Sleep HELP!!! Wanted
My 6 month old doesn't sleep well at all.
Here's the scenario: He takes two naps a day for 1-2 hours and then is up from 5pm until he goes down at night at 8. He is eating 4 tablespoons of cereal with fruit and veg at night as well as nursing right before I put him down. He goes right to sleep, but then wakes up every hour (sometimes twice, or more an hour).
I have tried letting him cry (for up to 30 minutes), shhhing him, rubbing his belly - anything to not pick him up. He's not wet or dirty and shouldn't be hungry. When I pick him up, he goes right to sleep, I put him down, he cries. I have done this (pick up/put down) for over an hour (until we are both exhausted and he falls asleep). But then for him to wake up again in an hour or so and we play the game all over again. He was a great sleeper until about 3 months ago...
I am at a loss, any suggestions?
Here's the scenario: He takes two naps a day for 1-2 hours and then is up from 5pm until he goes down at night at 8. He is eating 4 tablespoons of cereal with fruit and veg at night as well as nursing right before I put him down. He goes right to sleep, but then wakes up every hour (sometimes twice, or more an hour).
I have tried letting him cry (for up to 30 minutes), shhhing him, rubbing his belly - anything to not pick him up. He's not wet or dirty and shouldn't be hungry. When I pick him up, he goes right to sleep, I put him down, he cries. I have done this (pick up/put down) for over an hour (until we are both exhausted and he falls asleep). But then for him to wake up again in an hour or so and we play the game all over again. He was a great sleeper until about 3 months ago...
I am at a loss, any suggestions?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Amy on -
I'm no help, but I feel for you. I have a 10 week old. I tried putting her in her crib (in her room) instead of in her bassinet by my bed for the first time last night. We both need to sleep better. She did fine with it, but I wasn't quite ready to take that plunge. So, we're both tired. I feel your pain!
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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Smith on -
I found two things helpful. First, I put a flannel or fleece blanket on top of the sheet in the crib. That way when you put the baby down it's not the shock of the cold sheet and they stay asleep. Second, I spent $5 at Wal-Mart for a sleep positioner. It's basically two bumpers - one for left and right sides. You place the baby down between the bumpers and they maintain a nice snuggly, secure feeling. Which reminds me of one more thing...are you swaddling with a blanket? My kids always liked to be wrapped up.
Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Monica on -
When my daughter was 2 months I had to go back to work and she was not sleeping through the night. We put a nice soft blanket on top of the sheet and placed a heating pad on her bed/bassinet about 15-30 minutes before we were going to put her to bed. Right before we put her in we took the heating pad out so the bed was nice and warm. She also slept in the Halo sleep sack to keep her nice and snug all night long. So I think that helped her sleep long nights and at 2 years old, she still sleeps all night and loves sleeping! He could be teething and maybe that's making him stay up. I have also heard of white noise being used to keep children to sleep as some children don't like a quiet room. Good luck and hopefully things turn around.
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Permalink Reply by Admomistrator on -
My daughter, who is 6, still goes through odd sleeps patterns - it's usually tied to brain developmental issues. They start learning a new skill and their brain gets very active.
I tried music. I had a CD of "sleepy time" music and we established a routine. I would nurse, with the music on, in our rocking chair. When she was done, we'd continue to rock for a few minutes and then I would put her in the crib. I'd stay in the room with her. By the time the CD was done, usually she was asleep.
The whole process took about 45 minutes.
Also, at this time of year, I would dress her in a sleep sack - so she wouldn't face the shock of a cold bed. These things are great.
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Permalink Reply by Carol Peterson on -
You may want to read the book The No Cry Sleep Solution. I used the techniques in this book to help my then 3 month old establish better sleep patterns, as he woke up every hour as well. I think the Blasco Library has it. It sounds like he is going to bed early enough, but is ending up sleep deprived from waking up too much. Also, is he getting teeth?
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Permalink Reply by Tina on
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My daughter was (and still is to some extent) a difficult sleeper. The swaddle really made all the difference for her. I suggest watching the video called "the best baby on the block". It is meant for younger babies, but we started it with my daughter at 3 months and she finally began to sleep. I also nursed her and the transition is what got to her. I would swaddle her tight, nurse her and then could lay her down without waking her up.
Good Luck!
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on -
My daughter was a little older when we went through this, eight or nine months. Our pediatrician told us to leave her cry for up to 15 minutes before we went in to just pat her on her back, say a few soothing words, then let her cry another 15 minutes. And so on. I didn't make it through the first five minutes. I couldn't stand (and still can't) the sound of my baby crying, and if I could soothe her by picking her up, that's what would happen.
One night my husband decided he needed to give the doctor's advice a fair shot. He sent me to his "man cave" in the basement to watch TV, so I couldn't hear her if she cried. He put her down, and after crying only five minutes, she was asleep. He did it by himself (with me banished to the basement) for more than a week, then she seemed to be in a better habit, so when I put her to bed, she'd fuss less than a minute, then she'd fall asleep.
I know that every child is so different, but ask your husband to try it and see how it goes. Make sure he's sleepy, but still awake when he goes to bed...the baby that is, not your husband ;)
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Permalink Reply by Amy on -
Thank you all for your replies! I am sure that teething is a part of it. Last night was a little better, I swaddled him in "the swaddler" and he seemed to sleep better only waking up a few times. Or maybe he was just exhausted from the night before of waking up every hour... who knows :) I sure needed more sleep!
Anyway. Thank you all for your advice and kind words.
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