Sleeping Through the Night - Frederick, MD

Updated on March 19, 2008
J.S. asks from Frederick, MD
67 answers

I am a mother of a 3 1/2 month old who doesn't sleep through the night. He wakes up 2 times to eat at night. I've been told to put some cereal (rice? oatmeal?) in his bottle to help him sleep better, but I'm a little nervous to do it. I'm sure that nervousness goes away after the first one.
He is extremely interested in food and I think he is ready for the cereal, but we haven't talked to the dr about it. We go back in April, so I'm hoping it will be discussed then. Any suggestions until then?

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So What Happened?

Thank you for all of your responses! They vary so much, but that's to be expected. I think I will wait until my dr's apptmt next month, but push for him to start on cereal. He is a hungry baby and is very interested in food. I will keep all of your responses in mind throughout this ordeal. I'm hoping the cereal will help him to stop spitting up so much. He eats so fast b/c he's hungry, so at least 1-2 tblspns comes back up. It's not acid reflux, just a hungry baby.
Thanks again!

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M.D.

answers from Washington DC on

My pediatrician recommended tappering off the nightime feedings from the 6 week mark. Within a couple of weeks my daughter was sleeping through the night. I would hold off on the rice, some pediatricians recommend against it and my daughter did fine with out it.

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D.R.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi J.,

Give him the cereal in his bottle! He's waking up because he's hungry. My oldest son did the same thing until we started putting cereal in his bedtime bottle. We just cut the nipple on the bottle bigger to get the cereal thru and he slept great. Abuela

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J.N.

answers from Houston on

Hi J.,

I have 3 children, my youngest is 7 months old. If I were you, I would definately add cereal to his night time bottle. You would need to be careful about how much, since the thicker it is, the harder it is to get it out of the nipple. I would use rice cereal first, since that is the easiest thing for his digestive system to break down. I hope it works for you. I got pretty lucky & didn't have an issue with my kids sleeping through the night (they all slept through the night at 4-6 weeks old). Good Luck!

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T.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Here is help for you. My mothers group is having The sleep lady come to the laurel area on April 10, 2008 from 7pm to 9pm. Her book really helped me getting my son to sleep now he sleeps from 7pm to 7am lol.. great huh. Below is more information. I hope that you are able to come out. Check out her website at www.thesleeplady.com
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Thursday, April 10, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
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13611 Laurel Bowie Rd. (Rte 197)
Laurel, Maryland 20708

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West has appeared on the Dr. Phil, Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, TLC’s Bringing Home Baby and CNN, and has been written about in a number of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Child, Baby Talk, Parenting, The Baltimore Sun, USA Today and the Washington Post. West hosts the sleep section of The Newborn Channel, played in maternity wards in hospitals across the country.

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1 mom found this helpful
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K.L.

answers from Washington DC on

So many opinions on a topic so important. I, too, wanted to give my baby (now 6 months) cereal in his bottle when he was eating so much every three hours. We asked our pediatrician at his 2 month appointment and she said "absolutely not." By reading more on the topic, I learned that the cereal is more of a beginner solid food to learn the social and physical act of eating, like you and I do as adults. Like someone else wrote, sleeping through the night is a neurological milestone, not necessarily a hunger issue (my baby had no problem hitting the weight milestones but didn't sleep through the night until about 3.5 months). While "sleeping through the night" is, like someone else wrote, technically about a 5 hour stretch of sleep, I know that's not what you're looking for. My best advice is to read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Weissbluth. My 6 month old now sleeps about 13 hours a night (going down by 6:30 every night) and takes an average of 3 1-1.5 hour naps a day. I'm a believer! Sleep is so important and I will tell every new mother who will listen to get this book. Also...wait a few weeks...hopefully your baby will be sleeping "through the night" soon enough. I read this book mainly for napping "issues." Good luck!

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L.H.

answers from Dover on

okay here is what is happening. You probably have a son like i did. they were ready for a bottle and a bowl of cereal when they were born. after a week of listening to the dr., i finally started him on 2 tbsp. of cereal by spoon and we all slept.

soooooo at 3.5 months you feed him cereal, mixed with his formula and maybe some applesauce to taste (warm this up) and feed him by spoon. after he is done, follow with a bottle. do this for breakfast and his last meal at night. if he is still hungry then he gets this 3X a day just like reg. meals. in between he gets bottles of formula, and water.

soem babies just require more food. our kids are now adults and have no weight problems and no eating problems. keep those biscuits nearby for his teething too.

go with your instincts. your child is requiring more food adn will go into a growth spurt. also once he starts getting active, he will burn this all up. oh and give him rice cereal only for the first 5 months. the rest will bring out allergies later on.

have a great life together,
blessings, L.

PS no cereal in bottles. they can choke and they suck so hard they ruin their teeth when they come in....those are lazy mothers who recommend this.

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T.C.

answers from Washington DC on

I would definitely not put cereal in the bottle - I know it seems like a quick fix, but it won't be worth it in the long run - and I would definitely consult with your dr before you try any food at all - every dr and mom and child has a different opinion, but at least make sure you and your dr are on the same page - i know it seems like sleeping thru the night will never happen, but it will - my DD didn't sleep through the not until she was almost 1 - now she is 2 and sleeps like a champ - they are only babies for a very short time - try to enjoy it for what it is

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J.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi J.!

Is you son over 14lbs? If not, He will not be able to sleep through the night till he get to 14lbs. I was told that about my son. I did try the rice but it didn't really help. Are you breast feeding or is he on the bottle? My son was bottle fed.He wouldn't take breast milk. I stopped feeding him when he woke through the night. After about a week he stopped waking. Now he sleep from 7pm till 6:30am. Does your son have a bink? All I did when my son woke was put the bink in and then leave. I didn't talk to him or put a light on.

My friend is a baby sleep consultant. This is what she told me to do. It worked great!

If you would like her info. Email me and I will give it to you. She was a great help for us!

Good luck!

J.

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S.K.

answers from Portland on

Like many others have already written - it is NOT a good idea to give your little one cereal yet, even more so, don't ever do it in the bottle (choking hazard). His digestive system may not be developed enough and ready for that and most all doctors say it doesn't help them sleep through the night anyway. It is not typical for babies that age to sleep through the night - they still need to eat breastmilk or formula every few hours. So, nurse him or give him a bottle and enjoy this precious time with him. It all goes so fast!

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J.K.

answers from Washington DC on

J.,
My son was the same way, not only did he not sleep through the night at 3 1/2 months but he woke up every 1 1/2 hours throughout the night. We tried swaddling and it worked like a miracle for us. The first night we tried it he slept 5 hours straight. It turns out he just needed a little more comfort in his crib and the swaddle provided him that needed security. Rice cereal is not a good idea, maybe try a little extra milk before bed time? Good luck, peace and blessings.

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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi J.! My son didn't sleep through the night until he was over 4 months old. From what I have read, feeding babies cereal before bed does not help them sleep better and I have been told by my pediatrician NOT to put cereal in the bottle. My son started sleeping through the night after I got him on a 4 hour feeding schedule. I would nurse or bottle feed him every four hours and eventually he dropped his nighttime feedings. Also, swaddling and a sound machine (that plays rain noise) helped A LOT! Two books that I would recommend: The Happiest Baby on the Block and 12 Hours Sleep by Twelve Weeks. Both books are a good compromise between the "cry-it-out" and "no cry" methods. If you are consistent, it will happen! Good luck!

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J.C.

answers from Washington DC on

It is normal for a 3 1/2 month old to be waking up 2 times to eat at night. Babies stomachs are small and they should not go for more than 4 to 6 hours without being fed. Some babies may even need to be fed more often. I remember being happy the first time our baby slept for 6 hours straight.

It is an old wives tales that cereal in the bottle helps a baby sleep longer. It can actually cause you to overfeed your baby, because when trying to quench his thirst with milk he will be taking in the extra calories of the cereal as well. Cereal in a bottle can also increase the risk of your baby choking. You have to make the hole in the bottle's nipple larger in order for cereal to pass through. Your baby could take in too much and choke. By feeding your baby cereal in a bottle at this age, it may be harder to spoon feed your baby cereal later on. Learning how to spoon feed is an important step and you wouldn't want to prevent your baby from reaching that milestone. One other thing our pediatrician told us is that starting solid foods too soon can increase your baby's risk of having food allergies.

We started cereal when our son was 4 1/2 months old. We started with rice cereal because it is the most gentle and has the least chance of causing an allergic reaction. We could tell he was ready for solids because he gobbled it down instead of pushing it out with his mouth.

If you feel that your baby is ready to try solids, my advice would be to spoon feed it to him before his bedtime bottle. That way, he will have the cereal in his belly (like you want) without the negatives of putting it in a bottle.

Hope this helps. :o)

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M.T.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi J., my name is M.. I have a son the same age as yours. This is my second child and I started him on cereal bottles at almost 3 months old. I would suggest rice cereal to start because it is a less complex cereal. My pediatrician told me to put about 2-3 tablespoons per 6 ounces of milk (breast or formula).
When I fed my daughter a rice cereal bottle for the first time she slept through the night, but it took some time with my son. He sleeps through the night now and I still give him a cereal bottle but usually earlier in the evening not right at bedtime since the cereal makes him have a number two.
If you nurse, try that right before bed as well. I let my son nurse until he falls asleep and then I put him to bed.
Hope this helps. Please feel free to email me at ____@____.com

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T.R.

answers from Norfolk on

Good luck! I recommend the book Babywise.

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J.W.

answers from Norfolk on

My oldest slept thrpough the night at 5 weeks and my youngest is almost 14 mohts and is just now sleeping through the night without waking up at all. I think it is normal and that it depends on the child

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M.L.

answers from Washington DC on

J.,

Three months is such a young age to be sleeping through the night! Yes, it can be done, but at what cost? Babies, infants, toddlers need the security of knowing Mommy is right there.

When DD (now 2) was a baby, she slept with us, and she slept sooo much better (so did I!) than the couple of times I tried her in the crib. She woke up to b-feed several times, but I just had to roll over to feed her, not traipse down the hall.

I find that when she goes through new development stages, she seems to take a step backward in the sleep department, too, needing to nurse again once or twice at night. I forget this sometimes and get frustrated with the night wakings. Then I notice that, all of a sudden, she's saying all her alphabet, or her verbal skills have exploded, seemingly overnight. And then she's back to sleeping through the night. But she's two years old.

I urge you to simply enjoy this precious time with your baby, who needs your comfort and security 24 hours/day. Yes, it's exhausting (My aunt told me, "The days are long; the years are short." It makes sense now.), but it is so worth it for the baby's sense of love, and for your memories when the baby isn't a baby and needs/wants you less.

BTW, baby rice cereal doesn't need to be baby's first food. (WTEWYE really has a lot of things wrong about it. ) Avocado or banana are excellent alternatives to the fake factory-made foods. Read http://www.llli.org/FAQ/firstfoods.html for more info. Feeding baby real foods can cut down on allergies and food pickiness down the line. They get used to that smooth, applesauce consistency, and they grow up disinterested in eating anything they have to chew.

Good luck.

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K.A.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi J.. From my experience I think it might be a little early to be expecting a full night sleep. At 3 1/2 months your baby might actually be hungry when he wakes up and is probably a little too young to actually digest cerial. I would wait until you talk to your Pediatrician at your 4 month visit. Surpisingly most Dr say a baby at that age usually only sleeps 5 hours straight and that is considered sleeping through the night.
Hang in there!
Amy

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R.S.

answers from Richmond on

I have three kids and although the first one slept through the night from the time she was very little, the second didn't until he was quite a bit older. Some kids do and some kids don't. I think we tend to deceive ourselves that by feeding more/differently all babies will sleep through the night. Instead I suggest that this is just how your baby is and, as s/he grows (there is a big spurt coming, if it has not started already) s/he may wak up three times through the night. Babies' stomachs are small and don't hold much. Plus they need the constant/consistent reassurance even at night, that our culture says they shouldn't need. Your baby will sleep through the night eventually. Ae you breastfeeding? If so, feed laying down and get some sleep, too. My advice is to wait on the solids and wait on the sleeping through the night, too. It will happen believe it or not.

D.M.

answers from Norfolk on

Most 3 1/2 month old babies do NOT sleep through the night, so why are you thinking you have to try and figure out a way to make that happen? Just enjoy the baby phases as they come. He probably is still in need of those 2 feedings during the night. I wouldn't start him on anything food wise w/out talking to the Dr. first. Food allergies are more common than ever, and starting foods too early could trigger one, and more after that. I just think you should relax, and enjoy waking with your baby to feed him. They grow up so fast and change so often. He'll eventually sleep through the night, and in turn so will you! In due time!! God Bless!!!

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A.O.

answers from Washington DC on

If your son is not a tiny thing, then I would recommend using a little cereal. I was a bit nervous with my son, but around three months, I gave him just a little in his bottle. He started sleeping much better. My daughter is a lot more petite then he was, so for her I will probably wait longer than three months.

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C.S.

answers from Washington DC on

I started my daughter on cereal at 3 months (not because of sleeping issues but because milk just simply wasnt enough for her). All kids are different and you need to do what works for you. I got some nipples that had a little bigger hole in it to allow the cereal through (I had to experiment with a few different ones)and just started with a tiny bit of rice cereal (rice is easier on the tummy) then added a little more at a time. Back when I was a baby they were giving you cereal almost as soon as you came home so it cant be that bad!!....and like I said I would have had a really craby, unhappy baby for several months had I waited till they say to start cereal because she was hungry!!!

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M.K.

answers from Washington DC on

This is just my opinion from the many books I've read and my own experience with my son. I feel it's completely normal for him not to sleep through the night at 3.5 months. I'd try to get him down to one waking at night, so hopefully you can manage that, but if he's hungry, he's hungry. Does he eat eagerly when he wakes in the night or do either of this wakings seem more like just habit or because he wants comforting? You need to determine WHY he's waking before you try to stop it. Most docs recommend waiting until at least 4 months before starting on solids, so he's a little early. I discourage putting cereal in the bottle just so that you can get more sleep. If he's ready for cereal, he's ready, but otherwise, he still needs the nutrients of the bottle (I'm assuming forumla not breastmilk??) If you think he's ready for some cereal, try rice first, since that has the least potential for allergic reactions. Test to see if he has the tongue thrust reflex still and that will help you know if he's ready to eat.

I hope that helps!
-
M. K, Mom of a 2.25 year old boy

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B.S.

answers from Washington DC on

i would talk to the dr first!!!! my kids slept thru the night at 6 months and 10 months. some kids just take longer. hang in there!!!!

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S.D.

answers from Sarasota on

Have you read "On Becoming Baby Wise" by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam? I read it just after having my second baby and it helped tremendously. I attribute my baby's calm demeanor, great eating and sleeping in large part to what I learned by reading that book. I wish I had read it before having both my kids.

My baby is now almost 5 months old. I've been giving him a little cereal from a bowl but he doesn't know how to swallow it yet. I will continue to offer cereal and I'll introduce food soon to get him used to having it in his mouth but I don't believe babies need cereal or food until 6 months old. I haven't and wouldn't put cereal in a bottle.

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P.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I agree, no cereal. at 3 1/2 mos it's perfectly normal for baby to wake up at least once, the stomach is too little to hold enough food to get through the night (solid 8-10 hours). My best advice to get ready for sleeping through the night is when baby wakes, keep the lights off, keep it quick, and put baby right back to bed after feeding. My dr. suggests no diaper changes unless there is a bowel movement. The diaper change is too stimulating and may wake baby up completely (breaking the night/sleep cycle). A wet diaper is not harmful, unless there has been a poop. The less stimulation the baby gets at night, the easier baby will go back to sleep.....and eventually as the stomach grows, will stay asleep.

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B.H.

answers from Norfolk on

It is okay to put some cereal in your baby's bottle.Start with just a little bit,not to make it to thick,but just enough to satisfy them. You will find that it does make them sleep better through the night.I did it with all 3 of mine with no problems.Who can live off liquids for 6 months like the Doctor's say they're supposed to do?!!!

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E.M.

answers from Norfolk on

From all I have read, putting cereal in a bottle to help a child sleep through the night is ineffective. In addition, there are links to obesity and food allergies when starting cereal too early. Definitely talk to the Dr. first! Until you do, I would recommend just waking up with him.

Good luck...and I hope you get some good naps! ;-)

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S.D.

answers from Richmond on

Where to begin...Congratulations on your new little bundle of joy! One thing I wish I had known before having a baby is that sleeping through the night is considered 5 hours in a row at first. 3 1/2 months old is not really old enough to sleep longer than that without eating, though there are those out there who will disagree. And of course you will have at least one friend or family member who insists that their child slept "through the night" at 3 months old as if that is the magic age when all children should "achieve" this milestone. Just listen to your own motherly instincts, because you are right, whatever you choose to do. That is the best advice I have ever received. :)

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J.S.

answers from Charlottesville on

Our pediatrician said not to put cereal in their bottles as it is a choking hazard. If you are going to feed him cereal, use a spoon. You could mix a little rice cereal(we've always been told to use rice first as it is easier on their tummies) and just try spoon feeding it to him. Make it kind of runny. I am sure he will make a mess but he'll get the hang of it quick enough. I wouldn't be too concerned about him not sleeping through the night. My friend's son just started sleeping through the night and he is almost 11 months old. It varies for all babies, my daughter was about 7 weeks old when she started sleeping all night.

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T.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Yes, you can definately mix some cereal (rice) into the bottle, and/or increase the serving size before bed. He will probably wake up once for a diaper change. He probably hungry. It's not that big of a deal to consult a dr about. I have 2 kids and 1 on the way, my older kids were sleeping through the night by about 8 weeks.

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T.T.

answers from Dover on

My doctor said putting cereal in a bottle doesn't help them sleep any longer at night. However, others have told me that if they have a full belly they sleep better. My kids had cereal in their bottles and that did not help them sleep any better. I think getting up at night is one of two things: are they are really hungrey or are they getting up out of habit. If they eat a good bottle when they get up, then they were most likely hungry, if not then maybe it is habit. To break my twins of the habit after figuring out that they were not hungry I tried not to feed them but just rock them or pat them back to sleep. The goal should be trying to get them to fall back to sleep without your help. It is a hard and challenging road. Hope this is helpful.
T.
The MOM Team, helping moms stay home
www.cheerforyourfuture.com

L.A.

answers from Washington DC on

That's an old wives tale. Adding cereal to his bottle will only make it worse. It has been known to cause gastric problems if not immediately, then at some point during his growth. Babies don't have the digestive juices to assimilate cereal at less than 7months old.

It's normal for him to eat wake up to eat. If he's hungry, then feed him. Some babies just need more food. Once he goes on solids, you can feed him more during the day and won't need the extra night feedings.

~L.
www.accesspilates.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/businesssavvymoms/

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A.T.

answers from Norfolk on

At around 4 months to 6 months they suggest you can start cereal, and that is just based on an average. I don't see where it would hurt to try to give him cereal. I would not expect it to make him sleep through the night, however. That is kind of a myth. Give him the cereal by spoon during the day to beef up his calories in the day as opposed to doing it in a bottle at night. That way you can eventually dilute the bottle to just water to get him to give up night time requests. He may very likely be needing more calories right now, so try the cereal perhaps at dinner but I advise against putting it in a bottle. It will just make it harder for you to cut him back on nighttime feedings in the longrun.

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B.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hello J.
I'm a mother of two a 15 year and a 4 month old, yes 15 years old:0)! A little cereal (oatmeal to keep his bowels regular)in his bottle will not hurt him maybe not every night try every other night. And you might want to try the swaddle technique.

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M.G.

answers from Richmond on

Please reconsider the thought of giving your baby cereal at 3 months. Infants' digestive systems are NOT ready for solids at this point and to introduce them this early can lead to food allergies and sensitivities, a pre-disposition to obesity, and numerous other health issues.

3 month old very often need to eat during the night. My almost 6 month old still nurses at least once during the night, and my 2 and 4 year olds did not consistently sleep through the night until they were at least 8-9 months old.

Please talk to your pediatrician about the appropriate age to introduce solids, most recommend 6 months, and your expectations for your child's sleep pattens.

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B.G.

answers from Richmond on

I don't think putting a little cereal(oatmeal or rice) in the bottle would
hurt. I did it for my kids and they are still surviving.

B.

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M.W.

answers from Washington DC on

Hello,
I would NOT put cereal in his bottle! It is not recommended at this age and besides it wouldn't do anything anyhow!
He still needs his feedings...and he is only 3 1/2 months. Some babies just don't sleep thru the night. My son didn't sleep thru the night until he was closer to 1 year old...my daughter started sleeping thru the night at 2 months.
Each child is different..there are no guarenttes that you will have your baby sleeping thru the night anytime soon!
You never know though, he just might start soon!
Good luck!

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T.C.

answers from Washington DC on

i think that rice & oatmeal cereal have like no nutritional value, so filling him up on that will risk him getting his nutrients from the bottles that he's asking you for by waking up several times a night. little babies just don't hold that much food in their tummies, which is why they wake up often to eat around the clock. not sure where you got the idea that a 3 month old would sleep through -- my son didn't sleep through till at least 6 months, when he was 13 pounds. bigger babies can last longer through the night. unfortunately this is one of the sucky parts of having an infant but it does pass and they eventually get bigger and sleep longer....

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S.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Hello J.,

My son din't sleep through the night until he was about 9 months old. I used to feed him when he woke up even though the dr. used to tell me just to let him cry himself back to sleep but I chose not to let him cry because I didn't feel it was fair for this young child. When he was younger he would eat twice a night just like your child does then he only needed 1 feeding, then none. I never put cereal in my son's bottle because I just didn't agree with it. Remembeder your child is still a very young baby and just because someone elses child is sleeping throught the night does not mean you child will too. I know it is very tough waking up at least twice a night especially if you are a working mom but trust me it will get better. Does you child drink breast milk or formula? If your child drinks breast milk that may be why he/she is wanting to eat all the time. Breast milk is broken down much faster then formula therefore a baby might be hungry more often. If this is the case DONT stop breast feeding just keep it going!! The benifits you child is getting are so great.

Good luck with figuring out what is best for you and your baby!!

-S.

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D.S.

answers from Charlottesville on

I believe we starting giving my son rice in his milk at about 4 or 5 months old. We waited until the doctor said it was ok. I would recommend calling your doctor's office and asking to speak to the nurse. She will be able to answer your question and put your mind at ease.

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P.K.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi, J.,

Most experts now say you shouldn't start solids until 6 months, as a baby's digestive tract is not ready for them yet. Giving cereal will not help a baby sleep through anyway--that's an old wives' tale! It's actually a choking hazard and could lead to stomach upset and less sleep at night.

It's not unusual to still be doing two night feedings at this age, even though it's h*** o* you.
http://www.babycenter.com/408_when-can-my-baby-start-slee...

Five hours is considered sleeping through the night at this age, and not all babies make it for that long this early. If you're bottle-feeding, would your partner be willing to trade off getting up for feedings with you?

Hope this helps,

P.

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M.B.

answers from Dover on

Many babies don't sleep through the night until much later. My 8 month old still wakes up once to eat. I would definately suggest talking to your doctor before adding anything to his bottle. I wouldn't be concerned at this point- he's still so young.

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

hi sleepy J.!
your guy is so little. it's really not unusual for such new babies to wake up frequently throughout the night, and while getting up twice must be turning you into zombie-sleep-walk woman, it's pretty much par for the course.
i don't think you'll hurt him by trying a little rice cereal and it just might do the trick! but please don't hold out too much hope for it making him sleep more.
there's not much i can say to help a desperate sleepy mom, but hang in there. i promise you at some point you'll miss these quiet just-the-two-of-you snuggles you get now.
khairete
S.

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R.Z.

answers from Washington DC on

I concur about NO cereal in bottle. My pediatrician also said this. It hinders good eating habits. Once your baby has doubled his wait try the cereal before bed with a spoon. You can make it as runny as needed for your baby to take it comfortably off the spoon.

This did not keep my daughter from waking through the night when I started giving to her at 3 months but it did reduce the number of wakings. She will be 8 months on the 26th and still wakes twice a night on average. Some nights are a bear when she is waking every 2 hrs. I am being passive right now to it until we can settle more in our new home. I understand my doctor says, it is merely a security issue after about 3 months. Due to the stress my household has been under, I decided to continue giving her this secure feeling for the time being until our lives settle down a little.

At one point 2 months ago, I had found that only offering her a bottle with luke warm water in it when she woke up got her to sleep 8 hrs straight after the second night. She fussed and was mad the first two nights. I just walked-swayed and rocked her until she gave up fighting. An unexpected night away from home ruined the sleeping through night. I plan to use that technique again once we are more settled.

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H.E.

answers from Norfolk on

I am a mother of 3 now. Ages 9,8 and 4 mo. I would NOT put the cereal in the bottle. I have a 4 month old and I started her on cereal from a spoon almost 2 weeks ago. I have never done the bottle( cereal in it). Most doctors(good ones anyway) will tell you not to put the cereal in the bottle. Try the spoon. See what happens.

D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi J.,

It is best to talk to your nutritionist about feeding your baby at night. You don't want to get in a habit of feeding the baby food at night, or do you. The baby could be going through a growth spurt and is hungry. I don't recommend you ever letting the baby nurse a bottle without you holding the baby at this age. You want the baby to learn to attach to you and leaving the baby to nurse a bottle without you will show up as problems later on.
Talk to your pediatrician or call the Children's Hospital and ask to talk to the nurtitionist. Good luck. D.

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P.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Well is totally normal that he doesn't sleep througt the night but I started the cereal by the same time that your baby, do not be worry, he is going to love it and after a week more or less he will sleep longer. My son is usually constipated so I do not give him rice but he loves oatmeal and he only weaks up once a night. He also eats during the day some puree of vegies(lunch) and cereal(breakfast) with spoon since he was 3 1/2 months, (now he is almost 5). he is just an eater.
Good luck
P.

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R.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi J.,

I would try putting some rice cereal in his bottle... I have three children- 13yrs, 3yrs and 8 mos and I did it with all of them. (My 8 month old daughter has slept through the night -7pm- 6am- since 31/2 months when I started her on the cereal.)
Depending on your pediatrician, they may or may not agree... We have moved around alot (military) and I have found that all Ped's don't think the same. Some will tell you not to and others will tell you it is ok. But bottom line is, what you are comfotable with. Being up all night is part of having a litle one. If you want to try it I would start with just 1 scoop ( I use the one from my formula) to start with, just to thicken it a little, make a slightly larger hole in the bottle so the cereal can get through and not just the formula. Give it to him before bed. This should help him sleep, although right now it is more of a habit for him waking up then anything. Hopefully the cereal will keep him full. He may be just be growing and need the extra feeding. You caould also try swaddling him. This was the only was to get and keep my children asleep. Good Luck!!

R.

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C.E.

answers from Norfolk on

Do you still swaddle your baby? It was the only thing that helped my son (baby #3) sleep. I highly recommend Dr. Harvey Karp's book, The Happiest Baby on the Block. They should have it at the library.

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K.A.

answers from Washington DC on

My neighbor told me to put cereal in my daughter's bottle to make her sleep through the night, she swore that her kids slept through the night the first night home from the hospital because of it. But after a bit of research and talking to my daughter's doctor, I found out that introducing any kind of food too early can increase the chances of your baby developing food allergies. Hang in there, your baby will start sleeping through the night before you know it!

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D.B.

answers from Washington DC on

Hey, J.! I have a 19 month-old son, and he started sleeping through the night(at 3 months)when we moved him from our bedroom into his own nursery. I put him in the nursery for a nap one day, and he slept very peacefully for a long while. So, we tried him that night in the crib, and he slept 7 1/2 hours. Also, the rice cereal in his bottle worked. The doctor actually suggested that to me at about 2 1/2 months. The oatmeal is heavier on their stomachs, so it's better to start them with rice. No need to be nervous. Your baby will be happy for the extra full tummy! I hope this is a help to you in some way. Wishing you luck!

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D.B.

answers from Washington DC on

I put rice cereal in both my kids bottles when they were about 3 1/2 months old. Your peditrician will tell you not to but it never hurt either of my kids. I think it definitely helped. My youngest who is now 8 months had colic until she was almost 4 months so I was willing to try ANYTHING! Good luck!

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S.W.

answers from Norfolk on

Giving anything but breast milk before 6 months can set your child up for food allergies and food sensitivities down the road, I wouldn't do it. Also, its totally normal for a baby at 3.5 months to need to nurse several times a night, he's growing so much and his stomach is only the size of his little fist. I know it can be hard to be a sleep deprived momma, I have 2 little ones myself, but try to nap when when your son does that can make a world of difference. A couple of great resources are...www.askdrsears.com and www.mothering.com. Good luck, hang in there!

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A.S.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi J.

I would put cereal in his bottle. I did it with Brandon after 13weeks because he just wasn't getting enough. After breast feeding we started the formula so I could go back to work because I couldn't keep up with him. We started putting cereal in his bottle I cannot remember how much at first but it really helped and with going back to work it was great because he slept all night. the nervousness does go away. Brandon was my first and only... definetly try it ... take care A.

A.L.

answers from Washington DC on

I'd be very careful with the cereal...my son started on it at 6 months old and he became very constipated. It was heartbreaking! Have you tried swaddling? And are you nursing? 3 1/2 months is still quite early to be sleeping through the night in my experience. My son slept through the entire night when he turned 10 months. Don't want to sound disheartening, but it may continue if your baby's getting up just b/c he's hungry. Good luck to you hon!
~A.~
www.toffeecreations.net

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B.A.

answers from Washington DC on

Make sure that it is single grain rice cereal and it worked for my son, and he sleeps anywhere from 7-8 hours at a time at night now at 5 months and has been doing that for about a 1.5 months since I started to put the cereal in his formula at night, a tsp. or two or a scoop, depending on if you use formula and how much he or she takes. Hope this helps you get some rest!!

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C.W.

answers from Norfolk on

All new moms are nervous! If you have siblings that have kids call them. My sister was a great help. He probably is hungry and cereal before bedtime won't hurt. I started my daughter on cereal about the same time and she did sleep A LOT better. Actually I started giving her cereal with a spoon just to get her used to the whole feeding thing. I still mixed it with my breastmilk so it has the flavor she was used to. It was fun to have this new experience. You can also mix it with bananas or applejuice in the morning. If you still want to talk to your DR go ahead and call the office. They should have a nurse on staff that can answer you just as easily and you won't have to wait til next month.

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H.D.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi, J.. Babies are supposed to wake up to eat through the night at 3 1/2 months old. My kids didn't sleep through the night until after their first birthday (that's extreme, but it was because of me not wanting to let them cry). I tried the cereal in the bottle and both of my girls (twins) got GAS and CONSITPATED. Try giving him just a little (a couple fo bites) from a spoon about an hour or so before he goes to bed for about a week. If he tolerates it, you can try giving him a little more. Also, once the girls were able to tolerate it, they didn't sleep any better. I think sleeping through the night is something they just grow into. Good luck.

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A.P.

answers from Roanoke on

When I took my daughter to her 4 month appt., her pediatrician said we should hold off on any solids until she's 6 mos. old. Said the AMA has come out this year with studies showing that babies that have solids too early have problems as adults with obesity, heart disease, diabetes and food allergies. Apparently, before they are six months old, they can tell when they are full from liquids but not from solids so there's a tendency to get too many calories in their diets. I was ready at 4 months to start her on solids to help her sleep but she started that on her own sporadically around 5 months. I don't know that solids really has anything to do with babies sleeping through the night? Good luck with your decision. Just remember, he's your baby and you do what you feel is best for him and your family.

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T.L.

answers from Washington DC on

doctors recommend starting babies on rice and cereals at 4 months anyways so 2 weeks early won't do you or your baby any harm. also rice in the bottle might help your baby sleep a little bit longer but (as someone else stated earlier) babies have little stomachs and can only go so long without eating; that's why most books clarify that "sleeping through the night" is really 6-8 hrs at a time. waking up twice a night isn't bad at all but if you really want to my friend swears by this book "12 hours sleep at 12 weeks" i know your baby's a little older than that but it'll still work. good luck

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A.S.

answers from Richmond on

Hey J.,
It is not too early to give your son a little bit of cereal, you dont have to give a lot. Just a little and that would stick to him and make him sleep a little longer. I hope that your son begins sleeping through the night.

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L.S.

answers from Norfolk on

I am a mother of two children ages 3 1/2 and 5 years old. If your 3 1/2 month old is showing interest in food maybe try feeding him a small amount of cereal from a spoon before bed. I know that most pediatricians say to start them on some vegetables as well as cereal around 4 months old anyway. Two weeks won't make that much of a difference. My 3 year old actually jumped over her dad at 4 months old to get at her bothers soup, that's when we decided maybe it was time to start introducing different foods.

L. S.

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T.S.

answers from Washington DC on

J.,
It is very normal for a baby of 3.5 months to be eating every 3-4 hours. Do not put cereal in his bottle at this time. Your Dr. will tell you when to start him on that. Sorry you and your husband will need to continue to awaken and feed him. How much does he weigh? I have a 21 month old special needs child, who I wake up each night in the middle of the night so she can get extra calories. She is underweight for her age and not a great eater.
How much is he drinking at each feeding?
This too shall pass. Just think, he may sleep through the night in a month or so, but make sure he is getting enough calories.
T.

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C.D.

answers from Washington DC on

J.,

This won't really help, but my son woke up two times a night until he was about 6 months, then once a night until he was about 12 months. I honestly think that babies/children are all different - some are good sleepers, some have more difficulty - just like adults. Talk to your pediatrician about it, but I wouldn't worry about it. Of course, I know it's tough on your sleep patterns...

C.

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J.P.

answers from Lynchburg on

J. I have a 2 year old daughter and a 2 month old son, my daughter stayed hungry when she was little I started giving her cereal in a bottle around 2 months and she still didnt sleep through the night. With my son the earlier I put him to bed the better and longer he sleeps. You may try that.

J. P.

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D.M.

answers from Washington DC on

J., congrats on u're baby first of all. Now to the issue at hand, u're baby's only 3 1/2 months, there is no such thing as a newborn sleeping through the night. They need the wake periods to feed for a reason. It has been done for so many years for people to give cereal to babies but that is truly a myth about it helping the baby sleep. All it does is cause their tummies to be a little full but also bloated. You don't want to give them cereal at this age either cause it poses a threat for allergies, that's why the AAP has standard reccommendations to start solids by 6 months. Please speak to your Dr. about this as well. I know it is overwhelming to not get adequate sleep but your going to have to bear with it. As parents we won't get sleep anymore really till their grown and out the house! If you are still on maternity leave, the best thing to do is sleep when u're baby's sleeping. Everything else can wait--dishes, chores, talking on phone. Hope this helps

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S.K.

answers from Washington DC on

It is completely normal for a 3.5 month old to awaken a couple of times to feed at night. Most babies do not start sleeping through the night until they have both gained enough body fat to sustain them longer without waking up from hunger, and hit a neurological milestone which happens at closer to 5 months. This can't be rushed along with adding cereal. It seems like cereal makes it happen because many people start cereal at about the same as the baby's brain clicks into being able to sleep all night. Recent medical studies show that starting food too early sets your child up with an increased risk of obesity later. Take naps when you can while the kid is asleep or hand him of to someone else and get a nap in. You only have about 6 weeks to go, and then you'll get at least a six hour stretch, possibly 8 or 10 hours.

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