Your baby is going through a Growth-spurt... and will probably be having lots of developmental changes or hitting major milestones. THIS is what happens, when a baby is going through these changes and things. And yes, they need to feed. My kids as babies, also "cluster-fed" at these times, which meant they fed even every single hour.
A babies appetite/need for intake, will be guided by their growth and development...and the DO need more intake & nutrition & calories as they are growing. If not, they will wake more, be COSTANTLY hungry, and not grow/develop well.
You cannot 'make' a baby eat solids or start. They will start when they are ready to. It has nothing to do with being 6 months old and then automatically having to eat solids. For the first year or so, a baby is actually still getting used to "eating" anything. So, it is just an introduction to so called "solids" anyway.
Also, you want to make sure your milk output (since you are breastfeeding) is adequate... meaning, are you producing enough supply per demand? If not, a baby will always be hungry. Keep in mind though, that during "growth-spurts" though, these frequent feedings are meant to INCREASE the milk production in a woman's body... so that SHE can keep up with her baby's needs. Its natural.
6 months old, is a major time of BIG changes for a baby. This alone, jars their sleep... but its a normal biological and cognitive change... which can't be helped in a baby. Just ride through it. It will pass, until another growth-spurt occurs and hitting milestones occurs.
Both my kids, at that age as well, had GINORMOUS appetites, and they cluster-fed. I was breastfeeding them every single hour... on demand. Then, they grew like weeds. It had nothing to do with solids. In fact, our Pediatrician says that for the 1st year of life... baby's PRIMARY source of Nutrition is from breastmilk/Formula... NOT solids and NOT other kinds of fluids.
And, sleep patterns will ALWAYS change in a baby.
All the best,
Susan