Hello,
I have an 8 month old who wakes up every 2 hours during the night..
A couple of months ago, I tried doing the CIO method and it worked for a few days, he sleept 8 hours straight. But 3 weeks ago, somehting clicked in his mind and now wakes up every 2 hours. I hated letting him CIO, because I felt bad for him and also because my husband and mom wake up to go to work really early. I have tried letting him CIO but it's stressful for everybody. He goes to bed at 8pm, then he'll wake up at 10:30, 12:30, 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30am. I've tried weaning the midnight breastfeeding, but it's kind of impossible because my milk supply is kind of low and he's not eating his solids very good (I've tried everything...fruits, veggies, you name it).
He's not teething nor has a fever or gas.
How can I help him (and me) sleep longer during the night? I don't want to do the CIO method again.
Please hellllllllllp!
Have you guys experienced this before?
If he's 8 mos old and still only taking breastmilk, he's probably hungry. People get hungrier later in the day. You should do whatever you can to get him to take some solid food either before he goes to bed or at the 10:30 feeding even if it means putting fruit in rice cereal.
My son went from waking 2x a night to waking every hour or so for three days. I took him to the doc and he has a double ear infection. I thought I would have known when he had one because I could usually tell in the way my daughter's attitude changed when she got one. I was wrong! Take him just to rule it out. It could be teething even if there is no fever, drooling, etc.
Feed him a big meal just before bed. If you are having trouble figuring out what he'll eat, then work on that first. He should be getting full from real food by now so that when you wean him for good, he can get plenty of nutrients from food. For my little ones it was rice cereal with a whole tub of banana.
Maybe hes going through a growth spurt and needs more milk. Try like crazy to get your supply back up. It sounds to me like he just might not be satisfied and all he wants is more milk.
It could be something physical. Like a growth spurt or an ear infection.
Or , like someone else stated, he may not be getting enough milk. I had to switch my daughter from breast feeding to formula for the same reason. I was sad, but my daughter's pediatrician said it was best. She wasn't getting enough milk. If that is the case for you, don't beat yourself up for it. Remember you've done a good job giving her 8 months of breastmilk. Maybe you could even just supplement with formula at the night time feeding.
Oh and if you try to get your milk back up again, contact a lactation consultant or an organization like La Leche League. It takes work, but you can do it. Good luck!.
I read your other post first and please don't take this mean but its like they are contradicting each other. waking every 2 hrs sounds like hes hungry but at the same time I agree with the possible ear problems. I don't think teething is out of the question. so since I read your other post and I don't think you are debileratley contradicting yourself I am going to suggest quit feeding him in the daytime only give him cereal in his bottle at night. I agree with the la leche league since both post seem to contradict each other. Call them first. The reason I don't agree with the not teething is they can take months to cut them. You could be right. and probably are. but from both post it sounds like he is getting hungry at night and might be getting to much food in the day. and also teething and growth spurts will make thier appetite go down. so keep this in mind also.
My guess with what both post have said is the milk only satisfies him for a short while instead of a long while. He probably has a small tummy and digest his food quickly. I do agree with the cio method to a point. Here was my rule with my kids. They get 20 minutes. listen to thier cries there should be a hesitationof no crying if there is nothing wrong with them. the hesitation or gap should closer together and the crying should be of shorter duration if they are just fighting sleep. other wise if its more than 20 minutes something else is wrong with them. ex teeth, sick, hungry etc. hope this helps.
My son is 2 1/2 and still goes through bad sleep nights waking up every 2 hours to nurse. It has always come and gone and I believe a big culprit is his teething and learning and growing spurts. Teething and the Spurts have always affected his sleep and now that his 2 year molars are coming in and he is learning many new skills it's no different.
Maybe, the your little guy is trying to build up the milk supply, you said you didn't think you had enough, his little body maybe telling your body to produce more milk and the way to do that is by nursing more;-)
I would highly recommend reading "Nighttime Parenting" by Dr. Sears, he explains how babies and toddlers sleep cycles are different from adults and offers suggestions for babies and toddlers who are persistent night wakers, such as possible food allergies or intolerance that is waking up you little one, etc.
Personally, I've just excepted that every now and again my son and I will have some rough nights (sometimes 5 weeks straight) but I know it won't last forever. During those times I go to bed extra early and try to sleep in as long as he will let me. After 2 1/2 years I have lost my sanity..yet;-)
He's probably hungry and going through a growth spurt. My son did this several times until he was 1 yr old. I'd get him to sleep through the night and just when I thought I was in the clearning....bam he'd start waking up. It was a growth spurt. Honestly what worked was just getting up and feeding him. It only lasted a few more months then his growth spurts stopped and he consistently slept through the night with only occasionally woke up in the middle of the night once in a great while. Have you tried baby rice cereal mixed w/formula or breast milk spoon fed? Also, the switch to formula sounds imminent since your breast milk might be drying up. I wouldn't do the CIO method. He's hungry and if you pick him up and feed him....this should pass soon. Hang in there.
u should drink alot of milk and u should try to sleep with the baby for now
I would not start changing methods now or he will continue to not self sooth or sleep well. My doctor told me babies no longer need night feedings after the first 10 days of life, that they eat at night because we train them too. Following that advice and a modified CIO, my boys have slept through the night since less than a month old. I never let them just cry, I would give them 5 minutes and than would go in and help them sooth, but not with feeding or picking them up, just rubbing and singing softly. If they fussed after I left I waited another 5 minutes, I never had to go in twice.
Being a Mum of 4 boys, 3 of who had reflux you are describing the classic signs. If ever in doubt see the Doctor. Reflux can be silent so constantly burns the throat but baby may not spill or vomit. It is extremely painful and so baby will wake and the only thing that will generally calm them is drinking, sucking on pacifier or sitting/being held in the upright position. This is a medical problem that is easily fixed but must be addressed. It is safe to use Losec (I have always used the capsules, open and tip granules into babies mouth before feeding) and if it is not reflux the medication will not have hurt the baby while you try it out.
Note: You will feel like you are always at the Dr for the first couple of years but just go. Get the information direct from the expert and then you know you have done the best for your child.
Other Mums are fantastic for support and we have all tried and lived different senarios but do seek professional support.
Good luck and hope you get some rest soon.
