7 Months Old Not Sleeping

Hey T.,

If you are sure she is not hungry, then I would try an early bedtime. Studies show the earlier kids go to bed the better sleep they get. Sometimes we can miss the signs of them being overtired and that will create a restless sleep. You didn't mention what her bedtime is. If that doesn't work then you may have to let her just cry it out and sleep train. I did a modified version of the Ferber method I know many moms are opposed but it does work. It all depends on how desperate you are for sleep and if you can handle the crying. I would put my kids in put music on and say night night. Go in every five minutes or so check on them maybe rub their back but do not pick them up and then leave, continue checking on them so they know you have not abandoned them until they go to sleep. The first night was the worst the next night the crying was cut in half by the third night maybe five minutes and the fourth night right to sleep no problem. When you sleep train it teaches them how to fall asleep on their own and also when they wake during the night they know how to put themselves back to sleep on their own. I am not sure if you are open to this it is difficult to do but it does work. And as long as you are close by it is very safe. I waited until mine were 1 and it was worse they could stand and call my name and cry for much longer so I would suggest if your open to it do it now. Before any sleep training I would suggest a doctors visit to make sure there is nothing else going on, ear infection, reflux, teething etc. I would never do any sleep training until I was sure my baby was okay. It will also help you not to second guess yourself. Good luck if you need any support just reach out!!

T.,

Is she eating enough during the day? Is she teething? The book "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley helped me figure out how to get my son to sleep for longer stretches.

Good Luck,
R

T.,
All I can say is: all babies are different. Have patience with your little girl!

Another thought: reflux. I suspected reflux for my little guy, and after finally pursuing it with the ped'n, have figured out he has it. :( Any time he went horizontal, he woke right up! I'd get him to sleep in a swing, and he'd go into the pack and play or cradle, and once he woke in the middle of the night for that feeding, he'd wake on horizontal again!

Good luck!
M.

I heard that you can give a bit of chamomile tea room temperature of course in the sippy cup of very little water to aid a baby go to sleep. I have not had a chance to try it out on my baby but yoga instructor and nurse at pediatrician's office recommend it. Please check with your pediatrician before you do anything. I usually get my baby to sleep as he is cranky (he is a very happy baby so anything but a smile we label as cranky)by nursing him.

Quite honestly, its very normal for a baby to still be waking at this age. She needs to nurse through the night, as tiring as it may be sometimes. If you are deadset on night weaning her, I would like to second the no-cry sleep solution. It has practical and gentle methods to help your baby sleep. I am not an advocate for crying it out. I havent read one thing that says it isnt harmful. But in any case, if you arent dead set on night weaning (which I dont recommend at this age because it could really tank your supply) you could bring her back to bed with you when she wakes to nurse. This way, she's nursed back to sleep and you are able to sleep too. Some families are not comfortable with co-sleeping or shouldnt co-sleep for reasons that make it not safe, but you could just lay with her and stay awake, then lay her back down once she has fallen asleep. Or you could keep her in a pack and play in your room so she's close by when she wakes. That way she is quick to soothe back to sleep with minimal disturbance. Either way, know that its normal (even if your older baby didnt do it) and it shall pass!

Hi T.
Congrats on lovely family!!
Don't expect all children to be the same. There are no children that fit the average child exactly.
Some children don't sleep as well as others.
When you say your 7mo wakes up every few hours, does that mean they turn over, fuss, and go back to sleep when you ....
Let me tell you my story:
Our oldest slept all night from about 10 days. In fact I was petrified that he didn't wake up, along came our younger son and he never slept. By 5 mo, he crawled out of crib, by 7 mo he was in the twin bed, hoping he would sleep. By a year, he went to bed at 10 and up at midnight and sometimes slept again from 3-5AM. By 18 mo, he only slept 10 -12. Yes, 2 hours in 24 hours. I took him to MD, all was well, bright, and well adjusted. No med. issues!!!
Never did he sleep more than that, at first he ran around our bed, then we made him stay in his room, then we made him stay on his bed. OK, he is not typical, but today he is 32 and wife is thrilled that he sleeps so little because she can sleep through any and all night feedings of their 5 mo, because he is already up.
Hopefully when you are up with your little one my story reminds you that it could be worse. I would tell the MD that I needed more sleep than son did and he would laugh and say that can be so. I said if I had another child like him I would continue to take that child to MD til they found a cause.
He was 14, when our twins were born. One of them slept about 4 hours in 24 and when I mentioned it to MD he said, did any of the others sleep short periods of time. When I said yes, he said you have another one.
God bless you and give you joy
K. SAHM married 38 years=== adult children 37 coach, 32 lawyer married with 5 mo. and twins 18 in college after homeschooling. Journalism major (3.8 GPA) Fine Arts major living on campus(doesn't need sleep anyway) (3.7GPA)