R.C. asks from Kingwood, TX on April 21, 2009
7 Month Old Wide Awake at All Hours of the Night!
About a week ago my 7 month old son started waking up in the middle of the night and he is wide awake, ready to play and he doesn't go back to sleep for several hours. Before all this happened he would wake up 2 or 3 times in the night for a bottle but as soon as he would drink it he would roll over and go back to sleep. Last night he went to bed and woke up around 12:40 and was wide awake and didn't go back to sleep until 4am, he only slept for 2 hours and was back up wide awake. So far today he has only taken 1 nap and it was only for 40 min. He has 1 tooth that has popped though and it looks like the other bottom one is trying to come out, I've tried everything for teething and nothing seems to be helping him. Not sure if it's his teeth or something else making him wake up and want to play, all I know is it's starting to get to me, I need some sleep bad! Any suggestions?
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S.O. answers from San Antonio on April 22, 2009
Don't let daytime naps go too long even when you know he didn't sleep well the night before. He needs to get back on routine. It probably has to do with teething as well as with developmental change. He wakes up and wants to play. Don't go in the room. Keep it dark. No toys or distractions around the bed. Try wrapping him up (swaddling) like a newborn. And, if need be, let him cry.
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L.S. answers from Houston on April 22, 2009
Mine are like this when teething too. Are you keeping lights on, or sitting up with him?
I will go in, do the norm and feed or whatever you do for him, and then I would leave. Keep the lights out and let him know that it is bedtime. Note: I wouldn't leave if he was screaming in pain. If he is just up, I would turn on a mobile or whatever he has to soothe him, maybe music, and leave the room. Mine usually will chatter and roll around, then they are out after about 15 min. If I stay in the room however, it is more like a few hours.
Hope that helps.. I know it can make a person crazy having no sleep.. just repeat to yourself.. this too shall pass. My mommy mantra. :)
L.A. answers from Austin on April 21, 2009
I bet you are correct and the teething is interrupting his sleeping. There are tablets that are all natural that may help..
Notice this posting just a few weeks ago..Hers was about sleeping and teething..
Mary H
Wed. Mar. 11, 2009
Remember when you get up in the middle of the night. Try not to speak with your child and try to do everything (changing diaper and feeding)in the dark to keep him from totally waking up. Does he take a pacifier? Maybe hand him a cold teether when you lay him back down...
A.L. answers from Houston on April 22, 2009
I agree that it's probably the teething. When my kids were babies, we always had sleep issues when a tooth was coming in. However, my advice is to be really careful when you're with the baby in the middle of the night. Just like the advice above, be extremely quiet, keep the lights low (I just used a nightlight) and we also have a fan (just for noise) in the room. My kids have all been awesome sleepers -- but I do have to recommend an excellent book called 'Secrets of the Baby Whisperer' by Traci Hogg. It's EXCELLENT and can help you work through all kinds of baby issues and even through the toddler years too. It's GREAT and was a HUGE lifesaver for me.
B.W. answers from San Antonio on April 22, 2009
R. C,
Unless it is caused from teething, you are probably the proud parent of a "Strong-Willed Child". My first born was like that. He didn't like sleep. He had us trained to stay up until 2:30 a.m. and it was really not working for us. After reading Dr. Dobson's book, The Strong-Willed Child, we learned how to deal with him. He would throw a temper tantrum and vomit on demand all over his bed. He knew this would buy him some time, a bath, some cuddling, etc. He used it whenever he wanted. The book had some great advice. We used it and it worked. We had to develop a bedroom routine and if he threw up, we let him sleep in it. I know it sounds mean, but it worked. That was the last time he did it.
However, if he is hungry or teething, you will need to deal with the need. For teething, I used Benzodent. It is made for denture wearers. It worked great. If it is hunger, maybe you need to feed him something that stays with him. I remember my Mom mixing a bottle with meat, milk, cereal, & fruit and putting a big hole in the nipple. My Brother was over 9 lbs. when he was born and he needed more substantial meals to sleep thru the night. They have infafeeders now that accomplishes the same thing.
Whatever you do, do not let him get in the habit of mixing up his days & nights. You need your sleep and he needs to live according to the family's schedule. I hope this helps.
B.
S.O. answers from San Antonio on April 22, 2009
Don't let daytime naps go too long even when you know he didn't sleep well the night before. He needs to get back on routine. It probably has to do with teething as well as with developmental change. He wakes up and wants to play. Don't go in the room. Keep it dark. No toys or distractions around the bed. Try wrapping him up (swaddling) like a newborn. And, if need be, let him cry.
J.G. answers from Sherman on April 22, 2009
it may be his teeth but even if it is not he still needs to sleep and so do you. does he sleep in a crib? if so, just let him play and you get some rest..keep a monitor in his room so if he gets upset you will know, meanwhile he can play or whatever and he caint hurt himself or get into anything in the crib...
A.B. answers from Houston on April 22, 2009
Teething = wakeful baby! I know from experience! Have you tried to give him some infants Motrin about 30 minutes before bed. Then if he wakes up, and it has been more than 4 hours, give a dose of Tylenol. Check with his doctor first, though! Good luck!
J.T. answers from Victoria on April 22, 2009
do you have a noise maker/white noise in his room. also dim lighting helps. is he full when he goes to bed? good luck.
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