Need Advice on My 7 Month Old Recently Not Sleeping Through Night! Help!!!

Barring something like an ear infection (he'd probably wake up really crying hard, though), I'd say it's just that he's now old enough to realize something's not right (i.e., you're not there rocking him) when he has the brief awakenings all babies have at night. I'd refer to "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and/or Dr. Ferber's book and do some sleep training at nap time and at night (I'd do naptime first, then bedtime). If you teach him to fall asleep at naps very soon, he may go back to sleeping through the night soon. And remember, he'll be teething for 2 years, so you can't really let it undo sleep training every time. Or you can, but will have to just re-teach him after each teething episode. Good luck!

Try the teething tablets and see if that helps. You will find that just when you think you got your kids sleeping thru the night something comes along and changes it. Either teething, nightmares, illness, or just the anxiety of waking up and nobody is there. It all passes and you get thru it. My youngest is 8 months and is teething with a runny nose and was waking up several times a night. Now we are back to sleeping all night (not 12 hours) but at least 8 to 9 hours. So yes it will pass and I wouldn't worry to much about it.

Good Luck
M.

More than anything, make sure you are not rocking him to sleep at night. He needs to learn to self-soothe and put himself back to sleep at night. I made that mistake b/c mine liked to nurse at night and would fall asleep during nursing. I finally had to break that, but it took a good long while to be able to put her down drowsy and then leave the room. Once I did that, she began sleeping longer and longer. Not sure if it's still available, but one night at 3 am when I couldn't take it anymore, I ordered a video from a pediatrician on line called the Sleep Tight system. I followed his advice and it really worked.

Hang in there! Not getting enough sleep can certainly make you feel crazy.

The same thing happened with my 7 month old. I thought it was just the teething but when she started to get a cold and was waking every two hours at night so I took her to the doctor. Turns out she had an ear infection. She got on antibiotics and has since started sleeping through the night again.

You need to break the habit now. He is waking up in the middle of the night and he doesn't know how to put himself back to bed. You need to have a routine to put him down - story, prayers, etc. I know how hard it is to break the rocking - it's so nice for mom, but it is not helping your little one. Let him cry a little and shh/pat him every 5 minutes. After 2 - 3 nights, he will learn. Good luck

I agree with those who said it is not possible to "spoil" a baby. There is nothing sweeter in life than holding a sleeping baby on your lap. I wouldn't trade those moments for anything. I think it's awful and sad that so many people insist that it's bad to rock or nurse a baby to sleep! Trust me, there are experts on the other side of the fence too! Look at Dr. Sears, The Baby Book.

My dd slept through the night early, and at 6 mos she hit a growth spurt and began waking to feed in the night. She did that for quite a while after that. Now she sleeps fine. (She's 3.) I really think your baby is simply hungry. If he's growing fast, his stomach isn't big enough to take in enough food to last for long periods. He can't read yet, so he doesn't know that he's supposed to be sleeping through the night. ;)

I know the feeling. I would give my daughter tylenol before bed. I am sure their gums and teeth hurt when they are coming in. When I started giving her tylenol she would sleep much better. Also depending on how much your feeding him and how much formula you give him he may need a bottle still. There really are multiple reasons he could be getting up. When they hit growth spurts they need more calories and they will let you know! If your nervous giving meds ask your doc. I doubt it has anything to do with spoiling your baby. During the day I would always and still do nap with my baby. She still sleeps all night in her own bed but during day naps we cuddle together and nap.

I dont know if I helped at all but this is what worked for me.

H.

Good Luck Its always frustrating with baby #1 cause your never sure if your doing the right thing.

I see this posted a lot. You're not alone! I went through this with my son. Generally a baby who sleeps well through the night and then suddenly isn't is either teething, sick or about to reach a milestone. I'm hoping I'm about to go through my last set of sleepless nights (until he gets his license that is. lol) since my son is cutting his last set of teeth. Just keep up with your regular routine as much as possible and your little one will be sleeping through the night soon enough.

Hi K.,
My daughter in law invited me to join this site so I'm just going to jump in here. I am the mother of three grown children, b/g twins with my second pregnancy. My guess is teething. Think of yourself having an on again off again tooth ache and that's what he's feeling. When he wakes in the night is he crying? As my babies got older and more alert they often woke up in the night. I'd hear them laying in there making sounds and I'd get up to check on them. If they were comfortable I'd watch them a while then go back to bed. I didn't get them up to change them and wake them up more if I didn't have to and they'd eventually go back to sleep.

I don't believe you can spoil an tiny baby. I know this is a hot topic with some, but is your son sleeping on his back or tummy? All of mine slept on their tummies, as did my two grand daughters. My daughter wouldn't pt her first on her tummy because the dr said not to. But when she was soo fussy and they were losing sleep one day when I was babysitting I decided I WOULD turn her over. She dozed right off and slept soundly. When my daughter and son in law came to get her they thought she was in another room because the room where the bassinet was was so quiet. When they saw her on her tummy they couldn't believe it. She slept on her tummy ever since.

I know teething time can be a hard time, for baby and parents.
Frozen teethers and numbing gels can be helpful. Don't let anyone tell you you will spoil your child with too much love or cuddling. Cuddle and rocking time is priceless, and good for you both. I do believe that sometimes, when the diaper is clean and feedings are done, that you need to let them cry until they settle themselves down. You can usually tell the difference between just crying/fussing and when there is a real need. I raised three happy healthy babies, including twins with a 2 1/2 year old, and I know I was a good momma. Now I'm a good grandma.

Best Wishes,
C.

Try feeding him choclet pudding around 7pm trust me it works every time.

Hi K.-
Congratulations on your sweet little baby! First of all, please don't feel that you can spoil your baby. There is no such thing as spoiling your baby. They need our love and attention and the more that you do this for them now----it will pay off later in their sense of self-worth and confidence and independence. A seven-month old is still just a baby. Your rocking your baby is a wonderful thing that can be continued for many years if you choose. Feel lucky that he slept so well for so long. It is completly normal for him to be waking from his teeth. The only thing I have ever used for my babies ( I have three children with the youngest being 8 months old) is Hyland's teething tablets. Try them out. They have worked great for all of my kids. You can find them at Whole Foods, Wild Oats, and I think Hy-Vee. Maybe the drug stores too. They are homeopathic tablets that dissolve in the mouth and provide relief for the teething pain. Also, Hyland's makes Colic tablets that also help with teething or any discomfort in babies/children. I use these too. Both tablets have chamomile which is known to help with gas and teething. Good luck and keep loving your precious baby!