My son is 7 months old and for the last 3 months has been waking up between 4 and 5 am every morning. I always tell my pedi he sleeps through the night, because he really does except for this, and has since he was about 3 months old, but this is making me so tired! His sleep schedule is pretty set-he goes to bed around 9 or 10, which is when he has his last bottle of the night (with some cereal in it), then he gets up screaming at 4 or so and has another bottle and wakes up for the day at 8. My husband says just to let him cry and he'll get over it, but I'm worried it will hurt him somehow. This is my second, and I didn't have any problems like this with my first. She would sleep from 9pm to 8am without any problems, so I guess I got spoiled :) Should I just let him cry and give him his bottle at 8 when he wakes up for the day, or do I continue to give him one at 4? He's kind of big for his age, so I don't know if he needs the food or if he's just used to me giving it to him at that time. Thanks!
It may be a growing spurt. I'd try and put an extra feeding in during the day and see if that helps you out. That will keep you from forming a bad habit of middle of the night feedings.
C.
My daughter did this when she was 6 months. I let her cry herself back to sleep. It was torture, but it only lasted about 4-5 nights. Now she almost always sleeps from 8pm to 7am without waking up.
You are spoiled!!! I dream of only getting up once at 4 am to feed my 9 month old! They consider "sleeping through the night" at that age sleeping 5-7 hours at a time. You are expecting his little growing body to go a LONG time without feeding him. I would feed him and be thankful that he sleeps for 7 hours at a time! When babies cry at this age it is for a reason...he is still a baby.
Hi E.,
I went through the same thing with my son at that age. My doctor suggested that we give him water vs. milk or juice.
Reasoning is simple...
The water doesn't taste as good as the milk or juice and after awhile they will stop waking up for it.
You also mentioned that he was big for his age, you might want to try a little baby cereal in his bottle at bedtime.
Best of luck to you!
C. Roeschen
The Trinity Group
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My son does this before milestones. We normally will get up and rock with him. Our paci has been a savior. He normally goes right back down. I am convinced he wakes up and sees he is alone and freaks out. I think he wants to make sure we are still there. Maybe you and the hubby could take turns getting up until it passes.
I wouldn't give him a bottle when he wakes up at 4 am. When he wakes up, I would try putting him back in bed, patting him, not holding. My daughter did the same at this age. The doctor suggested that babies need to learn how to soothe themselves. I think he may be used to getting the bottle at this time, you are right about that. I could never let my kids just cry, I know that is what we are told to do. But do not give in to the bottle. Pat him, put music on maybe. Hope this helps a little. I am not the expert.
My son started waking up around 8 months and I did the same, I'd bring him a bottle. Well, now he's almost 2 and unofortunately he's still in the same routine!
Goes to be around 8-9 and wakes up around 3-4 every morning and I bring him a cup with milk and he's back to sleep within minutes after getting some milk in his tummy.
He was also a big boy and still is and I thought the same way you do, he needs it since he's bigger. Now, I don't think that way, I feel I just let him get into a bad routine that's now going to be alot harder to break!
I just assumed he'd grow out of it and eventually stop waking up for his milk but so far it's an every night thing!
So my advice to you would be to let your little one cry it out and I'm sure since he's only 7 months old it will stop very soon. I know it's hard to let your baby cry but to me if you go in there and try and soothe him every time he cries, he'll catch onto that and then he'll have another habit he'll wake up for. He's still so young so letting him cry for no longer than 15 minutes will NOT hurt him at all.
I wouldn't want you to get into the same routine I have with my son so do your best to stop it now.
I'm now pregnant with another boy and really need my sleep and so far I'm still not getting good sleep with him waking me up every night so GOOD LUCK to you and hope you can break the habit quick!
~N.~
