HELP! My once sleepy baby isn't so sleepy anymore....

[Grendalynn]

My 3 month old Baby Boy, who used to sleep thru the night since birth, is now up 3 times..... What to do? Of my 3 boys, he is/was by far our best sleeper. So we are anxious to try things to get him back to the way it used to be before any habits form. I am back to work and have been gradually weening him from nursing. He has always had formula and breastmilk, so the introduction to a bottle and formula is a non-issue.

please do not turn this into a breastfeeding vs. formula feeding debate. I am simply looking for advice, previous experince and things like that. Please no bantering or name calling! I mean that in the nices way!!

 

[HelenePA]

3 months is right about the time for yet another lovley growth spurt..... Hopefully he'll be sleeping like a champ again with in the week!

 

[GEM]

Maybe he's starting some early teething that is making him hurt at night? It wouldn't be unheard of at 3 months. Or maybe an ear infection or something like that? Does he cry for a while, or does he go back to sleep pretty quickly?

I wish I could help you, but I really don't really know what to suggest. My now 3 year old never slept through the night until he was over two years old. He always woke frequently, but he nursed right back to sleep with absolutely no problem, so it wasn't really an issue. So, I'm just honestly not sure what to suggest to you if you aren't nursing him at night. Sorry!!

 

[Grendalynn]

Maybe he's starting some early teething that is making him hurt at night? It wouldn't be unheard of at 3 months. Or maybe an ear infection or something like that? Does he cry for a while, or does he go back to sleep pretty quickly?

I wish I could help you, but I really don't really know what to suggest. We never had that problem. My now 3 year old never slept through the night until he was over two years old. He always woke frequently, but he nursed right back to sleep with absolutely no problem. So, I'm just honestly not sure what to suggest to you if you aren't nursing him at night. Sorry!!

Nope - healthy as a horse! Felt for teeth bumps, but nothing yet. That was the first thing I checked. I am not completely "dried up" yet, I have even considered staring to nurse again at night. But not sure if that would coinfuse him that much more and/or just prolong the inevitable?!?!

Our two oldest boys NEVER slet thru the night til 2 either and sometimes still dont!!?? So when our baby came along who actually slet thru the night at days old, we knew we were lucky and wondered how long it would last. Well, now we know, and are eager to find a solution on just count our lucky stars that he slept so well for as long as he did!!

 

[CharmCityGirl]

It sounds like he's hit his 3 month growth spurt. He just needs to eat more often. Not much you can do about it. He'll have another one at six months.

 

[rkwells]

I agree, when my kids were babies they would go through the developmental growth spurts. They would be fussy for about 2 weeks and then settle back to their "old selves" Hang in there, things should get back to normal soon!

 

[Grendalynn]

I agree, when my kids were babies they would go through the developmental growth spurts. They would be fussy for about 2 weeks and then settle back to their "old selves" Hang in there, things should get back to normal soon!

You would think this was my/our first baby for Heaven's sake!! Being that my middle child is soon to be 4, I have too soon forgot all the little baby quirks! I sounds as though the growth spurt may be it - I just wonder if the timing with the end of nursing will effect it in any way - good or bad. Thanks so much for all the helpful info and maybe hope to see more!??

Laundry awaits!

 

[rkwells]

My kids are now 10 and 13 so it's been a long time for me! The only reason I remember these "fussy spells" is because they were so pronounced in my first child. At the time Dr. T Berry Brazelton was doing a Tv show called "Touchpoints". The information he provided was a god send as I was a VERY nervous 1st time mom with a colicky baby who never slept through the night! My second was the complete opposite who basically, like your youngest, slept through the night from day 1. By the way, My kids were completely breast fed, but I don't think as far as sleeping through the night goes that it makes a difference.
Dr. Brazelton's theory is "Just before a surge of rapid growth in any line of development, for a short time, the child’s behavior seems to fall apart. Parents can no longer rely on past accomplishments. The child often regresses in several areas and becomes difficult to understand. Parents lose their own balance and become alarmed."
He was also big on techniques to try and encourage your baby to develop ways to self comfort in order for them to go back to sleep on their own without parent intervention. I have never read any of his books but maybe taking a look at his "Touchpoints" books would be helpful! Best Wishes!

 

[kmk160]

UGH...I know how you feel.
My daughter, 9 months, went through this exact same thing at about 6 months.
It is SUPER hard, but we just had to (after about 4 nights of the waking) let her cry it out.
I didnt do that with my first but with her, I think the waking became habit.
She slept through the night, and the out of no where---up at periods all night long.
I would check her to be sure she was ok (no poopy diaper, feeling ok, etc..), but if she was ok I'd just give her the nuk and walk out of the room again.
After about 2 nights of fussing, she got the hint that nighttime was for sleeping and its been quiet since.
Best of luck to you, I know its a hard time.
It'll get easier!!!

 

[roxannex]

Do you swaddle him? We did and then stopped and then started again. It really helped him sleep. We did it until he was always getting out of the swaddle me. Other suggestions...white noise and sleeping in the swing. Our son slept in his baby papasan swing until he started sitting up. (I know. I know. Probably not the safest thing but he was sooo comfortable in it.) We would give him a bottle right before bedtime, and that seemed to help him sleep through the night.

If you've tried all of these things, well, I'm not sure what to tell you.

 

[NotSoNewMommy]

My son has always been a terrible sleeper so I can't really give sleep advice, but it is true that at 3 months babies go through a growth spurt. He also could be reaching new developmental milestones. Hope he goes back to his sleep self soon!! Good luck.

 

[minnieandtink]

bath,bottle,bed. routine and consistency.

 

[MSSANDRA]

Sound to me like a growth spurt too. Out liitle "bert" is also 3 mo old and we have found that when he is with his mom and she feeds him on a schedual during the day he wakes up several times at night. When MIL or I have him we feed him on demand and he never wakes up more than once during the night. Those little tummys can only hold so much at a time and when they hit a growth spurt they might need more feedings. I would me sure to feed him as much as he would take right before putting him down regardless of when he ate last. Might get a few more hours out of him!!!!

 

[lovinpoohbear]

Maybe an ear infection?? My ds was only a couple months old and started waking up and crying in the night all of a sudden. Even though he had no fever, he had a nasty ear infection. In the daytime he was fine! I guess when he was lying down, it was painful. So you may want to rule that out!

 

[monorailsilver]

I don't kwow what to tell you.

My 3rd child is 10 mo old & was the only one to sleep thru the night prior to 2 months of age. The other two didn't sleep thru until they were close to a year give or take.

I'd nurse just before 7pm & she sleep until 5 or 6 am. I thought I was in heaven (esp after dd#1 was a screamer for about 4 hours each night until she was 6 mo old).

Then when my now 10 mo old turned 6 mo old it was like something clicked in her body & she decided she'd only sleep an hour in her crib & then she was up screaming.

Which of course leads to a tired mommy & daddy so she ended up in our bed.

I am trying to get her back in her bed & some nights she stays & others she is up, most nights I should say she is up.

Right now she is asleep on me & I am waiting until she is passed out limp to put her in her bed (I did that 2 nights ago & she slept until 3am ).

I have been claiming it is teeth that have been bugging her as the 8th tooth just popped thru.

I even tried giving her cheese last week before I nursed her & she slept for about 5 hours in her crib & the next night she refused the cheese.

You are not alone in the sleep deprived state of mind.

 

[mouseketeer_mom]

Keep in mind that I have a fairly "back to basics" kind of family Dr.
Anywho, when my daughter went through this we tried everything for about a week. At three months she was hitting a growth spurt. At the DRs suggestion, we added a little rice cereal to her bottle at bedtime. Worked like a dream!

Good Luck!

 

[LaraK]

Wish I could help you, but I haven't slept in four and a half years. It does sound like a growth spurt. What sucks is that they continue for so long....my 30 month old is going through one now...he's getting "growing pains" in his legs....I haven't slept through the night in a week. hope it gets better.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

Just an idea.... introducing alittle teaspoon full of infant baby cereal my help with the waking up. I had to do that for Kendyll and she is sleeping through the night alot better. If you do the cereal thing....DO NOT make it thick. Make it on the watery side since babies are still learning to swallow. Also I have heard of parents adding cereal to the baby's last bottle before bed to tie them over.
It's just a thought. Good luck though

 

[WDWfor5]

Just an idea.... introducing alittle teaspoon full of infant baby cereal my help with the waking up. I had to do that for Kendyll and she is sleeping through the night alot better. If you do the cereal thing....DO NOT make it thick. Make it on the watery side since babies are still learning to swallow. Also I have heard of parents adding cereal to the baby's last bottle before bed to tie them over.
It's just a thought. Good luck though

Please make sure to ask your doctor before you do this - solids (including cereal) are not reccomended until 5-6 months old by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Also, just as a thought since you mentioned you just went back to work - could it be he wants more time with his mommy and is waking up when you're home? I've known moms who were breastfeeding say that their little ones started eating less from the bottle during the day and nursing more at night since they prefered to nurse. Unless you're totally against continuing to breastfeed part time, you could try nursing him at night more frequently - it may solve all the problems at once - he'll be getting more food so if it's a growth spurt he'll sleep better/grow, you'll get more sleep that way especially if you cosleep for part of the night and he'll go to sleep more easily since he'll have that extra closeness with you.

I know you didn't want any comments about the nursing/bottle issue, but I wanted to let you know that you can continue to do both for as long as you both want to. He'll continue to get some of the health benefits and hopefully sleep better in the process.

Good luck!

 

[Grendalynn]

Please make sure to ask your doctor before you do this - solids (including cereal) are not reccomended until 5-6 months old by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Also, just as a thought since you mentioned you just went back to work - could it be he wants more time with his mommy and is waking up when you're home? I've known moms who were breastfeeding say that their little ones started eating less from the bottle during the day and nursing more at night since they prefered to nurse. Unless you're totally against continuing to breastfeed part time, you could try nursing him at night more frequently - it may solve all the problems at once - he'll be getting more food so if it's a growth spurt he'll sleep better/grow, you'll get more sleep that way especially if you cosleep for part of the night and he'll go to sleep more easily since he'll have that extra closeness with you.

I know you didn't want any comments about the nursing/bottle issue, but I wanted to let you know that you can continue to do both for as long as you both want to. He'll continue to get some of the health benefits and hopefully sleep better in the process.

Good luck!

Hi! Not quite sure what to think about the whole seperation anxiety thing, as I am back to work, however, I am able to take dear son with me on daily basis. Granted I do work a 4 day week 9 to 6. however I bring the bambino with me 3 of those days....our/his schedule coulg be out of whack.... I will try amything once.........