M.L. asks from Hanahan, SC on January 17, 2008
My 9 1/2 Month Still Will Not Sleep Through the Night
My daughter wakes up every night 1-2 times wanting to nurse. When she wakes up i try patting her tummy or back or even rocking her and she will not settle down until i nurse her. Normally its only for like a few mintues and she's back out... Any suggestions???
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J.D. answers from Savannah on January 19, 2008
My mother always told me to give a baby water if they woke up in the middle of the night. That way, they would still get something to drink if they were thirsty, but wouldn't be counting on milk. Eventually, they catch on, and stop waking up. Hope this helps.
J. D.
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J.I. answers from Myrtle Beach on January 18, 2008
My 2 year old did not sleep through the night until 13 months. I feel your pain!I felt I was nursing around the clock. I tried every book and every solution. I have to say the hardest solution was the best one for her...letting her cry it out. It took many nights of many hours crying. I felt awful. My husband and I cried in the hallway. The book that helped the most was Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Good luck!
S.S. answers from Savannah on January 18, 2008
We spent the majority of our single adulthood looking for someone to sleep with. Why do we expect our children to want to sleep alone?
Enjoy this time with your baby. Soon she will be all grown up & you will miss the times she turned to you for comfort. You are very blessed. I know you're tired, but truly, you will look back on these days fondly.
S.
S.W. answers from Atlanta on January 18, 2008
How does she get to sleep for the first time at night? If you nurse her to sleep, then that is the only way she comfort herself back to sleep when she wakes at night. I doubt it's about being hungry. I'd work on getting her to fall asleep on her own in her crib, and then when she's mastered that you can work on the night awakenings. We used the Ferber method, but there's lots of sleeep books out there. Lots of people recommend Babywise. Good luck.
C.S. answers from Spartanburg on January 18, 2008
try a binki, also it helps if you let someone else put her back to sleep. or instead of picking her up just roll her on her tummy and pat her back, then when shes out fkip her back.
F.R. answers from Atlanta on January 18, 2008
My 10 month old girl is doing something very similar. It's not that she wants to nurse, it's that she is attempting to use my breast as a pacifier. What I did last week was I gave her some water from a cup instead. It made her stop crying, satisfied any thirst and she went back to sleep on her own.Prior to giving her the water she cried for about 15 minutes and absokutely refused to lay down on the bed or my shoulder.
Now, dont get me wrong, she still wakes wanting to nurse, but if I consistently were to give her water instead, I think it would stop in short time.
Also, I've noticed, when she sleeps with her dad, or when I'm not there, she doesnt do it. When she awakes and i'm not there, he says, "lay down and comforts her" and she goes back to sleep.
I hope this helps.
A.C. answers from Atlanta on January 18, 2008
i have 4 children- 3 out 0f 4 were between 18 months and 2 years before they slept all night. i thought nursing was the issue, but i was unable to nurse my third one and he couldn't make it either. my 4th was about 8 months old. just remind yourself that none of this lasts forever- they all sleep though the night, they all end up wearing underwear, etc, etc. too many moms worry that so and so's baby did this at this age and their's hasn't yet, but truth is, babies have their own little souls and sometimes they are just going to wait until they're ready.
A.C. answers from Atlanta on January 21, 2008
Has she been doing this for a while or just recently?
If recently may be due to cough issue.
If been going on for a while maybe a pacifier (some don't like to use them, that's okay I didn't either), try giving her some water (in a bottle or sippy cup), maybe try letting her put herself back to sleep. You might ask your ped at your next visit if it continues.
~A.
K.T. answers from Atlanta on January 18, 2008
This is perfectly normal for a baby her age. I have three children, 14,6 and 18mths, I have/will breastfed all of them until the age of 2yrs. I had a cosleeper, Arms Reach, with my last one and it was a big help. You dont have them in your bed the whole night and you can put them back after nursing. It seems to get them more used to sleeping on their own, kinda like training for weaning. Now I have a toddler bed that I put her in after she falls asleep. She still wakes during the night and if she wakes I nurse and try not to fall asleep myself so that I remember to put her back! Just remember that you made the right decision to nurse and there are ups and downs, this being one of those. You will get more sleep if you wear a baggie nightshirt or nursing nightgown so that nursing is easier for her. They will learn to nurse without waking you if it is accessable. If your husband concerned about "grownup time" then that is where the cosleeper or toddler bed comes handy. Keep trying the patting and rocking or humming but be flexible. This, as with pregancy, will pass and be a cute memory! When you are rocking your first grandchild you will remember those sleep deprived nights with great fondness! Good luck.
K.
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