Is He Testing Us?

It sounds like you're doing everything right to get him ready for bed. My only suggestion would be to cut back to 2 naps a day and stick to a set bedtime every night. If he's tired at the end of the day, I think you'll find he will go to sleep easier.

No, he's not testing you. I would put him to bed between 6:30 and 7:00 pm, and keep him awake between 4:30 pm and bedtime. My son is 6 months, and after 2 months of hourly waking during the night, my husband and I ferberized him when he turned 6 months old. It's been a week now, and we are finally getting some much needed sleep! We also feed him if he gets up before 11:00 pm, but don't feed him until he wakes up in the morning at 6:30. That took a little ferberizing too, but it was worth it.

Good Luck

I know it's nice having your baby stay up a little later, but from what I've read, they should be going to bed by 7:00 at this age. Going to bed later might make him miss his "sleep window," which could cause the waking. My son is 10 months now, and we had a lot of trouble getting him to sleep through the night. Once we got him on a schedule of going to sleep at 7:00 consistently, things got much easier.

At 7 months he is not yet capable of testing or manipulating you in the way that we think of those things. He simply has a problem of some type and isn't yet ready to deal with it on his own at that age. My son started sleeping through the night at 4 weeks. But once he started teething at 6 months, he started waking at least once a night and needed comfort. once he reached 10 months we were easily able to teach him to comfort and settle himself. But younger than that, it didn't work (he truly needed the comfort from us...though you can keep it short). I was unclear from your post...does he ever fall asleep on his own or does he need you or your partner there to rock him to sleep? It is definitely worth starting to lay him down for sleep at the drowsy but not yet asleep stage, but still provide extra help for him if he needs it at this age.

I agree with the poster about the sleep window. Also take a good look at the 3-4 naps and when they are occuring. Could it be too much? Maybe just 2 naps?

Have you tryied cutting back one of his naps? I know that when my son wasn't sleeping well at night was becasue he was getting to much sleep during the day. I have finally gotten my son to sleep through the night again after haveing it down and then he got sick and only wanted to be held at night when he was sleeping. So you just have to find something that works for you and stick with it. But now my son is 15 months old and only takes 1 nap a day and finally sleeps through the night. Now...if only I could sleep through the night hehehe. hope that helps a little. good luck.

I would try cutting down on his naps...and make his bedtime a set time instead of between 7-9, as for a 7mo. old that is a pretty big window and somewhat inconsistant, could be a pain for you later. set it for like 7:30...cut out any naps after 4:30 or maybe just give him a 15 minute 'alone time nap' if he is not consoulable...

he could be teething though, and that will mess with their sleep patterns...you could try the nighttime teething gel..seemed to work for my little one, when he would cry at night when his teeth were coming in, I would just go in there to hold him or put the gel on, but I would not take him out of the room or turn any lights on, as they only stimulate...

good luck

We have recently been going through the same thing with my 6 month old. He was sleeping through the night until around 4 months and then off and on until now. Anyway, I was getting so tired and had enough. We let him cry it out for about an hour two nights in a row. It was awful. I cried. My husband just reaffirmed our decision by saying, "If you go in there now, you'll have to start all over." He starts off just babbling and then builds it up. Sometimes he would shriek and then after about an hour, he would just stop. The last two nights he hasn't cried out at all.

With my 2 year old we did the same thing a little younger. It took him 5 nights, but he cried for only 20 minutes and decreased a bit each night. He use to start off crying loud and then wind down. It's weird how different they all are.

I also agree that he should really only be taking 2 naps a day. When our baby takes three naps, he does not go to sleep as well. It's hard because I keep him up so he can see his Dad because he works such long hours and then he wants to take an extra nap.

(I really meant to write a short, quick answer.)

he is too young to test you. Have you tried gas drops? My neice would wake at night with horrible gas pains, usually shortly after going down for the night. Also, get him tested for acid reflux, that could also be the culprit. one more thing, it's not going to hurt him to cry for a while...I was a very stubborn baby. My aunt made my mom stay out of my room for an hour while I screamed my lttle heart out! She was allowed to go up one step every 4-5 minutes, if I was still crying when she got to the top of the stairs, then she could console me. I fell asleep when she reached the second to last stair, and after that I went to bed without being held. If you or your spouse can handle hearing him cry, let him be for 10-15 minutes, then don't pick him up...rub his back and let him know you love him. Good Luck