My four month old baby girl (she will be 5 months next week ) is not sleeping as well as she use to. For awhile she was sleeping a straight 8 hours, now she goes down at 7 and wakes at 1 a.m. She is very restless, thrashing in bed, turning from side to side...she almost looks like she is frustrated that she can't get comfortable. I don't let her get to a cry, she just sort of whines a little bit. Prior to this she would wake up 3 times a night for the pacifier. ( see my previous entry titled "pacifier dependent".) Several people have told me about letting her cry it out but honestly, I don't think I'd be able to do it! Another detail is that we are in a one bedroom apartment so her crib is in my room! any ideas?
You say she would wake up for the pacifier but you don't mention if you breastfeed or give her a bottle too. Is she hungry? A baby this age still needs to eat in the middle of he night in case you aren't feeding her. also, babies go through a major brain development around this age and it's not at all uncommon for them to sleep more restlessly.
Hi Cathy,
My son is now 18 mo and started doing the same thing around that time. I didn't get him to sleep through the night until he was 14mo. What ended up working for me was a fan. The noise I guess blocked out the other sounds. I had tried everything and all other white noise. That did the trick though. I use just a little one so it doesn't get too cool in the winter. His room is very small. I couldn't let him cry it out. Just remember it is a phase and will get better. That is what worked for me but as you could tell I had a long stretch of sleepless nights. Those darn teeth are a big cause also. Good Luck!
I felt the same way. Didnt think I could do cry it out (& glad I chose not to) b/c we hired a sleep consulultant who figured out he was waking up b/c he was still hungry (my supply was low apparently). After they stepped in he was put on a schedule & now he sleeps 12 1/2 hrs straight at night. It was the best $ we EVER spent. Feel free to call me if you want info about the company. It's called www.dreamteambaby.com.
If you send me a personal e-mail I will give u my cell if you want it ( :
Good luck either way!
first of all im shocked that she was sleeping for 8 hours straight!! thats amazing! if its any consolation, my son didnt sleep through the night until he was 15 months...at such a young age there is no way you should let her cry it out..i didnt, its not recommened for CIO until at least 6 months anyway..just keep going to her and snuggling her.
I'd say it might be a couple of things. First of all, babys sleep paterns keep changing in the first few months. Annoying but true! Does she usually feed at the 1 am wake up? My son was feeding twice a night at 4 months, finally we pushed him to drop one night feed at 5 1/2 months and by 6 months or so he slept through the night. We were lucky though that he dropped the two night feeds in such rapid succesion.
Secondly she could be going through a growth spurt and need to eat more or a developmental change and that could be making her restless. Or teething - we had quite a few sleepless nights with mg sons first few teeth! At this age I wouldn't worry about the pacifier if it helps her sleep. I know what you mean about the one bedroom we are also in NYC and only just moved to a 2-bed (my son is 1).
Good luck!
It could be that she is teething.
Hi Cathy,
You seem to have very good instincts about not wanting to "let her cry it out". Your daughter sounds like a "good sleeper" when things are right in her world. Many babies start teething around your daughter's age and that is something that could very well cause night wakings. When you say that she is restless, thrashing in bed, turning from side to side and that she is frustrated and can't get comfortable, you have probably hit the nail on the head. Those teeth hurt when they are coming in! How comforting it must be for her when you attend to her needs. In my experience working with lots of moms and babies, when the teething stops, "good sleepers" go back to being "good sleepers". But for now she may just need a little motherly TLC. And remember "this too shall pass", and in my humble opinion way too fast.
Mary Lou M
A little about me:
Mom of 3, college freshman, hs sophomore and 6th grader, practicing lactation consultant, labor and post partum doula, and childbirth educator. Long time breastfeeding advocate. Personally I feel very strongly that the bonds we foster with our children when they are babies, gives them the confidence they need to face the world and all it has to offer, when they are grown, all the while knowing that if they "really need us" no matter what we will be there for them.
Dear Cathy,
It sounds to me as though your daughter may be waking up with hunger pains. You didn't mention any eating habits. Breast milk, and even formula does not satisfy them for long as it is easily digestible. You may want to consider adding a little bit cereal to her diet, especially before bedtime. It will keep her full for longer.
I agree with you not to let her cry it out; it only frustrates them.
I hope this helps.
W.
Sometimes babies seem to go backwards instead of forwards. YOu said she is four months old right? So have you started baby food? Maybe something she ate isnt setting right with her. Or could she be constipated? My son is six months and he started doing the same thing your daughter did when he was teething. Maybe she is teething... what I do for my son is I give him a teething tablet before he goes to bed and if it is really bothering him I give him motrin right before bed. Four months is a kind of stepping stone for babies, but im sure in a few weeks she will go back to normal. I hope this might help you.
Cathy,
I agree with not letting a child cry it out, especially a 4 or 5 month old baby, but give her a chance to settle herself back to sleep. If she is really uncomfortable she may be teething, going through a growth spurt, and is hungry, or she may be getting ready to roll over. Milestones like that disrupt the sleep pattern also. She should be back to normal in a few weeks. I would recommend reading The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. Lots of great information and suggestions.
Good luck,
R.
Hi Cathy,
Although I am a believer in Cry it Out I think your daughter is too young. You didn't mention diet, is she eating any solids yet? It could also be teething. Do you have a bedtime routine? I always gave my kids their bath at night. I really believe in night time bathing, because I think it helps to relax them and also gets them prepared for their night time routine. I would contact the doctor and ask for advice as far as introducing solids if you think it could be a hunger issue. My daughter would wake up all night for her pacifier as well but she also had constant ear infections so that was her issue. The pacifier can also be the culprit because she doesn't know how to put herself to sleep without it. Sorry if I haven't been much help but I think it is the process of elimination at this point. All trial and error. Just make sure to try one thing for a few days so you can see what works and what doesn't. Good luck I hope you get sleep soon.
Dear Cathy, The change in her sleep habits is most likely due to teething. Check if her gums are white or light. At only 5 months she is still very young. I also do not agree with crying it out. My first 3 we were in a 1 bedroom apartment. When I had my last 2 we had a house but the little ones were still in the room with us so I would pick up the baby and get him out of the room as my husband drove a truck and needed his sleep. Motherhood is not easy but it is rewarding. We all survive. Grandma Mary
Cathy,
Your little one should be teething around this time. Give her a teething toy. A parent suggested frozen bagels. I would chk with her ped and mention it the next time you go for chk-up. BTW, Orajel does not work - it's a waste of money.
Good luck!
