Night Wakings (6 Month Old)

Hi K., My daughter is six months and is not the best sleeper but as of late things have been getting better. Have you tried just popping a binky in his mouth when he wakes in the middle of the night instead of feeding him? Maybe he's just having trouble soothing himself back to sleep when he wakes? Every baby is different but as I understand it by 6 months they should be able to get through the night without eating. I would try that...it sounds like you're doing a great job - good luck!!

It doesn't matter what books say. There is no consistency in each baby. They are all different.

6 months old is also a Growth-spurt time... and hence, they get hungrier, feed more, more often, and increase in intake is needed. Feed on-demand always... day and night. It doesn't matter that they physiologically in theory should/can sleep all night. Each baby is different. Go by your baby's cues and needs.

Both my kids were different.
I had to do different things with them both.
But, my kids, woke during the night, about every 3 hours. Sometimes less.
At 6 months old... my son also "chose" a lovey. Out of all the stuffed animals he had... he just gravitated toward this one stuffed cow... and we noticed he liked to sleep with it. That was his "lovey" since then.
My daughter on the other hand, did NOT want anything to sleep with at that age. She was more high-needs.

Then there is teething.

Then there is their developmental changes... and hitting milestones... and changes in gross motor and fine motor skills... and cognitive changes. ALL of which, affects a baby and their sleep and wakings. MANY of these things, occurs at the same time... not singly. So its not easy for baby too.

Then, when they start to roll-over, sit-up, pull-up, stand-up... these changes affects their sleep too. Because they will do it, IN the crib when they are 'supposed to' in theory, be sleeping. But, this is the way a baby "practices" these motor skills. AND... it is INvoluntary... so you can't tell them to stop, and they stop. It is instinct... they will do this.

Sleep... in a baby... is NEVER static. It always, changes. Sleep in a toddler, an older child, a pre-teen, a Teen, a College kid, an Adult, an Elderly person... always changes. It is not static nor finite. No adult now... sleeps the same way they did as a baby.

So... go by your baby's cues and needs.
There is no "template" for making a baby sleep.

"Sleeping through the night" for a baby... means... sleeping for 5-6 hour stretches. It is not by adult terms.

Then, there is if/when a baby is sick or does not feel well. They wake too.

A baby ALSO... goes through stirrings or fussying... in sleep. Or intermittent wakings... which is normal and common. Even an adult stirs at night or makes noises. I hear my Husband do that and my kids.
IF your baby is merely making noises in his sleep and is NOT fully "awake" awake.. let him be. He may re-settle himself... without your help. BUT if he is crying/hungry, then go to him. Feed him.
Know your baby's cues and needs.
If a baby needs to feed, they need to feed.
Every night... IS different.

My son at 6 months... would sometimes wake at night and need to feed. Other times, he'd be making noises/stirring at night... but he was fine and happy, then he'd go back to sleep. I didn't WAKE him... nor talk to him, nor pick him up... if he was just stirring. He was fine. I knew, he'd then go back to sleep. And I knew if it was hunger....

As a baby matures... they will naturally... get more 'able' to sleep... and self-soothe. Your baby is so young right now.

IF a baby is hungry, they are hungry. Feed him. It will NOT create a bad habit... a hungry baby cannot sleep. ESPECIALLY if going through growth-spurts. They need the extra intake.
My kids, had GINORMOUS appetites... and I breastfed them, on demand.
Also, a baby goes through "cluster-feeding" which means even feeding every single hour. It reflects, their increasing intake needs and growing.

Do what YOUR baby needs...
They do not, have static waking "schedules"... nor predictable. It always changes.... since a baby is always changing and growing and developing....

If you feed on-demand, (if you are nursing), your milk supply will increase in amounts AND in constituency, per your baby's growth and intake needs. THAT is important.
If your are Formula feeding... make sure he is getting added intake... he may need, extra ounces....

I nursed my kids on-demand for the 1at year... and after that especially at growth-spurts. Growth-spurts occurs EVERY 3 months....

all the best,
Susan

Hi K.,
I have three babies, and all their sleep patterns were different. My first child who is now 13 years old, slept through the night at around 8 weeks of age, never had any problems with her.
My second who is now 3 1/2 years old still doesn't sleep through the night. We have a routine for her. She gets a very warm bath before bed to help her relax, and I make sure she has a snack before bed. We have a white noise maker in her room to help lull her to sleep and we keep a night light on for her. We have also purchased a weighted blanket for her (she is special needs) she likes the little bit of extra weight on her, it makes her feel secure. The blanket is only 3 lbs and has fleece on the inside, so it stays very warm!
She has never really been a good sleeper.
My baby who is 15 months old, still wakes up in the middle of the night. Most of the time we just put him in bed with us, that way, my husband and I get good sleep so that we can be very productive parents to our children. It might just take your son a little bit longer to get his sleep routine down. I really wouldn't expect a 6 month old to sleep all night with out waking up. Sometimes it takes them longer. Also, make sure he doesnt have like an ear infection, sinus infection or acid reflux, this can cause pressure on their head and chest.
Good luck!

This all sounds pretty normal to me for a 6 month old and a lot of babies still need nighttime feedings at this age. Mine didn't wean from nighttime nursing until 10 months of age. If he's just fussing it sounds like he's having a hard time self soothing to go back to sleep. Does he have something to cuddle with? A small blankie or stuffed animal? Does he take a pacifier? Mine did not have a nighttime nursing schedule and was all over the place with wakings. She slept through the night 10+ hours around age 1 year before than it was 6-8 hours straight when I weaned her from night feedings. If he's hungry you should definitley feed him. Until he starts to sleep longer and skips feedings on his own I wouldn't try removing them just yet. Also 6 months is a growth spurt age so he might actually start to wake more and nurse more as well.

Dr. Weissbluth says that some babies need to eat through the night until 11/12 months. That is when I would let them "cry it out." Your baby might be teetihing and need to be held and is hungry. I would respond to his need to eat until 11/12 months.

My daughter started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks old, so that is when we stopped the nighttime feedings. By 6 months your child should have the capacity to make it through the night without eating. Make sure he is getting enough breastmilk/formula plus solids throughout the day. At that age my daughter was eating 3 meals of solids and 3 bottles.

Good luck!

I worked so I could not get up with child. At six months if you don't get up with them, they will start sleeping through the night. If you don't mind getting up then I would say it is fine to get up and nurse them but then make sure you put your child back in the bed. But really they can sleep through the night at 6 months.

1) NO!
2)varies with each kid
3) how long can you as an adult go without food?

most likely your child is teething, starts about now and is painful...the action of nursing helps to relieve that pain naturally. that would explain why some nights hes fine and others he is not. Id be happy he is sometimes a good sleeper and was before. All kids are different and all need different things. you are not going to get any input from others other than some start to let their kids cry it out and others are against that. you need to do what you feel is right for your child and for you

I would be pretty excited if my 5 month old son were sleeping as well as yours. Mine can sleep from about 7pm-midnight, then usually wakes every 2-3 hours or so every night. My 3 year old took about 2.5 years to sleep reliably through the night. Things like going to bed a little later, or skipping a nap would cause him to wake at night.
I would give your baby some time. Sounds to me like he is on his way to sleeping more at night, I'd give him a chance to get there, and see how it goes. You don't mention if you are nursing or feeding formula. Have you started solids? Did it make any difference for your son?

Good luck!
T.
Barefoot Books Ambassador
www.ReadandGrow.com