4 Month Old Not Sleeping After Sleeping Through the Night

I know this is number 6 and I'm embarassed to even be attempting to give you advice since I'm on number 1. My son had ear infections really bad and he also had acid reflux. I know both happen a lot less in breastfed babies, so it may be neither one. But my son started acting the same way when his ear infections started. Ben doesn't get fevers with his ears, so it is hard for us to tell. Anyway, just an idea.

Hello, this isn't really a solution but my son slept throught the night almost immediately too. Then at about 4 months, he just stopped. I tried all the other advice from parents and doctor's but none of it worked. He is also breastfed and not a picky eater so he eats a lot of other food as well. He is now 13 months, still breastfed with regular milk at daycare and table food and he just started sleeping through the night about 4 days a week. Every child is different and you might have to be very tired for a little while. I consider myself lucky because when I asked my Dr for advice, he gave me a ton due to his 2 year old daughter still not sleeping through the night.

growth spurts happen all the time, maybe this is one? It was at around 4 months old that my daughter's sleeping habits severely changed and would wake up quite often at night.

Some phases last longer than others. One book that helped me to prolong her sleep at night was "The No Cry Sleep Solution" -- its a great book for a breastfeeding mom, particularly if you're also co-sleeping. Although it has ideas for non-cosleeping moms, too.

Good luck

Could be early teething. Have you started your period? That seemed to affect some of my kids. I guess the milk tastes different, due to hormones.

Does she have any evidence of a cold? That could be the problem. Or has anything stressful been happening in your home that might affect her. She may be nursing for security, not nutrition.

Definitely contact Le Leche League. They were enormously helpful to me when I had nursing difficulties.

Hi D.,

Contact your local La Leche League consultant at

www.llli.org

Hope this helps. D.

Very likely could be teething, or a growth spurt. Or even a mixture of both.

My son started sleeping thru the night at about 5 months. Then at about 8 months he started waking every 1-2 hrs. That lasted for almost a week, then 3 teeth popped thru. Almost all on the same day. A few weeks later, he did it again, but it only lasted a couple days. That time he put on almost a pound the next week. We just went thru one more bout around a week ago, and another tooth cut thru with 2 more 'right there'.

What I have been told is, 'When it comes to babies, forget you have any other kids. You can draw patience from the others, but expect every kid to be completely different from any you had before.'

Hi D.,

Wow - 6th baby, i'm impressed. I just had my 4th a few months back. On the site there is a review of a product called the Magic Sleepsuit created by the Baby Merlin Company, a local company. Check it out, sounds like just what you need. Good luck