How well does/did your baby sleep at night?

[Grendalynn]

Being that is is the Disney for Families thread, I am looking for some much needed advice or suggestions. Our Baby Boy, almost 5 months, is not sleeping so well at night these days. At first we were so elated that he was a sleeper (First 2 boys werent the best sleepers!!). Straight from the hospital DS#3 would sleep from about 10-3 or 3;30. Thsi was a nice span. Then we stopped nursing him and things fell by the wayside. Even still with ceral and fruit/veggies, thinking a full belly of solid food would be a help, he is up every hour to an hour and a half. And when he wakes all he want is a bottle.

Any ideas out there how to feed him or soothe him back to sleep, or so that he sleeps better and longer? Thanks o so much - I am willing to try about anything!

 

[Steph9072]

Sorry I can't be any help, because my two-year-old son still Why ? I have not a single clue. I have done and not done everything that I have been suggeted to do by either other Moms & my ped. NOTHING has worked. We have tried moving bedtime back & shortening nap time no success. We have tried letting him stay in bed he will strip the bed then sing and yell until everyone is up. You name it I have tried it. I have not had a full night sleep in about 2 1/2 years. I keep praying he will grow out of it. I keep saying maybe after this or after that. So now I am hoping that once his molars come in and he is done teething for a bit maybe we can get him sleeping through.

So I too would love any you all may have!

TIA

 

[Mouse House Mama]

He's probably having a growth spurt and/or since you used to nurse him he is looking for something to soothe him. He'll grow out of it. Don't worry.

 

[alliemanningsc]

Well....my son who is 13 months has only slept through the night less than 5 times. So I too know how sleep deprived you are. He doesn't even want to sleep in his crib, he will only sleep in his swing, which he is getting wayyyy too big for. We though sleeping with us would help, but no, he tosses and turns non stop at night. I would love to learn the magic trick. Nothing has worked with us so far. And he too only wakes up to eat(bottle). We don't have to do anything else anymore besides feed him, that's all it takes and he is out for the rest of the night. He usually only gets up once a night, which isn't too bad.

Maybe someone will lend us some helpful tips.
Allie

 

[MrsBanks]

My DS (now 5) slept through the night by the time he was 3 mos old - my DD (now 3) was about 7 mos old when one night I had enough (I really thought I was going to crack up) and just let her cry it out, it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do - I think I would have done things differently now, I've learned to be more patient - they were both nursed "on demand" until 1 month old and on our peds advice I then put them on a 3 hour schedule with the last feeding at about 11:30 PM and that was it til about 4:30 AM - I guess it worked for my son but not DD - every child is different

Now they both go to bed at 7 PM and don't get up til 7 AM (they don't nap)

 

[hvivona]

My daughter started sleeping through the night when I began feeding her cereal right before bed. This worked for a while, but then she started getting up again. A few weeks after that she got a cold and I put a cool mist humidifier in her room and she magically started sleeping through the night again. I really think it was the "white noise" from the humidifier that soothed her to sleep. Well, she is now 6.5 years old and still sleeps with a humdifier in her room. Give it a try, this may work for your son.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

It took our son a while to get to the point of sleeping through the night but when he did at around 3 or 4 months we were grateful. Then all of a sudden at around 13 months he became a bedtime terror, crying the second he touched the crib, waking up during the night, and waking up hours earlier than usual. We were at our wits end (since we had been spoiled by him sleeping through the night) that even though I swore I'd never let him CIO I bought Dr. Ferber's book and we gave it a try. I guess it is a kinder, gentler CIO method than his first book. It took longer than the cases profiled in his book but after about 1 week we started to see improvement and it took about 3-4 weeks until he was somewhat back to normal and now he is doing great again. I'd check it out since it addresses all sorts of sleeping problems and helps you work through them. Good luck!

 

[sdoll]

Oh I am one of the lucky moms. My son is a great sleeper he gets it from me. He takes a 3 hour nap during the day and sleeps from 7:30pm -9am each morning. I totally agree the the previous poster who suggested a white noise for his room. We keep a small noisy fan in his room and he sleeps much better with that on than if he does not have it. We now pack it in our suitcases where ever we go. Good luck. I am praying our next one spoils us as well

 

[TheDizMom]

My DS started out as a terrible sleeper. He had terrible colic and gas problems. I could never get him to sleep for very long, even during the day. At about 4 months he was still not sleeping through the night. I ended up doing 2 things. I Ferberized him so he could learn to sooth himself to sleep and I began putting him to sleep on his stomach to enable him to get the gas out. We now this is not the accepted way to have a baby sleep but out doctor told us to go ahead if it was enabling him to sleep better. The Ferber method took about 2 weeks, but it worked to as he was able to settle himself at nap time and night time if he woke up. I know most people wouldn't agree with our methods but it worked for him and he was a fabulous sleeper from there on out.

Our DD was another story completely. She was a preemie and did nothing but sleep for 2 months and had to be woken every three hours round the clock for feedings. I think this just screwed her up because once she hit about 3 months she would just never sleep through the night and she still at a month shy of 6 wakes up during the night crying for me or her dad several nights a month.

I think your son probably needs to learn how to sooth himself back to sleep if he wakes up during the night and the bottle right now is his method of doing that. You could try Ferber's method, although it can be a little tough to handle at first, but if you stick with it he will learn to get himself back to sleep. If you don't want to try that, try giving him a bottle right before bed in his darkened room. Then if he wakes up at night wanting one start by gradually watering it down until it's just water. After a while he won't likely want it if it's just water. You could try a pacifier in case it's a sucking thing instead of a hungry thing, or a blankie. Unfortunately it could just be that number 3 isn't going to sleep like his brothers and you will just have to work with it. Good luck. I sympatize completely.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I'm sorry but I am not a fan of CIO. If it worked for you then great but personally I think it's cruel. Nothing personal but that is my opinion. Recent studies have also shown that it is not good for babies as it raises their stress level among other things. I know many people think a super full belly will make a baby sleep, but you mentioned that since you stopped nursing his sleep habits have changed. Food is much harder to digest than breastmilk. It is possible that maybe he is having a bit of agita (sp?) that is waking him up. It takes a bit to get used to solids and at almost 5 months he is a little young for cereal, fruits, and veggies. Usually that's when you start just cereal. So maybe his belly is a little uncomfortable. Just a thought. I also wanted to add that personally I don't know anyone who has a 5 month old who sleeps through the night. At that age waking is common and usually neccesary because they are hungry. I know it can be a challenge to wake all night long especially when you have other children who will be awake all day so naps aren't a possibility for Mom. Hang in there. This too shall pass.

 

[Liltx]

I would think the cereal could be the cause. Maybe his belly isn't ready for it? There are studies that say it doesn't help them sleep through the night anyway. There are not many calories in solid foods but tons in formula. I would stick to mainly formula at night.

I Baby Wised my babies so they never had to CIO. Your son is still too young for that but maybe in a few months you could try it. Age appropriate stress is actually a good thing, not making them get overly upset but a little crying is not harmful.
Are you putting him down awake? Start at naptimes if not. And make sure not to feed to sleep. This can become a major crutch.
I know tons of babies who slept through the night by 12 weeks so it is very possible and you said he was doing it before.These were babies are on a flexible schedule. My cousins who slept with their babies still have preschoolers who don't sleep though the night.
It might just be a growth spurt which should last only a week.
I hope you find the answer. Sleep is crucial for baby's brain development and your well being too.

Monica

 

[mericletwins]

I don't have much practical advice, but I feel your pain. I had twins and one started sleeping through the night at one year and the other started sleeping through the night the second night after our third child came home fromthe hospital. Our dear third child started sleeping through the night somewhere about 22 months! I went a little more than three solid years with out sleeping through the night!

 

[TENIA66]

I have three children: dd12, DS7, DS2

DD 12 SLEPT THRU THE NIGHT FROM 2 WKS ON

DS7 DID NOT SLEEP MORE THAN ONE TO TWO HOURS AT A TIME FOR TWO WHOLE YEARS......LITERALLY ALMOST KILLED MOMMY FROM EXHAUSTION

DS 2 ALMOST DID THE SAME THING AS DS 7 BUT GOT THE CROUP DEVELOPED SEVERE BREATHING PROBLEMS AND THEY FOUND A BIRTH DEFECT IN HIS AIRWAY. WHEN HE WOULD LIE FLAT A FLAP OF SCAR TISSUE WOULD LITERALLY SHUT OFF HIS AIRWAY, IT WAS CORRECTED, HE'S SLEPT EVER SINCE AT LEAST A FULL 8 HOURS.

THINGS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE FOR SLEEPING WITH MY KIDS:

BLANKET SLEEPERS SO NO POSITION WAS MAKING THEM COLD BY MOVING THE COVERS OFF

A SMALL FAN ON LOW THE NOISE SEEMED TO HELP AND MADE ME LESS CRAZY ABOUT SIDS

ELEVATING THE ENTIRE HEAD OF THEIR SLEEPING CRIB/BASINETT WITH A 2 INCH SQUARE BLOCK OF WOOD UNDER THE LEGS OF THE BED

BABY EINSTIEN TAPES PLAYING CONTINUOUSLY

USE OF A DECONGESTANT AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A COLD TIL THE LAST SIGN TO KEEP THE MUCUS FROM BACKING UP IN THEIR EARS

MOST OTHER MOTHERS HAD LUCK WITH BENEDRYL FOR 7 DAYS OR SO TO BREAK THE WAKE HUNGRY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT THING BUT MY KIDS WERE WIRED ON BENEDRYL SO NOT FOR US

CONVERTING THE MILK BA BA AT THE RIGHT AGE OF COURSE TO A WATER BA BA THEN NO BA BA AT ALL...BREASTFEEDING FOR US NEVER WENT PAST 6 TO 8 WKS

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU

MY DOCTOR SAID THAT LACK OF SLEEP FOR MOMMY WILL MAKE MOMMY NEUROTIC AND I DID ALMOST DIE FROM A YEAST INFECTION WHICH JUST TOOK OVER MY BODY DUE TO EXHAUSTION. TAKE CARE OF MOMMY TOO.................

 

[ApolloSaturnV]

My Ped avised me to wait 20 minutes before going in if my baby were to wake in the night. I know, my reaction initially was the same as yours is right now. But if your baby wakes in the night, chances are he will go back to sleep BEFORE the 20 minutes is over.

Here's what you do, and yes, it has worked for me. My baby was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks!

1. Baby wakes in the night and cries.
2. Wait. Don't go in, (assuming he is in his own room).
3. Either he wil go back to sleep before the 20 minutes is up, or
4. Go in, speak softly, DO NOT pick him up out of the crib! Rub his back while speaking softly for no more than one minute, then leave.
5. Within two nights, (three at the very most), your baby will be sleeping through the night.

Really. My Ped advised he is not hungry when he wakes, it's a habit. Quick and easy to break.

 

[laughinplace199]

Maybe your DS & my DS know each other !

No advice here, but I just wanted to say you're not alone. My DS is 4 months this week. He used to sleep for 5-6 hours at night. For the past few nights, he has been waking up a lot. If I pick him up, he'll fall back to sleep in my arms. But when I put him back in the crib, he wakes up again and cries. I have a DD who is 7 and a DS who is 5 and I don't recall if they did this. They probably did, but my "Mommy brain" forgets a lot these days. I just keep telling myself that it's just a phase, but that doesn't help at 3:00 AM when I'm exhausted. DS has his 4 month checkup tomorrow. If his ped has any great advice, I'll let you know.

 

[sunlver]

Sorry you are going through this. No real advice, just here to sympathize. I have 3 kids, my older two slept really well. It took my oldest 14 months where he started sleeping all night every night. My 2nd child was the best sleeper ever, and even at the age of 7 she sleeps well still, never one problem. Then comes baby number 3...She is 2 1/2 and is a HORRIBLE sleeper. She was raised and parented the same as the other two, but obviously she didnt read the section on sleeping throught the night (in the parents manual of course )
Anyways, at 2 1/2 she still doesnt sleep every night all night long. Its so darn frustrating and exhausting. I am not a big fan of CIO either. We tried when she was younger, and all it did was make her and me and my husband miserable. About 2 months ago, she was going through a habit of getting up 5 minutes after she went to sleep. I was getting annoyed with it, and let her try to settle herself..Well she then started climbing out of her crib to find me. She wasnt having any of that being left alone business. That got her in a big girl bed quicker then we were expecting. Even now we never know how she will sleep. Some nights she goes to bed and we dont hear from her. Other nights she goes to bed easy, and then I find her at my side of the bed at 3am (Let me we have this extra sitting room inside the master bedroom, with its own door)So when she awakes during the night she is not wandering the hallways to find me.
We do the same routine every night, but its always a crap shoot.When she gets up during the night we let her sleep with us. I firmly say, go lay down and go to sleep, and I hear a little cute voice saying "Ok" and she goes to sleep. If I try to make her go back to her own bed there is a lot fussing and crying going on. This way we all get back to sleep sooner. Sleeping in our bed is not what we had planned, but after 2 1/2 yrs of horrible sleeping, we just all want to get back to sleep.
Sorry I have no words of wisdom for you..just know I do understand.

 

[Disney Ron]

FYI, my doctor advised me this week to start DS on cereal, veggies and fruits, keep his formula intake the same.

My DS was doing 4 hour stretchs since he came home from the hospital till about three months. Lately he been stretching it even longer, sometimes 5-8 hours at a time. (I started him on cereal about 3 weeks ago.)

Here is what we do:
Music softly plays, blanket sleeper, I rock him during his last formula bottle of the night. He has been eating rice cereal with a fruit at his 8 am & 4 pm feeding.

Good luck keep us posted.
Mrs. Disney Ron

 

[tjlovespooh]

Our Baby Boy, almost 5 months, is not sleeping so well at night these days. At first we were so elated that he was a sleeper (First 2 boys werent the best sleepers!!).

Just sending you a little support from someone who has been there and who is STILL there DS too slept well for the first 5 months and ever since he has been a terrible sleeper. He is 15mo and still sleeps horribly. I've tried the "Sleep Lady" approach and it just didn't "fit" DS. He's just a very alert baby. I honestly believe that his mind and body are too active to let him sleep soundly. I've accepted this as a simple, although difficult, fact of life. DH and I take things one night at a time. Good luck and hopefully your little one will soon sleep better than mine does Hang in there and you're not alone

 

[rt2dz]

I'm not sure how much help I can be.

DS6 slept through the night before he was a month old. You could set a clock to him. He's still a 8 pm- 8 am sleeper for the most part.

Then came DS3. He still doesn't sleep through the night. It really isn't his fault though; he has respitory issues that contribute to his problems.

DS 17 months slept through the night at 7 months. I just could not keep getting up. I trained him to sleep. He nursed until 14 1/2 months. One of the things I did was to stop nursing at night, every other time. He had sucking issues (different issue), so he had to nurse if he wasn't eating solids. I sent DH in to soothe him, play some soft music we had set up and rock him. What we were basically doing was postponing his eating. That helped extend the time before he needed to eat again. We just kept doing this until there was only one wake time. DH would go in and do whatever needed to be done and when he was no longer expecting the snack-n-snooze at all, he decided to let him cry it out. He set it at a 15 minute limit (our pedi said up to 20 would be ok). It took 12 minutes night one. 9 minutes night two. And 3 minutes night three. And, yes, I really did time and record it in a journal. Now the only time he wakes at night is when he is sick or teething.

ETA--make sure his last nap ends 4 hours prior to bed time!! He might be getting too much sleep during the day.

 

[sskem96]

My dd10 didn't sleep through the night for over 7 YEARS, so I totally feel your pain. When dd7 came along, I was much stricter with routine and she's always been a good sleeper, started sleeping through the night at 2-1/2 mos.

Babies' bodies know how many calories they require for growth, and if they're not getting enough during the day, their body will cue them to eat more at night. Try more frequent feedings during the day so the daily caloric intake is taken care of during waking hours. By adding solids, you may have decreased the amount of calories he's taking during the day. Even at the meal times that he's getting solids, give him a bottle too.

Once you know he's getting enough calories during the day, don't feel obligated to give the bottle during the night. Will he take a pacifier? Try to substitute a pacifier during the night so you don't have to pick him up at all. It's best to just stroke their temple area and sing or talk quietly to soothe them. If you have trouble getting rid of the bottle during the night, try diluting the formula more and more each night til it's just water (though he shouldn't get much plain water yet at this age) just an ounce or so to get him calmed down. Once it's just water, they generally lose interest and decide it's not worth waking up for.

Sometimes when babies have a stomach ache, they mistake the pain for hunger pain and try to insist on eating. Try a warm blanket on the tummy (fluff a receiving blanket in the dryer for a few minutes, then fold it and put it inside his sleeper). He may be having some digestion issues from his change in diet since the problem started after he quit nursing.

If you are going to let him cry it out, always go peek in on him when he first starts crying to make sure everything looks ok. If you let him cry for several minutes before checking, and then when you finally do go see what the problem is you discover that he's laying in a pool of vomit or an explosive poo diaper, then you really will feel like a bad parent and nobody wants that.