Sleeping Through the Night - Dallas,TX

I thought this was normal as well. I know some babies sleep better than others so I just thought mine wasn't ready to sleep through the night quite yet. I have a five month old that wakes up between 2 and 3am no matter what times he goes down (usually between 7 and 9pm). I feed him and then he goes back down until around 6am. I do give him less at his 2am feeding than normal tough. I find that once he eats about two ounces he will go back to sleep pretty quickly. I am going to try the water suggestion that I read the other day. Maybe he will get bored with just water and not want to wake up anymore.

sounds pretty normal to me, too. my son started sleeping through at 10 weeks, but that's COMPLETELY un-normal, i know, AND though i was breastfeeding ... i'd give him a huge, pumped bottle before bed (like 7-8 ounces), eventually that turned into formula so he could have that pumped bottle during the day when i went back to work.

read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child", "Babywise", and "Baby Whisperer". Your baby will be fine if you let him go back to sleep. (yes he might cry, or you may have to go in once to settle him) he's just in the habit of waking up in the middle of the night. Just make sure you feed him plenty of cereal in his formula (even though you said that didn't make a difference) before bed at about 7 pm. make sure he's getting 2 naps during the day at least 1.50-2 hrs each. the less sleep he gets, the more he will wake up. mine has been sleeping 12 hrs per night (or more) and 2 naps at least since 3 months old and he's almost 14 months old now. I always put him to bed awake, that's key. it's a habit/training issue. I was like you when he was about 2-2.5 months and I was longing for sleep! so I started reading desperately (and I was too tired to read) so those 3 books were awesome and I wish I had read them before he was born. He would've been sleeping through the night much earlier had I not been jumping to his crib every time he made a peep. (note: baby whisperer is a lot more work than the other 2, I just took the SHHHH-pat method from her book and ran with it). Good luck! Stay strong, it will help him not hurt him to cry a bit and go back to sleep. (it hurts him more for you to get him up and feed him in the middle of the night, he NEEDS sleep) also, disrupting their sleep after 11 pm is a no no (per baby whisperer) hang in there, Stephanie

Don't worry. It could be perfectly normal for your little one (though you may want to sleep!) My son didn't start until he was 10 months old! We did the Ferber method and that helped him learn to sleep on his own without eating....

S.,
I am in the same boat as you. My 5 month old son wakes up around 2 and if I don't feed him he wakes up in another hour. So, I'd rather he take a bottle at 2 so I can get some sleep. Last night, I gave him a bottle at 11 just before I went to bed and he slept till 5. I am going to try it again tonight to see if he will take a bottle just before I retire. You may want to try that. My 3.5 year old still does not sleep through the night. He usually wakes up and I have to pat his back and he falls back to sleep. I am looking forward to the day when I can sleep through the night and sleep in the next day!!!

Does this only apply to bottlefed babies?? What if you're breastfeeding? How do you get a baby to sleep through the night when breastfed? My son is 5 mos old and I have him in a co sleeper next to my bed because he waskes up twice during the night to breastfeed. It doesnt really disrupt my sleep because all I do is reach over and bring him to me...he nurses himself back to sleep within 10 minutes and I push him back to his cosleeper and fall back asleep myself. But it would be nice to put him in his crib and have him sleep at least 8 hrs. How is this possible? Should I feed him formula and rice cereal at night before putting him down?

Girls, I know what the pediatricians say these days about giving infants cereal early. But, for decades infants have been given rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk as early as 3 weeks of age and as far as I can tell they all survived.

When my daughters were infants in the late 60s/early 70s, infants began sleeping through the night at about six weeks of age. Why? They were given rice cereal by spoon or mixed in their bottles two or three times a day. Starting out slowly and increasing it to the thickness of a milkshake. I've never had an infant turn it down.

Now, at first you can do the last two feedings of the day. If that doesn't fill their tummies for the night...you go to the last three feedings of the day. Eventually, after they've begun to sleep through the night you can put them on a regular routine of cereal in the mornings, at noon and before bed. Believe me, most of the spitting up and fussiness has to do with them being hungry...no matter what the so called *experts* say.

Why would anyone want their little one to be hungry; and who can work on so much broken sleep. Yes, if you want to get up and feed them once or twice during the night, any baby will accept it...but it's really not that complicated and it's just a matter of common sense. Why should everyone be so miserable when their little tummies get so empty.

I know what I'm saying will create a lot of negative input; but I'm telling you from years of experience with children from all different ethnic groups.

Now, think about it. When a child is diagnosed with reflux...besides other medications the doctors will recommend thickening for their bottle feedings. Look for yourselves and see what the ingredients are in the thickening. Look at the formula put out by a well-known manufacturer for spitting up and sensitive stomachs...what is different in it? Rice powder. Well, the rice cereal does the same thing. I just recently had a new mom apologize to me because she had refused to let me add rice cereal to her infant's feedings. The child couldn't even keep down breast milk. I had to change clothes on her and myself several times a day and the same was happening at home. But, when she started to purchase the special formula (suggested by her pediatrician) and read the ingredients....she purchased a box of single grain rice cereal and went home to open the nipples larger in her baby's bottles. Not only did the spitting up stop; but the baby girl is sleeping through the night and she is only three months old. No more spitting up either. Thing of it is....the misery would have been over by six weeks, had she only tried what I suggested to her.

Yes, their bowels will get thicker and more regular, too.

I know I'm in the minority here...but I've been there...done that and have seen it done hundreds of times over the past 45 years. Your babies were getting all of their nutrition from your diet and system in the womb. Who knows how much they needed. Once they begin to feel satisfied and rested, the infants begin to blossom and fill out and are happier day and night. No more stress from the lack of sleep in the household. Until that hunger pain is satisfied they will stay fussy and uncomfortable. Wouldn't you? Do you really think they are supposed to be fussy? Only when they need something. That's their way of communicating a need.

That's my two cents worth and personal experience. Now I'll get off my soap box....LOL! Do what you think is best...but don't write off the cereal feedings until you've tried them yourselves.

No, you don't have to adjust their naps until they are about 18 months to 2 years of age. The baby will adjust on their own...going from catnaps during the day to longer naps...then two naps. The two naps start around three to four months of age for all of the infants I've cared for. I put them in their bed in a dark, quiet, cool room and walk away. If they fuss a time or two it passes. Then, it's twice a day until the age mentioned above. About the time they are beginning to sit up and eat finger foods. Every child who joins my group falls into this same pattern. They don't expect more from me in those areas because I don't offer them more. My playtime with them is precious and so is my cuddle time with them...but I feed them and put them to bed at regular naptimes. They know they can't push my buttons. They behave differently for their parents because their parents make it harder on themselves. There may be exceptions...but I've never found them.

http://www.missbrenda.com

Most infants around this age need between 25-35 ounces of formula in a 24 hour period depending on how much solid food they are eating. I would make sure Stefan is getting at least four, 6 ounce bottles a day with supplemental solid foods(rice cereal,veggies, etc.). Make sure he has his bottle first, then solids, so you know he is getting enough formula. A good schedule is 8, 12, 4, 8, and then bed time right after the last bottle. I would only give him solids for the first three feedings and not the fourth, because you want him to get used to eating around the same time as the rest of your family and not expecting dinner after 8pm. If you can get him on this schedule(with two, 2-hour naps around 10am and 2pm), I can almost guarantee he will be sleeping through the night in no time. I have used this schedule for years and it has never failed. My current charge is 5 months and has been thankfully sleeping through the night for almost three months now. As long as you make sure he gets enough food during the day, you will be able to determine that his early wake ups are from habit, rather than from hunger. He is capable of sleeping through the night, so a little tough love will really benefit him, and you, in the long run.

The best book I've come across is Healthy Sleep habits, Happy Child by Marc Weisbluth. My opinion is that everyone in the house needs to get as much sleep as possible for best chances at a happy home, including mom! Seems that about 5-6 months you can have a baby that sleeps through the night, if you put forth the effort. It's not easy on anyone for a few days/nights, but in the long run it pays off. I'm talking about cry it out, although I know it does not work for everybody. The book I mentioned above addresses a couple of different methods too, including consoling and checking in with baby. Good luck!

VERY normal. My DD used to feed about every 2 hours. This was breastfeeding, expressed milk at day care and some formula supplementing. For so long she needed to feed at night, and this too was normal. At 5 months, I would feed that baby when he's hungry, day or night. You know best. Soon those sleepless nights will be in the past.

Some children never sleep through the night! I hope that is not the case for you! By five months, both of my girls were already sleeping through the night. My oldest had a pacifier, and if she woke up, it was just until she found it. My youngest never like the paci, so when she woke up, I just let her cry it out. It usually didn't last more than a few minutes and she was back to sleep. They have to learn how to comfort themselves and how to fall asleep. Of course, only you know your son. Maybe try feeding him a bedtime snack right before you put him down. Does he have a lovey to sleep with? Maybe if he had a little blanket or something, when he wakes up that would lull him back to sleep?

Good luck with it all!
S.

S., I think you just have to remember that every child is different, and their needs are different too. My daughter turned 10 months old last week, and sometimes I am still getting up during the night to breastfeed her, though not always. Personally, I remember my baby girl getting up during the night regularly to eat at 5 months old, but I too would hear stories of babies sleeping through the night completely at 4-5 months. And I tried cereal too, to no avail. You know Stefan better than anyone, so trust your instinct. I'm sure you are doing just perfectly.

In my opinion, that is perfectly normal. My son didn't sleep through the night until 8 months. A lot of babies will sleep through the night on their own, but a lot also need a feed until 9 months. I feel like the time to force the issue is when they are having 3 solid meals a day and they start to want to play when they get up to feed.
Good luck - trust your instict on this one!
C.

I know you have gotten a lot of good advice from others. My 5 month old will not eat very much during the day, so she does wake up between 2am and 3am to eat and usually she eats the most at this time. I know people say it is all about training, and I think that is somewhat true. At the same time, I want to be sure she is getting enough nutrition. She wakes up at other times in the night and can soothe herself back to sleep, but when she is starving, I can tell the difference in her cry. I do not believe that at this age I should not feed her. If she were to get up and only eat an ounce, that would be one thing, but she will eat 6-8 ounces, so I know she is hungry. My Pedi said this was ok, up until about 6 months. He said if she is still doing this at 6 months to try to cut out this feeding.
I agree with the others who say every baby is very different. You have to do what is right for you and your baby.
Good luck!

My daughter is 2 and still doesn't sleep through the night for various reasons. I have always beaten myself up over this, and I have read everything under the sun about how to train your child, but nothing ever worked *consistently*. I agree, you're his mom, you can read him better than any book or specialist can.

Good luck!

If he's really hungry when he wakes up (and it sounds like this is a hunger issue rather than a sleep issue), it may be time to introduce solids (I'm pretty sure both of mine started at 5 months). He shouldn't drink any less formula during the day than he's already getting, just add solids to the routine. Start by adding cereal to one meal (we usually started with breakfast). Do it for about 3 days, then add another meal until he's having 3 meals a day (probably by the time he's around 6 months). You can introduce new foods every 3 or 4 days. I was also told to always give the bottle first since that's the most important source of nutrition. If he doesn't finish a bottle, don't offer solids.
If he's generally a good sleeper (and it sounds like he is), I bet you'll get a full night's sleep once he's getting enough to eat in the daylight hours.

All children have different sleeping patterns. My cousin has a 3 month old that has been sleeping thru the night since she was 6 weeks old. The key is less naps during the day. Between the hours of 8p and 10p which is when most ppl are getting ready for bed, try to keep your child up by playing w/ him, that way he gets real tired and then give him a bottle and your worries should be over. Also if you try to put him on a schedule to where this could happen every night for a week he will get used to same routine.My daughter is 3 and she can sleep up to 12 hours a night. It all depends on what activities I have planned for the day and if she misses part of her normal 3 hr. nap. Try a schedule and see what happens, its worked for me for last 2 years.. Good luck!!!

Sounds normal to me. My son didn't sleep through the night until he started kindergarten!!

To S. and All of the Ladies with Babies Who are Not Sleeping All Night Long: Some will disagree with me on this(especially breast feeding and attachment parenting supporters), and it is not my intention to start a dispute; but to offer a better way for those who are interested.

Most healthy babies who weigh over 12-15 pounds and consume enough calories during the day are capable of sleeping a 10- to 12-hour night. This means that you should be able to give your baby his last feeding around 7:00 PM and he should sleep until around 6:00 or 7:00 AM.

Many babies continue to wake through the night due to habit and not hunger. I have had over 200 "baby clients" and ALL of them have slept 10 hours or more by 16 weeks of age (adjusted for preemies) without crying it out.

S., you said it best when you said "I get better sleep (he is up less frequently) if I go ahead and feed him at 2:00. Of course that's true, but what you have to consider is whether you are willing to put up with 3-7 nights of not much sleep in exchange for a lifetime of predictably restful nights. In my opinion, it's a small price to pay.

I have a full plan of action that I can teach you to do with your baby, and I will consult with you along the way, answering any and all questions that you may have. If you would like to learn more about this plan, please send me a private email.

It saddens me to see moms who, like you, S., think that their baby needs to eat during the night because they eat every 3-4 hours during the day. This is simply not true for all babies, and I can teach you a better way.

For the love of all babies,
L.
Newborn Specialist, Parenting Coach, Infant Sleep Trainer
www.NannyForNewborns.com

While your dc is certainly old enough to take solids, as you found out, it doesn't necessarily work. No research has shown this to work and is it's generally thought to be an old wives tale despite the fact that some peds still recommend doing this. It's very normal for a child this age NOT to sleep through the night. I was reading in a sleep book (No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley) that sleeping through the night is considered by the medical profession to be only 6 hours and that what we consider sleeping through the night does not actually occur in most kids until 2.

I personally have found this to be the truth in our case. Chances are you dc may still be hungry. Mine was at that age. Their tummies are very small and empty rather quickly. If feeding helps, then by all means do it! We nurse so the easiest thing for us all was to co-sleep. It doesn't work for everyone I realize, but it helped us all sleep better.