Good Sleeper ... Not So Much Anymore

A baby goes through growth-spurts every few weeks or typically every 3 months.

I suspect your baby is going through a growth spurt & is hungry. At these times, they WILL get hungrier and need to feed more. You need to feed him more at these times, as needed, and on demand if you are nursing. This is normal. It is a developmental phase.

Later, other phases will occur. As well as teething. All of these developmental "phases" occur and then will pass. It WILL affect their sleep patterns.

A baby's sleep is NOT static. It will change. Like adults, we don't always sleep well, nor do we have the same pattern of sleep like when we were kids.

I would NOT try to "stop" feeding him... don't hold back on feedings. If he is hungry, and growing, he needs to feed.

There is a great book "What To Expect The First Year" by Arlene Eisenberg. It is a very helpful resource, and will detail what to expect per a baby's development month by month.
A baby grows and changes a lot every month, and many things can impact them. Development is not exclusively occurring separately....many times, these developmental changes occurs all at the SAME time... physical, cognitive, and physiologically. Their immune system is not even fully developed yet, until 2 years old. Their internal organs, digestive system and nervous system is also STILL developing, as well as their brains.

Another good book is: "Secrets of The Baby Whisperer- how to calm,connect, and communicate with your baby" By Tracy Hogg.

What you are experiencing is normal. No worries. You want your baby to have enough intake, to make sure they are growing and gaining weight appropriately.

Take care and good luck,
~Susan
www.cafepress.com/littlegoogoo

the answer is, (when your to tired and lazy to get up,and you don't mind starving him.

It is probably just a growth spurt and will end on its own. Hopefully you are able to nap in the day?

Are you nursing? If you are, I found giving a bottle for the late feeding and mixing formula with breast milk helps.

You must be exhausted. My first did that every two-hour bit for the first four months. I read the other posts and agree that it's probably a phase, but I also wanted to add that developmentally, most healthy babies are capable of sleeping through the night (by that I mean 8 hours straight) by three months. Because my first was very difficult and now I have three total I've had a lot of practice with this.

My advice would be to set a consistant plan for yourself. What worked for me was to decide before-hand which feeding to cut out (only one at a time). Then I'd feed her really well so that I'd know she wasn't starving. When she woke up two hours later (or 1 1/2 hours sometimes) I would go in, make sure she was okay by patting her back and singing to her. Then I would leave the room. Her screams would intensify at this point since I didn't give her what she wanted. I had a set amount of time I would wait (usually the very longest amount of time I could stand - like 8 screaming minutes) and then repeat (Do NOT cave at this point or its a wasted effort!). Wait a bit longer the next time before going back in, then repeat (Do NOT cave!) Continue extending the amount of time between your responses to the crying, but be consistant with your response. The message you want to send is "I love you. It is not time to eat, it is time to sleep." Wait as long as you can stand it before going back in and don't go back in at all once the crying stops (get some sleep while you can). Once the crying has stopped (most babies go back to sleep), then you have accomplished your goal. At the next start of crying, respond IMMEDIATELY with food. Although you'll probably later cut out this feeding too, wait a few days before cutting another feeding. Babies are so sensitive to our messages that it will probably only take a few days (maybe as little as two nights) to teach your baby what time it is, but consistancy is the key. When your little one starts sleeping longer you can make a new plan depending on your preferences and his stomache clock. You'll probably have to continue to do a midnight or early morning feeding for a time (as long as you both feel it's necessary. By using a consistant response, you're sending your baby a clear message that will not only help you train yourself, but will also teach your son self-comforting - valuable skills that will reward you both for years to come. My three kids (ages 18 months to 5 years) all go to bed between 6:30-7pm (although later in the summertime) and get up between 6:30-7am. They are happier, more rested and calmer kids when I'm consistant and that's made us all a lot happier! Best of luck!

Babies change sleep patterns constantly. My oldest was a great sleeper, my second was a tempermental sleeper, and my youngest is 2 and a half and still wakes in the middle of the night. I do agree that your baby will move past this. When he is growing he will sleep more and then turn around and sleep less. One thing I found with both of my sons is that they were not waking so much for food but waking because they needed to suckle. I was being used as a pacifier, which gets old. Remember to take deep breaths, and try your best to nap when he does. Also, try to feed and change him before you go to bed. This usually gives you a little bit to get sleep before the waking starts, and if all else fails supplement breastmilk with formula, and when he is older supplement night feedings with cereal.I wish you the best.

Hi H.

Don't worry babies go through growth spurts like the previous message pointed out and this will probably happen again at 6 and 9 months and possibly during teething.

My son is 7 1/2 months old and he was sleeping great but the last couple of weeks he started waking up 1-2 night. He was teething. You just have to be there for them during this growth spurts and make sure they are fed when hungry

Don't worry this will probably only last a couple of weeks.
Their little bodies are growing and at certain points during their growth they need a lot of extra nourishment.
Make sure he gets all of the nourishment he needs.