5 Month Old Waking Frequently

Agree with ALL the very wise Mommy's here! My son didn't sleep through the night until he was much closer to 2 yo.

Susan makes excellent points and offers great advice!!

Wow - what in the world is your pediatrician talking about?!?! I'm sorry, but I would seriously consider getting a new one! LOL

You are SO lucky that your son sleeps as much as he does! (my daughter was waking up about 8-12 times a night at this age) You are NOT creating a bad habit and your son WILL sleep through the night, eventually.

At this age, you should still feed on demand, so you are doing the right thing. I would say just feed him right away when he wakes, because if you try and just put him back to sleep and it doesn't work (becuase he's hungry) he will just get all worked up an then you'll end up being up for much longer than if you would just feed him right away - then have him fall asleep again right away.

Plus, if you feed him at 3am he might even be full enough to be able to sleep in a bit longer in the morning!

Good Luck - and find a new doctor!! ;)

Hi Jennifer:
I totally agree with SH. I realize,that a lot of mothers depend on their pediatrician to give them proper information,but you also must realize,that Doctors make mistakes to.They're only human.Use your motherly instincts.You feed your baby when he's hungry and when hes finally able to have solids,he will most likely begin sleeping through the night for you.The best to you and your darlin son. J. M

**Here is a link:
http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/html/night_waking.shtml

DO NOT listen to your Pediatrician. Sorry.
My Pediatrician, says that for the 1st year of life, a baby must be fed on demand, and that breastmilk/Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition...NOT solids, NOT other liquids.

IF you deny a feeding that is needed, you will NOT be supplying your baby with what they need, AND it will negate any normal/natural growth-spurts and feeding needs and caloric intakes. THEREFORE, a baby will be hungry.

In addition to that, your baby WAS/IS having a growth-spurt.... 3 months was/is a growth-spurt time. And he is now 5 months old??? Well, 6 months old is ANOTHER growth-spurt time, too. At these junctures, a baby NEEDS an increase in intake, an INCREASE in the frequency of feedings... AND a baby may even ALSO "cluster-feed" which means they sometimes even need to feed every hour. IF a baby's intake does NOT keep up and keep pace with their growth.... the baby will be always hungry. Its common sense... a baby grows, as a baby grows their appetite increases, as a baby grows their nutritional and caloric intake INCREASES too in proportion to their growing. IF a baby does not get enough intake... then they are not happy and wake a lOT. I am assuming that your baby is STILL TRYING TO GET IN ENOUGH INTAKE BECAUSE HE IS NOW 4 MONTHS OLD AND HIS 3 MONTH GROWTH-SPURT CAME AND WENT WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN HIS FEEDINGS. He is trying to make up for a lack of feedings.

Your baby is ONLY 5 months old. Geez... I REALLY disagree with the rigid method that a baby HAS TO sleep ALL night at this age. It really does a baby no justice nor the Parent... it just sets them up for continual angst and frustration.

***THERE IS NO "RULE" THAT A BABY HAS TO BE sleeping ALL night without waking, BY 4 months old. The idea that they "have to" is an adult's desire for that... it is not according to a baby's needs, biologically nor developmentally.

I would NOT listen to the Pediatrician.... and feed your baby on demand. Your baby is SO SO young...

Next, a baby is a baby... they wake. Period. They do NOT sleep or wake when we want. A baby does not even have a fully developed pattern of sleeping yet, among many other things. Its all about the development of a baby... sleep is just one of those things that is being affected.

Sorry, but I really disagree with your Pediatrician.

ALSO, I would make sure you are producing enough milk (if breastfeeding). Many times, this is the reason why a baby wakes so much as well.

All the best,
Susan

Hey there
Sounds like he is hungy at 3am. I dont really think you should expect him to make it 8-10 hours. Remember that his tummy is only as big as his fist, so it empties pretty fast. I wouldnt expect him to sleep through until he is at least a few months older
Good luck

I agree with SH and Sophie A. Your baby is hungry please feed him. My son woke up every 2 hours to eat at this age. I was very tired but he's is worth it and babies depend on there mommies to take care of them. As I say the more you meet your sons needs now the more secure he will be later. He needs you.
Sue

Jennifer,
I think you should only take into consideration everyone's opinion. Ultimatly you are his mother and you know your baby the best. Every baby is unique and different. Use what we are all blessed with, your mama intuition. I personally think that feeding a baby on demad is best. Yes it is frustrating and tiring, we are mothers and thats the way it goes sometimes. They go through so many growth spurts, this may be one of them. Either way give your baby what he needs, not what others think he needs. His needs may change weekly, monthly, or who knows when. Point being cater to his needs and listen to your intuition.
=)
A.

Jennifer,

Personally I don't think feeding your child when he's hungry is a bad habit. And I think 5 months old is awfully young to be demanding that your baby sleep through the night. I always fed my kids on demand. Yes, it is tiring but they soon outgrow this phase. They get really big, really fast.

:-)T.

HA! A FOUR MONTH OLD NOT WAKING TO EAT???

Sorry. Stunned there just a moment. I'm sure it happens, but I've never known one. Even one of my Aunts (who's theory on child rearing is that "first you have to break their spirit" :P ugh), who only fed on a schedule, played on a schedule, bedtime at 7pm...bedroom door opens at 6;30 am)....HER children still woke in the middle of the night starving for food, comfort from a nightmare, or in pain. Poor poor things.

Pleeeeeease keep feeding your wee one. And, sorry to say, but his sleep schedule sounds pretty normal. Especially if he's in a bit of a growth spurt. I swear, THEY learn to sleep "longer and longer" and WE start becoming expert nappers. It's all part and parcel to living and learning.

And listen....TRUST yourself. We all become experts (of one child, and one child only) very very quickly after they're born. (okay, mum's with 27 kids who all live in a shoe are experts in all 27 of their kids...but they're all different. Even TWINS are different)

You're not caving, you're following you gut, & doing what is RIGHT for YOUR CHILD. Next step, btw, is find a new pediatrician.

I've said it before and i'll say it again:

Babies know what they NEED.
Children know what they WANT.
Adults have AGENDAS.

I don't agree w/ your pediatrician - a 4 month old should not be expected to sleep 8-10 hrs straight w/ no feeding. He should be sleeping at least 5 hour stretches though - that's what the medical community calls "sleeping through the night". Mom's on the other hand call 10 hours w/out waking "sleeping through the night". : )
My son still needed a feed about that same time when he was 4 months. I think it was about 5 months that he starting sleeping 7-6 with no waking. I stumbled across it accidentally too. He started crying at 3am so I made his bottle and went down and as soon as I opened his door he stopped crying. I figured he'd wake again soon so I took a snooze on the floor but turns out he didn't wake again! The next night he cried at 3 again and I let him cry for 5 minutes and he ended up going right back to sleep for the rest of the night. Shortly thereafter, he didn't even cry in the middle of the night. So at some point you'll know that he doesn't NEED to feed. Babies wake up just like we do but they need to learn how to fall back asleep on their own. My advice to you would be to feel this month out...don't go to him right away in the middle of the night...give him a chance to go back to sleep. Then do some mild CIO...after 10 minutes go in and rub his back - try not to pick him up. I have some mommy friends w/ 10 month olds still dealing w/ sleep issues. I think this is the time to fix it or else it will be a lot harder down the road!
Best of luck!

he is only 5 months old!!! whats the difference between feeding him at 11pm vs 3am if he doesn't need to eat in the pediatrician's opinion??? you said that you don't feel comfortable crying it out yet, then don't. he's still really little and will sleep through the night in the next couple of months. you're not creating any bad habits when they are this little (its not like he's a year old and just doing it because he knows you'll rescue him). think about your child: what's his body type? is a little skinny, chunky, average? he may still really need this feeding, especially since you mentioned that he won't take the pacifier, which means he doesn't want to be soothed and comforted, he really wants to eat. also, sleeping from 8pm-3am is a huge 7 hour stretch. that may be all he can make it at this age. you wouldn't expect him to make it that long during the day, so let him eat when he wakes for a little longer. maybe try and just him his pacifier at the 5am wake up since he's eating at 3am. that wake up is probably for comfort. just do what feels right for you and your baby. my first child slept through the night around 6 months for 8-12 hrs, my second child not until 14 months, and my last is three months, he sleeps for 10 hours each night (but he eats EVERY 1 1/2 hours while awake during the day). they're all different and have different needs, just go with your gut. if your pediatrician gives you a hard time, find someone else or research it yourself and you'll see that most babies don't sleep like she is telling you.

Hi Jennifer,

Every kids are different! Some may sleep 8 - 10 hours straight. Some don't. My daughter who is 5 yrs old now was difficult sleeper. I slept by her side nursing every night until she was 1.5 yrs or so. If you are worried about "Behavior", you may need to be tough and let him cry out. I tried it. My daughter cried for 2 hours and half straight. I waved a white flag and said "It does not matter what Pediatrician says! I can't stand let my baby cry like this! I am picking up her and nurse her every night!"

She is now 5. She still has night walk, night mere and night terror occasionally. She is not an easy sleeper. When I think of back the, when she was at your baby's age, I am glad that I choose and trust the way I thought right things to do for her. Nursing her every night for such a long time did not ruined her teeth at all.

If you wanna break the behavior, cry him out. If you feel that your baby is telling you that he has needs. Listen to him.

I have now a 2.5 months baby girl. She was born with good sleeping pattern. She already sleep for 8 hours without feeding in the night. It is a night and day. :-)

You just gotta be tough. I'm terrible at it myself. I just get so tired I give up and my little guy knows it. I get tougher eventually as I get sick of having no sleep. SO anyway...

My sister-in-law had it explained to her like this by her ped- If you eat a bowl of ice cream before bed each night your body begins to expect and crave it. You don't need the ice cream to be full or for your health but your body wants it. The same thing is happening with the late night feeding now. Your baby doesn't need it to be full or to be healthy but his body is accustomed to it and craves it. You have to break the craving and it is tough. My sister in law is lucky and she breaks it with her kids by having her husband go in to the baby in the middle of the night. He doesn't smell like milk like you do so it's a little easier to break the habit. Her husband has more flexible hours at work and can work from home sometimes so that is a doable option for them. For us it only works on the weekends. So if you can - maybe take a long weekend and have your husband be in charge of comforting him in the middle of the night. Hopefully that will break the habit... Good luck!

My daughter was like that until after one year old. She couldn't sleep through the night. She had to wake up in the middle of the night, with or without feeding. It became a habit! I was like you, tried almost everything and finally I gave up! I went with the flow and listened to my own instincts. Your baby is just going through a phase and eventually he will grow out of it. My daughter had too many little naps during the day and caused her not want to sleep through the night. Good luck!

4 months seems a little early for this, but I suppose it also depends on his size. Our Pediatrician told us that our son should be sleeping 100% through the night, with no waking up feedings when he was 10 months old. I happen to be out of town for work that day, and my husband was the one who had to try it out. That night, at 3:00 a.m. he woke and cried for his bottle, my husband went in laid him back down and patted him to let him know that he was okay and was Daddy was there, then walked out of the room. My son cried for a bit, but it wasn't a panicked cry. When he cried for more than 20 minutes, my husband went back in and consoled him, then laid him back down. Again, he cried, but for less time and then laid back down and went to sleep. I came home the next night and we expected that we would go through the same routine. However, he slept through the night. He has slept through the night ever since. While I don't believe in letting your child "cry it out" if he is truly panicked and upset, so that is when you go in and console them (but know you have just started the cycle over), I do believe that a little crying is not hurting them. They are used to a certain thing and crying is the way they tell you they are ready for that feeding. If you go in and let them know that everything is okay, but don't give them the feeding, you will change the cycle and of course, they will cry and get upset because it's not something they're used to, but if your doctor says that your child is at the right weight to make it through the night, then he probably is.

Good luck!

I totally sympathize with not getting any sleep. I have a 3 week old. I have to tell you though, my daughter, who's 4 now, slept 10 hours at 10 weeks with no feedings at night. We did some sleep training at 10 weeks old. Once a baby weighs 12 lbs, they are able to sleep thru the night, and I don't mean 5-6 hours. If you wait till they are over 6 months, it's much harder to do. PLEASE trust me. I have friends whose babies are 2 and still waking. You want a baby you can just lay down at night and wake up happy and refreshed to in the morning. It really beats being sleep deprived. My 4 year old is such a great sleeper and napper still. MY sister's son is the same and did the same thing I did. It's not a fluke. It is SLEEP TRAINING. Babies have to learn how to soothe themselves or they will ALWAYS look to you to get them back to sleep. The book that helped me and several other moms I know was Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. It will help you create a well rested, happy household, with everyone getting their sleep. Please read it. You won't regret it. And it's not all about crying it out either, although that is a suggestion in there that did work for us. I hope this helps. J.

When my little guy was 5 months old I was still getting up and nursing him when he woke at night. He was a pretty solid baby and I felt that since he was a bit bigger he was hungry more often. If your guy is only waking once at 3 to be fed thats great. If he will eat and then go back down I would keep doing the 3am feedings. Eventually my little dropped the feeding and slept all night. I never tried to force him to let go of his nightly nursings. Like I said, eventually he got big enough that sleeping all night came naturally.

Jennifer, none of my children would sleep through the night until they were over a year old. You need to do what is best for you and your child. I didn't mind waking up for thier on demand feedings. I can go back to sleep easily. My children, even as grown-ups eat small amounts of food very ofton. I have two out of my three grand kids that are this way. Maybe your son burns up his calories quickly and needs to eat more often. What ever you decide make it your choose. Enjoy him every minute. This phase will pass. In six months or so he will sleep through the night. Happy motherhood, D.

I was in that boat for a long time. I knew my daughter could make it but I wasn't willing to do CIO until she was 8 months. Then it took me until 10 months to do it successfully. But After I got it working, I told myself, next time I'm going to do this sooner because they are less aware at this age and take to it easier than they do at 8-10 months and older.

One thing that helped me get through CIO was that instead of just letting her CIO, I stayed at her crib rubbing her back and soothing her until she fell back to sleep. I just didn't feed her. After doing this three nights and saw that she didn't wake until morning, I was comfortable that she was able to go without the food before I left her to cry. Its hard though.

You just have do decide if you're okay with waking in the night for the foreseeable future and if you're okay with it, then let the night time feeding run its course.

heck, my daughter it 18 months and I still feed her in the night a couple of times a week. I'm not the best one to push CIO because I had a hard time with it, but you know, some people go to try CIO, their baby cries for 5-10 min and sleeps through the night from then on. So it would be silly to not at least try it.

Hi Jennifer, Give your son rice cereal in his bottle or get an infant feeder, this will help your little guy sleep through the night. our kids are grown now but we had them on rice cereal at bedtime starting when they were 6 weeks (my moms advice) she had al 5 of us on rice ceral at 6 weeks. My daycare care parents have their baby's on rice cereal at 6 weeks, they are in the Military and have to get up ealy in the morning, they can't be up all night nursing babys, they nursed the first 6 weeks, and switched over to the bottle with breast milk so it nursing would not become habit, 5 month old is still a baby, baby, and it's hard to hear them cry, but thats what baby's do, it's not a bad thing it's a normal thing, and they don't have to have something stuck in their mouth every time they cry. I have a 3 month old in my daycare and she is already off the pacifire. t's a ood thing in my opinion that your son does not want a pacifire. I don't agree with the 11:00 top on he's not a car your fillin with gas, but do believe in no 3:00 am feeding, make sure your baby is falling feeling safe and secure, from you or daddy, and he will sleep more peacefully at night. J. L.

Do what you feel is right. People would tell me the same thing about night feedings, but it turns out my daughter only eats in small meals and gets hungrier faster than those with a large storage tank for a stomach. I don't regret letting her eat in the middle of the night if that's what she insisted on. She is 11 months now and just stopped needing a night-time feeding, probably because I started supplementing with formula during the day. Again, do what you feel is right. Every Mom and every baby are different. Do what you are comfortable with. My question was always...What does it hurt to let your son eat in the middle of the night? If I was a working Mom I probably would have approached it differently.
Good Luck!

To break the 3 am wake up/feeding most easily don't go in, I suggest putting him down at 7pm and going and getting him at 7am:
-He is going to cry- but realize that he needs to learn how to soothe himself back to sleep as part of being a well-adjusted sleeper. It is natural to wake many times a night- and right now he is in the habit of looking to you to soothe him back to sleep. Crying is his way of protesting the change. He will learn how to soothe himself to sleep which is a great and necessary skill. Sometimes if we change our perspective on crying- viewing it as his way of protesting change- it is more palatable.

-He should also be napping a good amount during the day. For sure, 2-3 times a day and probably not awake for more than two hours at a time, except in the evenings. Around 5 months things change- so he may have already established a 9ish am nap??

Check out the following articles for more tips specifically related to this:
-http://www.lullabyluna.com/2009/04/sleep-ponderings-from-...

-http://www.lullabyluna.com/search?q=newborns&x=0&y=0

-http://www.lullabyluna.com/2008/12/happy-new-year.html

Let me know if you have any more questions.

C., mother of 3, sleep consultant, sleep blog writer www.lullabyluna.com

Check out the following posts

Hello,
All of my children woke up during the night every 2-3 hours to feed. And I just fed them. My youngest is 13months and every week he is changing his eating habits, but he still wakes up about every 2-3 hours just like his siblings. I do try different things to see if maybe he is just restless & not hungry. I get up and walk with him and pat his back becasue sometimes it is just gas and then he goes back to sleep, but if he continues to cry then I just feed him and if he goes back to sleep, then great. I know we are creating another habit for another day, but then again, maybe not. Every child is different and they do grow out of their habits. Don't worry you are not alone.

All these women have great advise, but remember you know your baby the best and you need to do what works for the both of you. CIO at this age sounds so harsh and if I am hungry I get a snack, there are times in the month that I'm down right hungry all day no matter what I eat (usually period time). Remember he can't get a snack on his own and he can't help being hungry no-one can help that. Maybe try the cereal thing at 8:30 then again at 3:00, maybe he'll sleep longer with just one feeding in the night. You knew when you got pregnant that you would lose sleep with a baby so welcome to it. They do get better I promise. Try diffrent things to find something that works for the both of you. Every baby is diffrent and every mommy is diffrent, so try new things till something works for you. Good luck! Take a nap, the house will still be dirty whether you clean it today or tomorrow. So why not wait till tomorrow or tomorrow or tomorrow after that. Dust comes daily but your little one grows like a weed and will be grown tomorrow so make today's all about him. My oldest just graduated high school. I can't beleive how fast 18 years flew by. I'm not suggesting you live like a pig, straighten as you go. I'm saying don't forget to take care of mommy, because no-one else will take care of you, when you want to take a nap, take one. When you want to read while he is sleeping, do it. Take a bath, work out, the mess isn't going anywhere and will be waiting for you when you get to it. This is coming from a total neat freak. But looking back I'm glad I spent as much time as I could with my little ones because now they are older and really don't want me in they're way and there is plenty of time to clean the house. Congratulations on being a new mommy. Best wishes! J.

I think you should continue to feed him at 3:00 a.m. when he wakes up. My baby also woke up about that time when he was that age to eat & then went right back to sleep. He is now 12 mo old & still breastfeeding. He now wakes up around 5:00-6:00 a.m. for a feeding & then back to sleep until 7:00-7:30.

Another thing. At this age, my boobs were ready to burst by 3:00 a.m. anyway so I was HOPING he'd wake up to eat. Or, I'd be up pumping.

Jennifer B

I realize it is very hard to follow your pediatrician's advice, however, it is for the best interest of your son. You have gotten many good thoughts on how to keep or break the 3am feeding. Here are a few of my ideas that I used with my three children when they were little. Try giving him a water or milk bottle and allow him to get this when he wakes at 3am. This is only one way, speak to your pediatrician about giving him a few bites of cereal before he goes to bed. My three children (now in their 30's were all ready for cereal at bed time at 3 months). They are all doing just fine, and slept through the night at that age. I was told this by their pediatrician. I also left a water bottle in their crib just in case they got thirsty when they woke during the night. It worked great, I was also a working mom with a husband who would do nothing to help out. I hope this helps.

I'm sorry but I find that crazy. My almost 9 month old is currently waking every 2 hours again because she is teething terribly and going through a growth spurt, 5 months is far to early to stop night feedings. It is PERFECTLY normal for babies to continue eating throughout the night for at least the first year if not longer. We are just somehow convinced by the media/whomever that all babies should have the exact same schedule which works around ours, it doesn't work that way. Babies are the one's who's needs should be met the first year, not the other way around. Continue feeding your LO, if he is hungry, he needs to be fed, you don't force yourself to go hours without food when you are hungry do you, so why should a tiny little baby who doesn't understand?

Hi Jennifer,
Frankly, I'm surprised that your pediatrician recommended that! After all, your baby is still an infant. I assume he exclusively breastfed, with no formula or solids at this point, correct? My daughter nursed at night for probably 16 months, then I cut out the middle-of-the night nursing when I absolutely knew that she didn't need it. Instead, I'd have a sippy cup of water next to the bed and would offer her a quick sip, then she would settle back in (we shared a family bed). You are not creating a bad habit, I promise. Like I said, your baby is still an infant and if he's hungry, he's hungry :) Also, I'm quite surprised that he said that your breastfed infant should be sleeping 8-10 hours at night w/out waking...I'd like to ask your doctor what planet he lives on, LOL! Good luck!

Are you kidding me? He's 5 months old and probably going through a growth spurt. My granson is 7 mos old and at this age his pediatrician said feed him whatever he wants!