My 4 month old was sleeping thru the night in a bassinett until about a week ago. Now, he will only sleep in MY bed and won't go to sleep without me...HELP! How do I get back to where I was??
Thanks ladies for all the help! It is getting better...I found out he has an ear infection!! Third kid and first ear infection in my house! He is in his crib now, still not sleeping thru the night like he was, but at least 5-6 hours. The doc also advised elevating his mattress by his head.
Start while they are young. Put the child to bed and allow them to fall asleep on their own. Crying is hard to take, ungodly hard, but children learn that nighttime is sleep time. Place them in bed, allow them to cry for ten minutes, then go and check on them. Do not talk to them, do not pick them up, just retuck and be on your way. Do this while they are young and you won't have a problem when they are older.
Do you have a crib? or just the bassnet? babies start to feel closterfobic around 4 months and the bassinet can start to feel to small and enclosed.. which may be why he doesn't want to be in it. try a crib with a bumper in it and all that stuff... and an ocean wonders or something of that nature... and get him used to sleeping in three NOW... my 9 month old didi the same thing and she is still sleeping with ME and now refuses the crib.
I feel for you! I have three children and I think that I finally figured this out with the last one. First off, I would switch to a crib. Then, if you can tell when he is about to fall asleep, put him to bed. If you have any kind of musical mobile or something, turn that on. If he starts to cry, wait about 10 min. go check on him, Dont Talk To Him! Try to just calm him by rubbing his tummy or cheek, and turn the music on again.(if he likes the sound of your voice you could also sing to him, but without picking him up)
It might also help to elevate the bed where his head is. That Helped my son and daughter ALOT! I just proped a big pillow under the matress. It helps with colds, ear aches, gas, etc. BEST THING THE DOCTOR TOLD ME TO DO!
4 months is PRIME TIME for a huge growth spurt. I know with my boys when it hit we basically camped out on the couch nursing off and on for about a week or two. And the night wakings increased, then tapered off when the growth spurt was over.
Nurse him when he needs you, even at night, and soon you'll find he'll be out of this growth spurt and back to sleeping longer stretches.
Get the book "Good Night, Sleep Tight" by Kim West. It worked wonders with my baby and it helps you gently and lovingly teach your baby to sleep in her own bed. My baby now puts herself to sleep by singing to herself. A miracle! I used to have to nurse/pacify her to sleep for hours.
Ok I am one of those moms who lets their baby c.i.o. Put him in the crib and let him cry for 15 min and then go in and do whatever it takes to comfort and then leave. CIO is how i deal with Joline. Sleeping with you is your choice but if you don't want to cosleep that is the best i can offer let him cry it out and let him get used to sleeping by himself.
H.
(I have had other problems on other boards because I let my baby cio please don't judge or say anything to me about this because it works for me and is how I parent. Thank you)
P.,
It might be a short phase or maybe your son is getting one of those colds that are going around. I've noticed that every time I start to worry about my son's routine changing, it goes back to normal again. Your son is also becoming more aware of his surroundings and so putting him down at night is more difficult. It was around 4 months that we had to let our son cry for 30-45 minutes in his crib. Worked like a charm. Good luck!
I agree that it might be time for the crib. Amelia went through a stage like that, and I would just feed or paci her and put back to bed. did that for a few weeks and new she is sleeping til 6 or 7 am. (5 1/2 months old). Just go with the flow. Your are in growth spurt time. I just went thru a week of her waking about an hour after she goes down at night, but she is not doing that this week.
good luck, and put that baby in the crib!!!
Honestly, I don't know if I have much help to offer. My son was sleeping a long stretch from 7pm-3am around 4 months. Then we moved him to his own room and now he's up at midnight and then again at 4am. Your son could be waking up because he's hungry (breastfeeding or formula feeding?) or just because he wants to be with you. Know that you're not alone! :)
