime 😭

My 5mo is a great napper (well, as far as babies go). She naps fine in her pram or carrier and if we are at home it takes a bit of settling but she will sleep in her cot. However, bed time is starting to drive me mad. She cannot link sleep cycles so I'll put her down for the night and she'll do a 40 minute stretch and that's it, my evening is basically ruined after that as her separation anxiety kicks in. It is near impossible to get her to sleep again without feeding or me lying next to her. She wont even accept her dad or be content with her dummy. We have tried earlier bed times, later bed times, dropping a nap, extending the last wake window... she is EXHAUSTED but will not stay asleep. I usually do evenings on my own and even if her dad is here she ONLY wants me. It means I get pushed to my limits and get really frustrated and upset. I should add shes a really happy baby in the day, never cries. She also loves other people and is very social. She's like a completely different baby come 7pm. Does anyone have any words of wisdom?

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No words of wisdom but wanted to let you know I am having the same issues. My little boy used to be an amazing sleeper getting up once during the night. We hit 4months and now he is a different child come 7:30. He only wants me and will only sleep in his cot for 30minutes before wanted to be held/ fed. We are both exhausted, it’s like we’re back at the newborn stage

In the same boat currently think it’s a case of riding it out unfortunately which isn’t helpful but you’re not alone

Only advice I have is try and put baby to sleep say 9/10 ish whenever they start rubbing their eyes or yawning put something on tv quiet and a night light I’ve got one that projects ok celling and leave the room give it half a hour ish they will go sleep. My disgust since birth always slept 12 hours minimum but about 4 months would stay up bc I was there comforting her I know it’s hard leaving them but give it ago. My daughter has a 20 min nap a day if that now and just sleeps 12-14hrs at night

And in day keep them super busy I found that made my daughter super tired being around people, play mat, bath, watching abit of peppa or moss Rachel, practice a milestone for my almost 6 month it’s sitting up ect. My baby now goes sleep at 6ish. Then I wake her about 1 for a nappy change then she’ll just self sooth to sleep

@kelly this is where I'm a bit lost because she normally has a late afternoon nap then around 5ish she is soooo tired and already cranky and rubbing her eyes but I'm trying to stretch the wake window. The other night I didnt, put her down around 6 and sure enough she fell asleep but was awake again in 40 minutes.

@kelly we are veeeery busy. We are usually out all day walking, going to baby groups and visiting friends.

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