6.5 Month Old Still Waking up at Night!!!

Hi C.,

Check out Dr. Sears's advice at:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070300.asp

I found his advice right on. And, it made a great deal of sense.

Best,
L.

I would count your blessings that your son is sleeping at least 7 or 8 hours straight before waking up, if I understand your posting. You might try waking him up to nurse before you go to bed. That might satisfy him and delay him waking up to what you might consider a more reasonable hour. As others have said, each baby is different. My oldest didn't sleep through the nite until he was well over a year, wheras my second was on an excellent schedule by 4 months. One of the differences is that my first was an early baby and he was smaller so he really did need those night time nursings (we didn't stop those until he was 15 months old). Whereas, my younger son was a big baby and would nurse right before bed - asleep by 8 and slept until between 5 and 6. To survive my oldest son, what I did was to have him stay up later with Dad and I would go to bed early before 9, then around 11, my husband would bring the baby to nurse and that would tide him over till 2-3, then he would nurse again around 6 when I got up. He would usually sleep for a couple hours after that. Also, are you sure you're not so busy that you're not nursing enough during the day, so he's trying to catch-up at nite? Just something to consider since you do have another child at home that might be demanding your attention.

I have to agree with everyone else on this one, all baies are different and some need extra love and cuddles in the night for longer. I would try what I call a short nursing though. Let him nurse on the first side until the milk lets down and his sucking slows down, then switch to the other side for just a few minutes. Another words, you could make it a small feed and them maybe over the next few weeks he will decide that small amount of milk just isn't worth getting up for.

Another thing you might try is "Dream Nursing" , Go in right before you go to bed for the night, 10 or whatever and nurse him in his dark, quiet room and fill him up, and then put him right back to bed. Maybe that will help he go longer. I "dream nurse" mine for months after they start going to bed early.

Good luck!
C.

Every baby is different and I beleive he just may not be ready to sleep all nite, yet. I have an 11 month old that doesnt sleep thru the nite. I would suggest talking to your pediatrician and see what she recommends.

I agree with the poster who suggested talking to your son's pediatrician. My son's pedi told me to keep feeding him at night when he wakes up until 9 months. I know it's not fun waking up every night. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Your son is already sleeping 7 hours, what a good boy! My son slept thru the night around 8 months, so just hold on for another month or so. It will get better and those sleepless nights will be gone!! I remember the first full night of sleep, aahh!
Don't let him cry it out, he's just a hungry little man.
You might want to consider giving him some cereal or solids, if you are not already doing so.
Could he have an ear infection or some other sorts of pain?

hi C.
i had the same probleme with my last child age 1 year old now , i am a mother of three 6 & 2 i've never had this probleme with any of the first ones but the last one made my nights sleepless this is what i did after trying everything that a doctor told me and never worked , i realised that my son was waking up out of hunger so i waited untill he turned 5 months old and then i started feeding him cereal 30 min before going to bed and after that 30 min i'll give him a bottle to put him to bed then i'll go and put him in his crib the first time he cryed for an hour and then slept 45 min he woke up screaming i did not go to him he was crying for a good 30 min then went back to sleep and stayed like that for every hour it was hard for me to hear him cry but i stayed strong as long as you keep checking on him without him seeing you , after 2 days i was exausted but guess what ?? it worked he gave up he knew i will not go to him as long as i new his diaper was clean and his stomach was full it's ok when they cry it's even good for theme .
i hope this will help you just try it and be strong to keep it up and u'll have ur sleeping nights back again trust me .
good luck .

I am not sure if the takes a binky, but you might want to try it. I know most people do not want their children to use one, but it might keep him from wanting to nurse. You will have to go into his room when he wakes up and probably put it in his mouth for a couple of night, but he should get the hang of it soon. My 9 month old was the same way. He woke up several times during the night until he was around 6 months old. He still has days when he wakes up at 5 a.m. and I have to find his binky and give it to him. I would try it and see if it works. Good luck I know how difficult it can be having to wake up every night hand in there it will get better.

He's sleeping 7 - 8 hours solid? That IS sleeping through the night. Try putting him to bed at 9 or 9:30 (with a feeding right before) if you want him to sleep later.

I went through the same thing, C.! My oldest slept through the night from DAY ONE, and my 2nd didn't start sleeping through the night until he was about 8 or 9 months old. (My brain is still "fuzzy" on stuff like that. Don't know why I can remember *exactly* what and when with my oldest, and can't remember last week with my youngest!) Btw, they are 14 years and 9 days apart in age!

All I can say about it is that every baby is different, and some just need that extra feeding in the middle of the night to keep them sleeping. Don't worry, though, it IS normal, and "this too shall pass", although I know it doesn't feel like it will at this point.

If you can afford it, you might want to hire a "sitter" to come in for an hour or two in the afternoons to watch your children and let you get a nap without having to worry about them. Or maybe a friend can come over and watch them.

Hope you feel rested soon!
~J.~