Hi moms - need some help here. My son who is almost 9 months is suddenly waking up at least once sometimes twice a night. I thought it was because he is teething so badly and just uncomfortable. I've been trying to comfort him by rubbing his back first, then picking him up and walking the house, tylonol, teething tablets etc...The only thing that gets him to settle down and go back to sleep is a bottle. I feel like I'm regressing with him!!! He was sleeping thru the night very early on and so this is throwing us all for a loop. I have two other boys 3 and 2 but they never did this. All my pediatrician says is don't feed him. I have tried to let him cry it out but we can all take so much. He's on all solid foods and gets a 5-6 oz bottle every 4-5 hours including his final bedtime feeding at 7:45 ish. This WAS working beautifully for months without a peep from him til morning! Now I think we've gotten into a bad habit and not sure what to do. I know it's a phase but maybe you have some good tips to get us thru!
If you notice him sleeping more during his naps, then he is most likely going through a growth spurt. My son did this around the same age and when he woke up it was because he was hungry. During his growth spurts all he wanted to do is eat and sleep.
My son went through the same exact thing at around 9mo. They teethe FOREVER it seems like (my son is 19mo. & has ANOTHER TOOTH coming in!) so the wake up in the middle of the night must be teething (he CAN physically sleep through the night at this point w/out food).
You could try Chamomilia homeopathy tablets from the Hylands "Kids kit" (they sell at Whole Foods", may have to special order. But we only gave son tylenol once and I hated doing it. Chamomilia seemed to work for him. Other than that, letting him cry,is the next best. Staying in the room with him to soothe him for too long only amplifies the situation and revs him back up (at least that's what my son did, he would get fully awake and then it would take FOREVER to get him back down). It's like a vicious cycle. He'll get the picture really quick that he needs to self soothe. If he goes on and on after the chamomile, than maybe go in, pat his back and say "go back to sleep sweetie, Mommy loves you." But leave immediately. Those are really the only tactics that worked for us.
Could you try a solid food snack WITH his last bottle?
also, white noise in his room at night might help.
Good luck!
9 months is a growth spurt time... and their intake needs increases.... and it reflects their growing and development needs.
Our Pediatrician... says to feed on-demand for the 1st year. For the 1st year, a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition is from breastmilk/Formula... NOT solids and not other liquids. And they should still be fed on-demand 24/7 for brestmilk or Formula. And it should be given before solids... not after. If giving the bottle/breastmilk after solids... this is done to "wean" a baby.
I would not deny him feedings at night, if he is hungry. I'm sorry, but I disagree with your Pediatrician saying don't feed him.
Each baby is different... with different needs and appetites.
My kids when they were babies, had HUGE HUGE appetites and during growth spurts. They would wake too, and were simply hungry. Really hungry.
Also keep to regular naps and nap times. My son at that age was napping 3 times a day. 2 at the least.
If a baby is over-tired... they do not sleep well and wake more.
Sleep "patterns" in a baby always changes... and if reflects their changing development/cognitive development/motor skills, as well. It is not set in stone.
9 months old is a big developmental change, and he is simply changing. He is not a newborn anymore. And at 1 year old, they change a lot again... and their sleep.
Every 3 months is a "growth-spurt."
All the best,
Susan
