Looking for Tips on Getting a Baby to Sleep Through the Night

Try the book The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. harvey Karp (website is www.thehappiestbaby.com)- try the 5 S's- they really work (Swaddling, Shushing with white noise, swinging, sucking and side/stomach)

Hi N.

Have you checked to see if she is teething? It could be that she is uncomfortable in some way.

Did you recently take a vacation or something? New person come visit and her normal routine was interupted? Have you gone back to work recently and so she is no longer getting to spend as much time with you as she was used to?

Is she sleeping more during the day than she used to? (In which case, she probably has her days and nights mixed up.) On a similar note, if she is not getting enough sleep during the day she might be restless and overtired and not able to sleep well at night.

Is she going through a growth spurt? (I never recognized these when they were happening - my husband always pointed them out to me.) Getting up every few hours sounds a lot like a growth spurt to me.

Is she learning a new trick? Sometimes when they learn new tricks, they like to practice as much as they can. (Like rolling over or how to control her hand.)

I realize that I haven't offered a solution, but if you can figure out the cause of the problem, then it will certainly go a long way to fixing the problem.

Whatever you do, don't play with her.
(I can't remember how a 4.5 month old plays, but if she is playing by herself and not with y'all, then let her play.)
When my son wakes up in the middle of the night for a clean diaper or whatever, he will literally spend about 15 minutes playing with his lion and lamb before he goes back to sleep. He even lays over in his bed babbling to himself.

I think the best piece of advice, for whatever the reason is that she is waking up, never be too playful or friendly. Be loving, take care of the problem, but don't give her the wrong idea. Otherwise, she might wake up the next night wanting to play. Keep the stimulation down to a minimal.

Take care
L.

Do you give gas medicine? That helped our son a lot. Mylecon. Also make sure that you burp her so thoroughly before you put her down. When she wakes up and you go in to her, don't turn on the light and don't talk- you're trying not to stimulate her or make it fun in any way. Also they say wait five minutes before you go in, she may fall back asleep.
We used a great book that helped us SO much, 'Healthy Sleep, Happy Child'

Another good one is 'The No-Cry Sleep Solution' But we used the first one with dramatic results.
When he was 10 months old, he started it again, though, and we let him cry it out. he cried for 45 minutes the first night and it broke my heart. It took about a week, and then he slept through the night and still does at 2 yrs. It's really hard to do, and I'm still not sure it's something I recommend as a philosophy, but it did work. *But you are not supposed to do that until they are bigger, 4 1/2 mos will pass! One day the whole house will always sleep peacefully all night long. Get that book, it will help you. Good luck!

Hi N.,
I had the same problem with my son and I bought him the my heart teddy bear,I'm not sure what they call them now but you can record your heart beat and that way your child feels like you are with them and it keeps them from waking up through the night...Hope this helps...and I hope you get some sleep...:)

I have a 5.5 month old, and we started having the same problem around that time. We are still trying to get back on schedule. She was sleeping from 7-7 at 8 weeks, and then spontaneously started waking up again. I thought maybe she needed to move onto some solid foods since I hadn't pushed that issue. I have been trying that, but she doesn't take solids very well. I breastfeed as well, and of course she is very partial to that! Things are getting better. She is now sleeping from 7 or 8-4am. All she wants at 4am is to nurse for about 10 minutes and then she is back off until about 8am. So, I am wondering if it isn't a developmental milestone? Praying that we are over it soon. Hang in there. M.

I also have a 4 month old. Read "Healthty Sleep Habbits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weisbuth. My son is only waking 1-2 times per night. Also, speak with your doctor about letting your child "cry it out." I have used this approach and when I put my son down for naps or if he wakes during the night (except for his 12:30 am, and 5:00 am feeding) he will "cry it out." He never cries for more than 5 minutes. It just takes about 8-12 times of crying for about 15-20 minutes for them to get the hang of it. From past experience, it is so much easier to do this now rather than when they are able to stand up or walk.

Rush out and buy "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child"

It's the most important baby book I ever read.

Well Miss N., I know exactly how you feel. I am a single mom of 3 daughters ages 8, 5, 3.When my girls where babies( oh do I remember my sweet innocent babies)and they couldn't get to sleep, well I would treat them as if they were sick,so I would give them a warm bath with- Baby Jonson's Bath Time-,rub Vix on the bottom of their feet, chest,and a tiny bit under their nose, wrap them up in a blanket give them a warm chocolate mlik,( cause all babies love chocolate milk)and rock them to sleep. Those girls would never, ever wake up in the middle of the night. One way of making them go to sleep with no problems is give them something to look forward for the next day, but you must keep that promise, it can be a small promise, like helping you make a peanut butter sandwich or playing dolls or house with them, whatever your child is into. You don't exactly need money or have to go anywhere to make your child happy and listen to you, your child is really just seeking your attention and as a parent that's what we are there for, to make sure our children grow up to change the world and to let them know that we will always be there for them nomatter what.Well have fun!

There is a great book - Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth. However, at 4 1/2 months, she may not be ready to sleep through the night completely. But she obviously doesn't need to be playing in the middle of the night. I really liked this book. Good luck to you!

K.

N.,

My friend has a 5 mth old daughter who went through the same sleep patterns as you describe. After 2 weeks of no sleep, my friend bought a book at Borders where a pediatrician advised to let the little one "cry it out". As much as my friend dreaded this, she did not get up to console her daughter when the 5 mth old woke up in the night. It only took one night and the daughter fell back into her old sleep pattern (not waking up frequently). Good luck.

N., bless your heart. I know your exhaustion all too well. Perhaps your daughter is teething? I found that when my son was periodically waking during the night (when he otherwise would sleep) he was either going through a growth spurt or teething. I gave him Tylenol which did the trick.

Also, is she getting enough sleep during the day? Sleep begets sleep. If my son didn't get enough sleep during the day he was "high strung" and wouldn't let himself settle into a deep sleep at night.

I hope some of this helps. We moms endure so much. I will pray for rest and refreshment for you.

Blessings,
C.