Night-time Feedings

Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions- I am going through the same thing with my 8 mos old. I have tried feeding him, not feeding him, feeding him food right before he goes to sleep, bathing him with lavender... I haven't found anything that is consistent. About two weeks ago he slept from 9:30 to 6:30 and other than a few times when he was a newborn, he has not slept through one night for us.
I can say it's temporary. They won't do it forever, but I don't know what the answer is. I just think some babies do that. With my daughter I was able to take her off the bottle at night by rocking her- he won't do that. I have asked the doctor and he said that he needs to learn to self-soothe and that I need to put him in the crib when he's sleepy, but not sleeping and let him get him self to sleep even if he cries. I know my child's cries. There are times when he is going to sleep and does a rhythmic whine, but then there are other times where he screams and I WON'T let him lay in there and scream. This time is too precious to me and I don't believe in letting him scream.
Good luck and God Bless

1 mom found this helpful

My daughter went through a growth spurt around that time also and we had to increase her food. I would up his formula at night or wake him up around 10 and give him another few ounces that always helped us out. S.

T. (this is an add-on before the next paragraph). I forgot to tell you one important thing I used to do, which was passed down to me from my sister, my mother, and so on. It's something Moms have done throughout the years and it's still around because it works for some babies. There is an all natural product on the market (in the pancake syrup aisle at the grocery store) called Karo Syrup. I placed about a centimeter in my son's bottle of formula two to three times per day. At least once in the morning and once in the early evening. It really helped my son with his fussiness. They sell a DARK Karo Syrup and a light Karo Syrup. You must use the DARK Karo Syrup. I hope this helps!

One of my sons was born with stomach problems and didn't sleep well the first five months...I was mentally and physically exhausted! Our pediatrician didn't think the problem was abnormal and felt the baby would outgrow it, so unfortunately it's a waiting game. My best advice in case your child has the same problem is to prop the crib up with casters or risers on the head end of the crib so the baby's upper body is slightly higher than his lower body. Also, begin cereal jar food, like Gerber's cinnamon applesauce with rice or bananas. He may simply be more hungry than what rice in a bottle gives him. My sons began eating the basic jar foods at 4 months. He may also be teething, so feel the inside of his mouth before bed and if it feels swollen or looks sore place some baby Orajel on there. Last but not least, maybe your baby is sleeping too much during the day so he doesn't want to sleep at night. You certainly can't cut-out sleeping during the day at that age, but maybe he just doesn't need as much sleep during the day as he's currently getting.

Good luck to you!

He probably needs to learn to put himself to sleep. He may be depending on that bottle to help him fall back to sleep. This is the age when habits begin to form. My first son was a horrible sleeper and at 6 mos his Dr finally told me he did not need to eat at night. She said when he cries at night wait ten minutes or so to see if he'll settle himself. If he doesn't, go in (DO NOT PICK HIM UP) and only offer him warm water in the bottle. He may drink some and then be done. If he cries when you leave, wait a little longer than ten minutes and repeat the process. It's so hard to just let them cry but easier for them to learn now than in a few more months. When we did it, it was a horrible week and I spent most of the night in my room crying too! But after that, he was putting himself to sleep and sleeping all night. Make sure you are putting him to bed sleepy but awake. Good luck! I feel your pain!

My granddaughter started doing this when she was about the same age. I was with my daughter when she took her in for her 6 month check-up. The doctor asked her how she liked this - of course my daughter said - not at all. So the doctor advised she let her cry, the baby will learn to soothe herself back to sleep. So after doing this for about a week - it worked. Dear GD would still wake up occassionally - but if you left her alone she would go back to sleep on her own. It was really hard for N. to let her cry when she spent the night. But I learned it was best for her and me!!

I think you'll find that this happens every so often. I think eventually the occurences should space out. My ds (12 months) is a 10-12 hour sleeper and has been sttn for a while now. But with teething and growing he's been waking up in the middle of the night 2-3 times a night for the last week or so. It just has to run it's course. As your baby gets older he will be able to soothe himself back to sleep and even though he'll still wake you up when he cries you wont have to go to the crib to get him. There's a huge change in behavior and learning during 6-12 months (and then again 12-18, etc...)

edited to add: I've heard that when a child learns something new they have a hard time sleeping. Has your son recently learned to sit up or some other fun skill? Does your son get rice cereal any other time of the day? My reflux baby couldn't tolerate rice and would be uncomfortable and screaming/crying not sleeping well, etc... Maybe try to give your son oatmeal or barley instead of rice. We eliminated rice cereal altogether and he only recently ate rice again in the last month or so. He loved barley!

It might be a growth spurt. You also might want to try to move up his last feeding and bedtime. Maybe if you fed him a little earlier he would eat more instead of falling asleep. It could also be he's just in the habit of waking up around this time, in which case, you might want to try letting him fuss for a few minutes to see if he'll fuss himself back to sleep.

My daughter is almost 6 months old and was doing that too so I put her on baby food. She gets cereal mixed with fruit in the morning, one container of vegetables and one of fruit in the afternoon and then one each again at about 7 or 8 at night. I give her a full bottle at about 8:30 or 9 when I put her to bed and she's out for the night. I found that if I fill her belly enough during the day and before I put her to bed, she has no reason to wake up in the night, and the baby food seems to stay with her more than just a bottle. Just a suggestion!

Yes he is going through a growth spurt, but check with your doctor to make sure you do not over feed him. it could also be that the formula you are using does not have enough consistancy for him lastly if it goes on for longer than a month you may need to have him examined by a gastrologist. how are his bowl movements?

My daughter went through that several times when she was teething or going through a growing spurt. Hopefully your son will go through this quickly like my daughter. Good luck.

Hi T., I know exactly what you are going through. My boys did that. Maybe your little one has a tummy ache and that is why he is always eating? Could he be teething now? Good luck girl and I hope things work out for you. Have you let him try and cry it out? I know it is painful to hear but he might be used to you coming in and getting him.....

Most babies have growth spurts at 3weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. My daughter did the same thing. Just keep doing what you are doing with the feedings and the playtime. Now that he is getting older he has more energy. This will pass. I know it doesn't feel like you will ever get any sleep but it will get better. At least until he starts teething. This too will interupt his sleep schedule.
Good luck,
M.

it sounds like his acid-reflux is what is waking him up. liquid always soothes that. i would try a new medicine or maybe up the dosage!

You have no idea how I identify with you!! I too have a 5 month old son, who is also waking up at odd times, at least two times a night... it is bringing me to the end of my rope!
My guess is he is teething... and wants to just nurse. It is also more than likley coinciding with a growth spurt.
I am sending patience your way... as I know how you feel. Hang in there...

Babies go through all kinds of ups and downs when it comes to feeding.

Yes, he probably is going through a growth spurt.

Have you considered putting food or cereal in an infa-feeder for him at night-time? It will help him sleep longer when he has more solid food in his little tummy and you don't necessarily have to stay awake for the feeding either because most infa-feeders have handles on the sides so that the baby can hold onto it more easily.

Give it a try!

I would bet money that it's a growth spurt!!!! I'm not sure if you are married or not, didn't catch that, but IF so.....where is dad?? He can do one of the feedings can't he?! Wish you well. I remeber that all too well. My son slept through the night at 7 months & my daughter didn't do it until 13-14 months or so!!!

I have the same problem trying to keep my three month old awake for her last feeding!! Anyway, its most likely that he is just going through a growth spurt, but there are a few things that you can try that my doctor suggested when my now two year old was going through the same thing.

1. Try rocking him back to sleep when he wakes up without feeding him.
2. If he insists on being fed, give him less than the normal amount that you feed him and you can keep decreasing the amount until he doesn't need anything

With my son, I was able to rock him back to sleep half the time, and the rest of the time I fed him small amounts which seemed to work. He eventually stopped waking up and started sleeping through the night again.

I hope this helps...if all else fails hopfuly his growth spurt won't last too long!!

E. S.