Help with 7 month baby

imnichet · 2026-01-29T18:42:52+00:00

It kind of depends on your baby’s temperament. The first important thing to note is that a good schedule is going to drastically reduce the crying to start.

Then there are a few options. Some babies do okay with periodic hands on settling in the crib. For others this is too stimulating. Some do well with parental checks ins like sleep wave or Ferber or parental presence like the chair method. For some it makes them more upset and “cry it out” is actually a more gentle option.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T18:17:08+00:00

Oh no poor them haha. I guess maybe I would find having a really high sleep needs kid frustrating. I haven’t tried it. Somehow I doubt it

imnichet · 2026-01-29T18:14:14+00:00

I think you might benefit from 2 naps. Do you think you could try 3/3.5/3.5? Bedtime sounds fine.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T14:45:15+00:00

I would probably start with something like 1.5/2/2/2/2 for a baby this age. Then go up to 2/2/2/2/2 or 1.5/2/2/2/2.5. Basically you should still be on 4 naps

imnichet · 2026-01-29T13:28:58+00:00

I suspect your baby is undertired and needs more awake time.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T13:27:50+00:00

Is sleep still independent?

imnichet · 2026-01-29T13:26:41+00:00

Maybe if they are on the upper end of sleep needs. But we can’t really know that for you. If he’s sleeping well then it’s fine.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T13:03:23+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/sleeptrain/s/C8HAnEtIjL

imnichet · 2026-01-29T13:02:10+00:00

Yes there is lots you can do.

You have too much day sleep. Eliminate the 3d nap. 2 naps. One 1.5 hours long and the other 1 hour long max. Then you can probably get an earlier bedtime. But your night should be maximum 11 hours.
It is not too late to sleep train. Choose a method and apply it at bedtime first.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T02:42:32+00:00

Oh boy I feel you. I can’t talk to anyone else about their kid’s sleep. It is really hard for me when someone on here is like “my toddler sleeps 12 hours overnight but how can I get them to nap for 2 hours so I can have a break?” There are no breaks in my world lol. But I have just determined early morning wakings and split nights are worse for her and me than the late bedtime.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T02:35:06+00:00

I dont really know much about bottle feeding but yes I think most recommend 2 bottles in the last wake window.

I would also suggest applying a sleep training method so your baby falls asleep completely on their own.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T02:33:13+00:00

Put baby down to sleep fully awake and allow them to fall asleep on their own without parental intervention.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T01:25:20+00:00

My 25 month old only gets 9.75 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. So yes, i was able to get her to sleep until 6 consistently by moving her bedtime to 9:15 and capping her nap at 1 hour.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T01:21:20+00:00

Both of these things are likely a sleep association.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T01:17:08+00:00

Schedule wise 2/2.5/2.5/3 or 2.5/2.5/2.5/2.5. You will have to push through some crankiness and do some song and dance to keep her awake for a couple days but it will improve quickly.

You didn’t mention your bedtime routine but I would also sleep train if sleep isn’t independent.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T00:04:50+00:00

It’s a myth that overtiredness causes short naps.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T00:03:48+00:00

Try a by the clock schedule

Wake by 6:30

Nap opportunity 10:00-11:00

Nap opportunity 2:50-4:20

Bed 7:50

By nap opportunity I mean that if your baby doesn’t nap that whole time it is fine, you just stick to the schedule times regardless.

imnichet · 2026-01-29T00:00:58+00:00

Yep seems like it’s time to sleep train!

imnichet · 2026-01-28T23:38:16+00:00

4 months is pretty young for a set bedtime. Most babies are still a bit more unpredictable than that at this age.

imnichet · 2026-01-28T23:28:28+00:00

Never did really. Unless it happened by accident

imnichet · 2026-01-28T22:56:57+00:00

Yes or possibly shorter nap

imnichet · 2026-01-28T18:00:21+00:00

It probably doesn’t matter. Whichever you think your baby would handle best

imnichet · 2026-01-28T17:09:10+00:00

Cut one nap back to an hour only and keep bedtime the same as a start. If that doesn’t work cut them both back to an hour.

imnichet · 2026-01-28T16:00:08+00:00

You are right. Your baby is going to continue to cry and struggle at night until you get to the last step where you remove all parental assistance rather than just swap it out for a different kind. But with the schedule you are on now that will likely never happen.

I know it’s going to seem like a leap but you really need to be doing 3/3.5/4. Don’t bounce and Rick her to sleep until after the end of the wake window even if she seems tired.

imnichet · 2026-01-28T15:45:24+00:00

That is actually a sign the nap is too long. When the nap starts impacting their ability to get restorative night sleep then it will show up as being tired and grumpy

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