I have a 10- almost 11 month old little boy. He's absolutly wonderful, calm and playful. He's a good eater, drinks lots and plays alot. However, he still does not sleep through the night. He often goes to sleep around 9-10pm after a routine of dinner and a warm bath, a little book and warm milk. He continues to wake up at 2-3am, and 4-6am...He's ready for the day around 7:30am. He's looking for milk and comfort. Once I go into his room, it's sometimes very difficult to get him back to sleep. I feel like a zombie! It's also nearly impossible to get him down for an afternoon nap. I was wondering if anyone had tips or a book that helped them? I tried letting him cry, it broke my heart! He didn't let up, just continued to scream louder. ... help?
Thank you everyone so much for all the wonderful advice!!! I've started using a few things I saw and I feel like I'm on my way to becoming a functional human again! During the last few nap times; I let Hakeem cry a bit, waiting only one minute, went in, gave him a little water, left again and he was out like a light!
The reason Hakeem goes to bed so late is because Daddy comes home a little after 9pm. I also spoke with my husband about how stressful it was for me to put Hakeem to sleep and my husband offered to put Hakeem to sleep at night. It's very important to my husband to play a little with Hakeem and it's his special bonding time putting the baby to bed. I am Thrilled to report that Hakeem slept all night last night! I feel incrediable and Hakeem woke up in such a happy mood! Thank you everyone so much!!!!!!!!
Have you tried gradually waterin his milk down more and more? That worked with all three of mine. Once he is on all water, you might try inching down the amount of time you spend or increasing the distance between you when you go to comfort him. Finally, slowly inch down the amount of water in his cup/bottle when you do give it to him until there is nothing in the cup...hopefully this helps!
My son is almost 14 months old, and he just started sleeping through the night this month. If he is screaming, he isn't going to sleep on his own. At least, mine wouldn't. We felt the same way, very sleep deprived. The first thing I would try is putting him to bed earlier. I know it sounds weird, but it actually works. It won't work right away, but it will eventually. Aiden goes to bed at 7, and gets up at 5:30, goes right back to bed until 6-6:30. It just depends. He is starting to wake up later and later though. I think it just takes consistency. We also found that is better to put him to bed before he is completely asleep. This teaches them to soothe themselves. If he cries, we wait a few minutes, and if he gets out of control we go in there. Now, he may cry for 1 second then he is right to sleep.
Hope this helps,
L.
I had the same issues with my son. He didn't sleep thru the night until about 12 mos. I think it was because he liked the comfort of me going in there and feeding him. Once i had my friends babysit him overnight, he slept thru the night because he didn't want them. I started having my husband go in there at night if he woke up and the cured him of getting up in the middle of the night. He didn't want them and I guess he figured out that it wasn't worth it so he started sleeping thru. I know just how you feel cuz i was sooooooooooo tired, too. I'm so glad that you're doing the organic thing...if you'd like to find out how to buy healthier cleaners and personal care products, ie toothpaste, shampoo, etc i'd be happy to share my sstore wtih you. they're wholesale so you would not only have a healthier home but a much cheaper shopping bill.
hope that helps. i had a hard time wtih naps too but once it was a consistent schedule, he did better. and the expectation was that he was taking a nap at time A and time B and that worked so much better than just random times. at least you're able to stay home with him and can dictate those times and be consistent. i had to go back to work when my son was 5 mos old and it was hard when i had to rely on others to be consistent. i'm now lucky enough to be home wtih my son who's now 19 mos old. i just work from home and love it. the time wtih him is just priceless!
J.
you may have head this already, but you should try to let him cry - even though it breaks your heart! he knows now that you'll comfort him and/or feed him, so now he expects it. When he screams, try going into his room, do NOT pick him up, just comfort him. He'll eventually calm down. You then walk out of the room, if he cries, still wak out - you dont have to slam the door behind you, but give him a few minutes, then if he still isnt getting more calm, go back in and soothe him again. You may have to stay by his bed a few minutes, or even the whole night - but in a few nights he'll get it. If you have to give him a bottle, make sure its just water - then he'll know its not worth getting up for it. He should be getting enough food during the day to sleep through the night by now, as long as he has a full belly at bed time. My son eats dinner at 6 and is in bed by 7 or 7:30. Why is your son going to bed so late? MOST babies need 15 hours of sleep/day. If he gets up for the day at 7:30 he may need to go to bed earlier - closer to dinner time. Encourage him to take a nap during the day, do the same kind of routine you would do at night if you have too. If he is up for at least 4 hours, put him down for a nap. If he cries, hes ok, sometimes they just need to cry.
First off... Is he still nursing??
My daughter didn't start sleeping through the night until I stopped breastfeeding. The same week I stopped nursing she started sleeping through the night. And from talking to other mothers it's been the same thing with them!
I totally understand the way you feel though... The whole zombie thing! I am by no means suggesting you stop nursing (if you are)! I just wanted to say you're not alone, your son isn't the only one at that age to get up that many times AND still not want to take a nap!!
PM me if you want to talk more about it!
It is hard, but let him cry a bit to learn to sooth himself. Give it 2-3 minutes the first night, 5 - 6 the second and 10 the 3rd night. He will get the message that you will not come to him everytime he "calls". I have two older kids and a 15+ month old. I learned the hard way with the first, at almost 15, she will still come out of bed for one thing or another. With the second, I let him cry, at 12, he will go to bed when he is tired. My third, and last, will reach for his bed at bedtime, sometimes before we finish our prayers. Stay strong and he will fall into the routine. And don't worry, mine will still take naps on my couch, when he naps. Oh well, he sleeps through the night, I will take that. Good luck and don't give up.
...and I thought I was the only one! Hi :) My son will be a year old this coming Friday, and he just started sleeping through the night last week! He has been the WORST sleeper ever! He's the most pleasant baby ever, very calm...sounds like yours, from what you wrote! Everytime someone would find out that he hadn't slept through the night yet, they were like "What??? Why not?" and I'm like "How should I know???" LOL Everyone kept telling me to just let him cry, but I've never been a fan of that, and I have never let him 'cry it out'. To me, that does nothing but get them stressed out and angry.
My son used to be horrible about naps, too. What I've started doing, though, is putting him in his crib, laying him down with the pacifier, and soothing him to sleep by singing, touching his face, etc. Most times, he'll fall asleep within a few minutes. If he doesn't and starts standing up and crying, I'll leave the room for about two minutes then come back in, and try it all over again. That works about 95% of the time.
Then, out of nowhere, about a week ago he slept for 11 1/2 hours one night! We woke up in a panic thinking something had happened to him! He's slept at least nine hours a night ever since. We have no clue what made it happen, it just happened! I always asked advice, read books, and all of that. What I finally learned to do was just let him be him and not compare his sleeping patterns to other babies'. When your son is ready to sleep all night, he will :) I promise :)
It was nice to read that you are trying to live as natural and organic as you can...I am the same way :)
Try lengthening the amount of time you take to respond. Like the 1st night wait 2 minutes, the next night 4 minutes and so on until you eventually do not go back in. It's a tedious process but eventually he learns to put himself back to sleep. Also, put him to bed while he is still awake, that is another way he can learn to put himself to sleep. He may cry, it's ok. My other suggestion is to move the time of his bath up an hour or so and give him regular milk. Contrary to belief warm milk actually wakes you up. My last suggestion is at the age is should be in bed by no later than 8:30. Parents think that keeping babies up later makes them want to sleep longer, when it actually has the opposite effect. They get so tired to where they don't sleep well at all.
So, try these things and see how they help.
Not a huge surprise, lots of babies wake up in the middle of the night still. But he wakes up twice? Looking for you or for milk?You might be noticing that even though he is still waking up, hes not staying awake for as long as before. My son is 2 and 1/2 and he still wakes up in the middle of the night most nights! Its not like hes completely awake but hes yelling at the top of his lungs for me to hug him. im a zombie too! you should try getting him to eat a small snack before bed, and plenty of exercise. If he's not walking yet, once he gets to running around he'll be quite tired at night. In addition to his nighttime wakes, try not to give him milk, and if so, just like 2 oz. or something. Also, try waiting a few minutes (like 5) before going in to get him. I was amazed one night when my son was about that age and i got up to get him, but he didnt see me, and he plopped on his bed and fell back asleep
Hi T.,
When my youngest started to not sleep at night. I didn't let him take naps anymore or fall asleep for the rest of the day. I know that it is hard but, he will get the hang of it. My youngest will be 2 on may 26th. It worked for me. It might work for you. Good luck.
I think it's still kind of early to expect him to sleep all night. Each child is different and what works for one may not work for all. I know you hear the stories of other people babies sleeping all night. That's not my story and you don't be discouraged. Usually around 12 months you can expect the change. Some things that worked for me maybe playing some soft, soothing music in the room that he sleeps in. If you get really desperate for a while sleep with him or vice versa.
I know exatly what you mean. My son is now 2 1/2 and it took a really long time to get him to sleep through the night. I followed Dr. Jodi Mindell's book, Sleeping Through The Night. It is a version of cry it out and it was very hard but I did it and best of all it worked! Your son is around the age I first started using it. I used to call my girlfriend to keep from going in the room.
It is very hard to do CIO but by the 3rd night, he barely cried and then he was sleeping through the night AND my son is a very happy child. It did not hurt him to CIO for 2 nights. Didn't even remember in the morning and now he is even happier because he is getting a good night sleep. Good luck!
If you're currently giving him milk in the middle of the night I'd suggest stopping that. Give him water only. Hopefully his tummy will stop telling him to wake up.
