REALLY NEED ADVICE - sorry a bit long

[megsgr]

Spring I just borrowed that book from the local library.

[Campari]

Hi JordieC,
I have a 6 month old too, and have struggled with the routine question as well. We have little mini-routines here which I know DD loves - like we always bath her, dry and dress her in the loungeroom, have cuddles, have a feed, and then bed at 7pm on the dot.

I have tried to do feed/play/feed sleep, and I've tried a couple of strict routines set out in books (not control crying though - would never do that just to form a routine!) I've just found that its not possible, because, like you said, babies don't always sleep for the same amount of time! Some days Milla wakes after 25 minutes, some times she will sleep for over 2 hours!

What I have done is try to stick to a 7am out-of-bed-routine... this is working well and our mornings are pretty reliable, I know she is going to be ready for a nap at 9am, and give or take 10 minutes, she will give me the tired signs and I put her straight to bed. This has meant though that I have had to wake her at 7am some mornings (rare... usually she wakes at 6:30 or so) which is a killer on weekends when all I want to do is sleep in! If Milla wakes up at 6:30, she comes in to our bed for cuddles, and I try to keep her calm til 7am, and I give her her first feed then.

So, our mornings are sort of in a routine, but after that, my afternoons are usually all over the place. Im happy enough with that, and she's happy most of the time.

Try reading Pinky McKay, and also the No-Cry Sleep Solution. I've also read Tizzie Hall and Gina Ford, but not found they fit well with us...

Don't stress though, you sound like you're doing just fine, and your DD is happy, and that's what matters.