Oh the joys of babies. My first (now 3) was always difficult to get to sleep and would then wail from about 5 to 8/9pm until his dad walked in and took over - where after a few minutes bouncing he would pass out. Grr

Well done on surviving the first 5 1/2 months. The worst bit is nearly over. Immature digestive systems and gulping wind do have a lot to do with baby meltdown. Have you tried baby massage? Start during the day before you are both exhausted. A circular clockwise motion around the tummy (use a bit of olive oil) this follows the passage of the intestines and also walking your fingers across the tummy from baby's right side to left. You can rub down the legs and then lift baby's legs up and sweep down from tummy to top of nappy/ hip line. You can quite often feel if something is bubbling away or hard and trapped in there! (sorry). They usually like it nappy off - just watch out for explosions!

By 5pm you probably want to curl in a heap and cry - and yes I hardly ever got dinner either at that stage. Keep tuning in to what your baby is trying to tell you, there's quite a difference between cranky I just want cuddling, I'm exhausted and I've had enough and I'm full of wind and it really hurts screaming. Some babies are angelic babies that make being a mum seem so easy, and others would give even the best parenting expert a really rough time.

My boy needed a nice long walk in his buggy - or the sling during the day - then he would sleep during the day - which if he hadn't then by 5pm he was an exhausted, overtired nightmare. Given enough constant motion he would eventually be convinced that he wasn't about to be put down and 'abandoned'. But I do remember walking with my friend when our babies were 5 1/2 months and her baby cried in the sling for over an hour - she found out soon after that he had a load of allergies and had to cut wheat and dairy from her diet before he started improving. It explained why he was always skinny and hungry and seriously cranky!

You know your baby best - good luck