Need Sleep - Overland Park,KS

When he wakes up to eat does he go right back to sleep or is he up for a while? Are you nursing, pumping, using formula or combination?

I have twins who are now four years old but I remember around that stage that tightening up their schedule helped a lot with regular sleep and eating. Before about 6 months I just let them nap wherever -- car seat, swing, bouncy seat, etc. But around 5 or 6 months I started putting them in their cribs for naps which helped a lot. They napped longer and slept all night. Basically they were up two hours, down two hours all day and then slept 6-7 hours at night.

I pumped a lot. It wasn't fun but they weren't hungry since I knew how much they were consumming at every feeding. I almost always assume that waking babies are hungry. They digest so fast it's amazing. Even though you feel like they just ate, it's possible for them to be hungry every hour.

I would try modulating his routine a little more carefully and see if that helps him feel more comfortable in his own crib and if you're willing to try a bottle with breast milk or formula or a breast milk/formula mix it might help to give him that at his last feeding before bed.

Good luck!

T.,

What time are you putting him to bed? I found that (even though this sounds odd) that sleep begets more sleep. I put my little one down earlier and she slept better and longer. I think I recall she was waking up like that too for a spurt. One other thing I did for just a short period of time was a 'dream feed'. I put her down early like 7 or 8pm then just before I went to bed, I would lift her out of her crib and feed her another bottle (without fully waking her, just keeping a dim light so I could see). I did that 'dream feed' usually around 10:30 or 11pm (just before I went to bed) and this seemed to keep her sleeping through the night. I only did that for about a 2-3 week period and then she didn't seem to need it anymore to sleep all night. Some people did suggest adding cereal at night which I tried but didn't seem to help, for us anyway? I was feeding her cereal and some first foods during the day at this point too (by 3-4 months I started that). I followed some of the advice in the book "The Baby Whisperer" and highly recommend her suggestions on sleeping, etc. You might check that book out if you haven't already? ;0)

L.

I moved here last week from Denver, in my 30's also - What I can remember about my kids at that age was if they were waking up to eat in the middle of the night it was time to start adding more substanial food. If your little one is only taking milk & no solids yet, it is probably time. If your son is taking solids then load him up before bed. Anyway, that was my experience with my two.

T. I feel your pain. My first son slept through the night at 3 months and never looked back. My second son did it at 3 months for a couple weeks and then went back to getting up. I was so frusterated because I knew he could do it. He ended up eventually doing it about 11 months and that was still with a 5 or 6 am feeding. It was an improvement. I read a few sleep books to keep getting new ideas or to at least read that I had tried everything. Some say to get the first nap on track. Anyway, we would just keep trying to let him cry it out every couple of weeks. If he is getting up again after an hour I would say he is probably teething or hungry like you said. Just keep trying. Wish I could give you some magic cure.
Good Luck.

It could have something to do with the move (perhaps). Even young babies pick up on change. Try a routine (diaper chage, book, bottle/breast, kisses), and make it the same every night. Put him to bed when he is a little drowsy (but not fully asleep). He may just be going through a growth spurt, too. Good luck!

A.

I have a 9 month old and she sleeps all through the night. From the day she was born I let her cry in the day time and played with her too. She screamed all day long, because she was always hungry and maybe a little colic. During this pain and suffering she now sleeps all night from 8:00pm - 10:00pm to 6:30am - 7:00am. If you are a stay at home mom, you have to have a routine. I am sure you do, but when they are teething you have to get a little more strict on their time. I know it is hard, because they are cranky and up through the night. You have to co-hearse them. In the day time try to make him comfortable, but also keep him awake with activities and outings. At night it gets harder, because they are really not feeling well if they are teething. He may run a fever, give him infant motrin. Baby Oral Gel on his gums helps, only if you know he teething. Touch the front area of his mouth with your finger, if he stops crying then you know it feels good. He probably is teething. If you are feeding him at certain times, then you may have to change that and feed him often. That may help if he is hungrier. This can cause him to cry alot too. Teething can be along process, like a couple of months before his first teeth come in. You never know he may have gas on his stomach. It can be alot of things. Just stay positive and things will get better eventually.

Hey T.,
I too have a five month old baby boy. I feel your pain -- but know "this too shall pass." I read all the other great advice from the other moms and I agree with a lot of it. My boy did the same thing, and I found that I was not keeping him warm enough at night. I thought "summer, lighter clothing" but I didn't take into consideration where the air conditioning vent was in his room and how chilly it really got. I put him down in a footed sleeper and tuck him in with one blanket. I also moved him away from the air vent so it wasn't blowing on him.

This may or may not be the case for you, but sometimes it is the strangest little things! Good Luck!