Baby Sleeping Through the Night

Updated on October 06, 2006
M.T. asks from Agawam, MA
25 answers

Hi Everyone! I have an 8 week old son. My husband and I give him a bottle of formula around 9:30 p.m. each night. I am still breastfeeding my son except the one bottle of formula before bed. He used to wake up around 12:30 a.m. for a feeding and has recently starting waking between 2:30/3:30 a.m. for his next feeding, which is great. After I breastfeed at 2:30/3:30 a.m. he wakes again anywhere from 4:30/5:30 a.m. for another feeding. I am going back to work in a couple of weeks and would like him to only wake once a night. My family keeps on telling me to give him rice cereal in his formula bottle and they insist he will sleep through the night. My son's doctor says he doesn't recommend the rice cereal. Does anyone have any advice? Thanks!

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks for everyone's advice. I am going to stick with my gut and what my baby's doctor has said and not try the rice cereal until I get the doctor's approval. My son's health is more important than a full nights sleep. I know a lot of people have done the rice cereal and their kids were fine, including everyone in my family, but I want to do everything that I can for my son to live a healthy life. Thanks again.

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.J.

answers from Buffalo on

HI M.,
I wish there were a concrete answer for you but in my experience babies sleeping patterns are not pretictable, as soon as you think they are on one schedule they will prove you wrong. As far as the rice cereal it did work for my son, but my daughters it made them gassy and on those nights we got no sleep. I would say to go ahead and try it but it is not a magic remedy. when trying the rice cereal do only put a small amount in with his formula, the doctor doesnt recommed the cereal because of the risk of the little guy choking on too thick of a bottle. hope this helps

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.L.

answers from New London on

I tried the rice cereal in the formula. Lily did seem to sleep longer, but then one night I forgot to do it and she slept just as long. I don't think that it made a difference. Maybe you should try giving him another bottle of formula instead of breastfeeding when he wakes up. Formula takes longer to digest, so he wouldn't be hungry as soon. Good luck!

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.

answers from New York on

The rice cereal DOES NOT work for all babies. We started giving our son cereal at 4 mos, and he didn't sleep through the night until he was 7 mos. So, no there is no gurantee that the cereal will make him sleep through the night. This is what I did and it worked great. I also breastfeed my son, until he was 9 mos in fact and I went back to work when he was 12 wks. When he wakes in the night, bring him into bed with you, I actually set up my pack and play so he was right next to me. Lay on your side, belly to belly (the baby is facing you). Hook him up to the breast he is closest too...And go back to sleep, I usually had him on the side between me and hubby. I also didn't switch sides if he woke-up again. 8 weeks is still early to sleep through the night. Most babies don't until they are 6 mos on average. Yes...I know, the feeding time is bonding time, but how are you suppose to bond with a baby when your half asleep. I also suggested this to a friend who has a 3 yr old and a newborn. She said it's a life-saver.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.R.

answers from Albany on

My daughter is now five months old and has always been a very good eater. When she was around your son's age, my boyfriend's mother kept suggesting that I put cereal in her bottle. I said, NO WAY!!! First of all, the thought of putting cereal in her bottle just didn't sound safe to me. Also, babies digestive systems aren't developed enough to have cereal that early. My doctor told me not to give my daughter cereal until she was at least 3 months old and eating more than 32 ounces in a 24 hour period. What I did was gradually give her more formula in her bottles. And, actually, by 9 or 10 weeks, she was sleeping 10 hours a night. So, my suggestion is to give him another ounce or two in his bottle and hopefully that will hold him a little longer. Good luck!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.A.

answers from New York on

Get the Enfamil AR formula. My son had reflux, and this formula has a tiny bit of rice cereal to thicken it. Your baby might benefit from the thickness in this formula, but putting rice cereal from a box into the bottle, even a little bit, makes it too hard to get through the nipple. This way, you don't have to do extra mixing.
But, about your baby sleeping through the night, this doesn't mean your son will. It's up to the baby. And sorry to tell you this, but my son whose 19 months, and my cousins babies 20 and 21 months don't sleep through the night yet. Most don't. So, my advice on this is to take turns with your husband. One feeding is yours, one is his.
Good luck. Contact me if you need to.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.N.

answers from Burlington on

My second daughter still doesnt sleep thru the night and she's 5-- each child is different. Dont give the baby any rice cereal at least until 3-4 months though becasue theie little bodies arent adjusted enough to break down any type of food yet. My daughter who'ds one now has been sleeping thru the night since 5 months but i beleive i was blessed. Each child is different though and even if you try the cereal he still might wake-- he's still very young but you will eventually get some sleep- i promise!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.M.

answers from Portland on

Hi M.,

Definitely don't go the cereal route. I have to say, my daughter started on rice cereal at night when she was four months old, and it had ZERO affect on her sleep habits. She did not sleep any longer than she did prior. I know lots of people swear by it, but if your baby is like mine and it has no affect, then you are risking allergies for no reason. Also, your baby is VERY young still to be expected to only get one feeding a night. His current habit of feeding at 9:30 and sleeping until 2:30 or 3:30 is actually considered "sleeping through the night" at this point because he has gone 5 hours or more. In baby's world, he had done his "fasting" for the night and wants to get back to his daytime eating schedule of every 2-3 hours, so wakes again at 5 to eat. I have to tell you (not to scare you!) but my daughter who is nearly 7 months, wakes up like clock-work at 4:30 or 5 am everyday. It is now the only time she wakes up all night, but it's only been about a month since this became her only feeding. To be honest, I love this feeding time, because when she wakes up, I take her into bed with us, and go back to sleep while she nurses and then we get to snuggle until I have to get up for work at 7:30. Maybe when you start work, you can try that, too. Don't try to make a baby this small fit into your schedule yet. He wakes up for a legitimate reason, and you are responsible for meeting that need. If he wants to eat, feed him and for now, work your schedule around him. Don't worry, it will change in time and he'll fall into a pattern that will get easier and easier as he gets older!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.R.

answers from Rochester on

Hi M.,
Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! Did your pediatrician indicate why he did not want the baby to have cereal? I have three sons, all of which were on rice cereal before bed and all of them started sleeping almost through the night. They usually went down at about 8pm and slept until about 6am. I'm not a doctor, but I don't see why your doctor woudl say no to the cereal. Maybe wait a few weeks and approach him about it again. I don't know if this will be helpful to you or not. I just wanted you to know it worked wonders for me!

PS> My boys were all breastfed too during the day and given formula before bed with the cereal.

K. R.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from New York on

Cereal before six months (average) is not good for them. It will not make them sleep thru the night. No matter what anyone says. You are nursing an 8 week old, who is not ready physically to sleep thru the night.
YOu might find it more successful to nurse him at the 10 oclock feeding, making sure he feeds well and offer him the formula in the middle of the night feeding. I am a post partum doula and find that this works well with my nursing moms that I am with at night. It gives them a break at NIGHT and some much needed rest. If you let your husband do that feeding, you'll be able to sleep. You might have to do 'shift work' until he is sleeping thru the night. Hubby goes to bed early and you do the 10 o clock and then he can get up for the formula feeding. Then you get up for the next nursing feeding, which will probably be around 4-5am. Before you know it, your baby will be sleeping a longer stretch. "THru the night' in reality at under 6 months means 6 hours straight sleep. Shoot for that first.
good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Bangor on

M.,

Your child is only 8 weeks old, he shouldn't be sleeping through the night yet. I wouldn't try the rice cereal until he is 3 months. and then it probably won't allow him to sleep through the night just about an hour or so longer.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.F.

answers from Rochester on

M.,
Food for thought.... in china they do not give rice first...
Chinese medicine says to give orange foods first to aid digestion. Think about adding a bit of sweet potatoes into the bottle. This can thicken the bottle just enough to satify for a longer time. This trick worked well with my nieces and I wish I had known for my son.
-Dr. Heather

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.P.

answers from Providence on

Hi M.,
Sneaking cereal in a baby's bottle tricks their bodies into taking on more calories then they actually need. Their bodies shut down based on volume at this point because it is expecting breast milk. This can lead to problems when your son is older. 8 weeks is too early to be sleeping through the night. I know the lack of sleep tough, especially when you hear the stories of babies sleeping through since birth, but time will pass quickly and the sacrifices you make now will help him be healthier later on. Good luck with everything.

K.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.P.

answers from Providence on

I had this problem also and was advised by my mother in law to try this so it fills her tummy for better sleep, I at first resisted but after 3 nights of no sleep I had to try something, it actually worked. I only put recommended amount and she slept, the whole time she was just hungry and the formula was not filling her. The only difference is my daughter was alittle older then 8 weeks, she was 3 months. Every baby is different and you have to try things to see what works, try it, if it works great, if not then you at least you know.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.A.

answers from Providence on

Although Most children seemed to thrive when adding cereal. A small number of children, do not tolerate the addition, because their sucking and swallowing actions were not yet fully coordinated. They inhaled small amounts of the rice cereal into their lungs, which led to pulmonary problems. If a child weighs at least thirteen pounds and has good head control, solid foods can be started as early as three months. Four months old isn't the magical date to start solid foods, it is fine to start later than that, or as I mentioned, in some cases as early as three months. At about this age the caloric needs of a baby increase. At this age most babies need 24 to 32 ounces of breast milk (which is impossible to measure, but babies do an excellent job getting just the right amount) or formula, plus as much solid food as they want. The Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting with rice cereal. We do not recommend putting it in a bottle, but feeding it to a baby from a spoon. Rice cereal can be purchased in jars, as a dry mix, or you can prepare your own by cooking rice without salt or seasoning and pureeing it in a food processor or blender. If you choose the dry mix, the rice cereal box will have directions for mixing it in the correct proportions with either breast milk or formula for baby's first meal -- which is very diluted. As the child gets older, the cereal can be mixed into a thicker consistency.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.L.

answers from New York on

Hi M.,

First I want to congratulate you for being committed to breastfeeding! It is a difficult thing to do.

My son is now 9 months, and believe me when I tell you IT WILL get much easier! The begining is the hardest and it really does make it tempting to resort to feeding cereals and other things people will tell you instead. But you will see over time, if you already haven't realized it, that in the long run breastfeeding gets much easier over time. Plus, your baby is just too young for cereal, right now! Feeding your baby solids too soon can cause him all kinds of digestive issues and even allergies.

Every week gets better than the last. I learned with my son that patience is key, and that something like sleeping through the night doesn't happen overnight!

Every baby, and every family is different, but I can tell you the steps I took with my son, and what I believe helped. Hopefully you'll find some of what I tell you helpful. He was always breastfed (no formula!) and he was sleeping throught the night (from 9:30ish to 6ish) by the time he was 2 or 2 1/2 months old. And it started as a GRADUAL process...one week I noticed he skipped one feeding during the night, then a few days later, he skipped another, etc... The first time he slept through the night he got up very early, at around 5 am but eventually 5 became 5:30 and 5:30 became 6. GRADUALLY he got there.

In the beginning my son was up every 2 hours at night, and I noticed that during the day, he would sleep well. So what I did was, during the day I commited myself to gently waking him up to eat every 3 hours (that's 3 hrs from the beginning of his last feeding) and at night if he happened to sleep through the 3rd hour I would let him. I also worked out a schedule that worked best for us in my house (6-9-12-3-6-9-etc..). Now, granted, things changed, but at least it gave me a guide.

If one feeding, we got off schedule, I would work towards geeting us closer to that schedule with each upcoming feeding. This helped us develop a predictable routine, and over time he started to sleep 3 hours straight at night, then 4 , then 5, and so on. I even found myself waking up at night wondering why he wasn't up.

When he did wake up in the night or started fussing, even before he opened his eyes, I also gave him the pacifier and didn't pick him up to feed him right away. Sometimes his sleep was just interrupted, and so I did not make a lot of noise or pick him up right away. I just let him try to get back to sleep.

The other thing that helped us establish our routine was our bedtime rituals. Everynight at around 9pm, right before his last feeding, my husband and I gave him a bath. We always gave him his bath before he ate so that it wouldn't upset his stomach, and also, he could just fall asleep as he nursed afterwards (but I made sure he didn't fall asleep too quickly so that he got a good last meal). This became a ritual that we could not skip over, and we still do it to this day. He sleeps from around 9ish at night to around 6 or 6:30 in the morning.

I also read and was told that if you are weening or bottle feeding your child in addition to the breast, you should make sure that the night time feedings, especially the last one, is not a bottle. Because breastfeeding at night helps to calm the baby and put them into a relaxed state of mind, and taking the breast away at night time can make things more stressful for you and the baby. Is there a reason why you chose to give your baby formula before bed?

If you're concerned because you're going back to work, you should know that even though you're going back to work, your milk supply will not dry out as long as you are still pumping throughout the day. That's what I did. I made sure that during the day I pumped at 9,12, and 3 just as if I was feeding him. You may want to talk to your boss about allowing you to have 3 twenty minute breaks to do this at these times. I found that that was enough for me. Now I got the opportunity to be home with my son again, and my milk supply is still strong.
I know that what I've told you is a lot, but like I said, I'm only telling you what I did with my son that I believe worked. Hopefully this will help you. Feel free to email me directly if you need more support. I'd be glad to help.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.B.

answers from Lewiston on

At 8 weeks old giving your son cereal will be the nutritional equivalent to feeding him cardboard. Yes it will fil him up, but his digestive system is not old enough to be able to use it. Feeding infants under 6 months old cereal can put that baby at higher risks for food allergies and digestive issues later in life.

I hate to tell you this, but he's going to wake up a couple of times a night for awhile. Babies digest breastmilk faster than they do formula, because breastmilk is the nutritionally perfect food for your son.

So, when your family gets after you about feeding baby cereal, tell them that you researched it, and you found out giving your son cereal can lead to serious problems later in life, and your ped. says it's a bad idea. they'll probabaly do the whole, but we did it and look how well we turned out thing. When they do that tell them that people used to not use car seats, and does that mean who should stop using car seats?

Can you tell I'm passionate about this? My mom didn't know better, and I was her first and she did the cereal in the bottle thing when I was too young, and now I'm paying for it with digestive issues.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.M.

answers from Buffalo on

Hi M. i would give the rice ceral anyway i have done it with my daughter and she sleeps anywhere from 7 to 9 hours in the night it takes a couple days to work but it does just don't tell your pedi i didnt 1 teaspoon is all it takes

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.

answers from Providence on

Hi M. I think your son is still too little to be sleeping through the night. He is probably hungry and you should just feed him. He might also be going through a growth spurt as well. I dont recommend putting cereal in his bottle. He could choke but his digestive system is not mature enough to handle it. Good luck. I know it's hard to not get any sleep. My son didnt sleep through the night until almost 2 yrs old. Enjoy the cuddling for now. Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Providence on

I wouldn't give your baby cereal yet. I made the mistake of doing that and all it did was constipate him and it didn't help him sleep through the night at all. What may help is give him a formula bottle at his overnight feeding because formula is more filling than breast milk. My doctor and many others do not recommend giving babies cereal until 4 months old, but if you are going to do it then I would at least recommend Oatmeal over Rice at least you will reduce the risk of constipation.

A.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

H.

answers from New York on

Hi M..

My mom also wanted me to give my daughter cereal. My doctor opposed and told me that it won't necessarily keep the baby full. But it did seam that your son was more satisfied when he had the bottle before bed. May be you could try that at night again. I know that my daughter was up every 2 because I nursed her maybe the same is with your son. It could also be that the bottle may be providing him with more ounces giving him that full feeling. It's hard to gage how much he is getting when he nurses. You are lucky that he is able to switch back and fourth so easily, I know so moms have had a hard time dealing with nipple confusion.

Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.D.

answers from New York on

Giving rice is the old-school way of getting them to sleep. I won't lie, it pretty much DOES work. However, they now say that it has a much higher chance of making them develop allergies to foods. I had a 10 pound baby who was a bottomless pit, and fed him rice cereal from about 8 weeks old, maybe even less. He DID sleep thru the night after that. Luckily he did not develop food allergies. But this was 18 years ago and I didn't know any better, so I wouldn't try it now, even though I know it CAN work and you CAN have them not develop allergies, it's just not worth the risk! Just keep trying to NOT amuse him when he wakes up at night... bore him, that's the best way to get him to not be interested in night feedings. When he wakes up, feed, change, put back to bed, don't talk to or stimulate him in ANY way whatsoever. All my 4 kids slept thru the night by a month and a half! Only Tony did I give that rice cereal to, the other's I didn't... I just would make sure they weren't entertained at night, so they didn't find it interesting to wake when the sun wasn't shining.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.B.

answers from Boston on

My mother rec. doing this as well. I have a 5 week old. I have heard a lot about it, but my pedi. doesn't rec. it either. I would hold off, but thats just my opinion. Many people say that introducing cereal this early will increase the chances of food allergies. HTH!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from Boston on

In addition to the note below, here is an excellent article that I read...

Here is an article on Sleeping Through the Night/Middle of the Night Feeding:

Getting Baby to Sleep Through the Night: All babies will fall asleep eventually. Some just need a little more help than others.
By Barbara Solomon

Pulling Baby out of the Crib
Up to the time he was 10 months old, my son David had always been a good sleeper. Then my family moved into a new house, and all of a sudden, all bets were off. He began waking two, sometimes three times a night. I was sure he was just unsettled by the change and would return to his old ways soon. But after we tried every trick in the book only to suffer more sleepless nights, we caved in. One night when he called out, I scooped him up and brought him into our bed. We all slept soundly, and I was feeling pretty good -- until I spoke with a friend later that morning.

"Don't you know that you've opened a can of worms?" she scolded. "Now you'll never get him back into his crib!"

Picturing endless sleepless nights ahead, I panicked, and it's no wonder. Getting a baby to sleep consistently through the night can seem like the ultimate unattainable goal. But after I spent just a few nights leaving my son in his crib when he cried for me and gently encouraging him -- "You're okay, David, just go back to sleep!" -- from the hallway, he quickly resumed his old sleep habits. And experts say that with some patience and effort, most parents will be able to solve their child's sleeping problems, too.

The Impossible Dream
During the first weeks of life, you can't expect a baby to sleep through the night. In fact, there is no typical sleeping pattern for newborns; the only thing you can count on is that they sleep around the clock for varying periods, ranging from a few minutes to a few hours. So why can't they sleep consistently for long periods? Blame it all on biology. An immature brain is the primary reason.

"People have a genetic timing mechanism in their brain that controls sleep, and it takes time for that mechanism to develop," explains Marc Weissbluth, MD, professor of clinical pediatrics at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago, and author of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (Ballantine, 1999). "Think of it like eye color: Babies are born with a genetic predisposition to a certain eye color, but it takes time for that color to be expressed."

A need to feed is another factor. Many experts believe that newborn babies have to eat frequently, particularly breastfed babies: There's no way to tell how much a breastfed baby is eating at each feeding, so breastfeeding mothers may be more likely to fully awaken a stirring baby to feed.

Bottlefed babies, on the other hand, may sleep for longer periods because formula takes longer to digest and leaves baby feeling fuller longer. "But babies who have birth defects and are fed continuously by tube for the first several weeks of life show the same process of sleep maturation as other babies," notes Dr. Weissbluth. He believes that ultimately, "Sleep comes from the brain, not the stomach."

Regardless of studies and experts, until she is at least 6 weeks old, a newborn baby will undoubtedly wake several times during the night. Around the 6-week mark, many babies show subtle signs of organizing their sleep. They may get drowsy at 6 or 7 p.m. and may sleep at night for consecutive blocks of four hours or more.

At about 3 months, most can adhere to a sleep schedule that includes a morning nap, an afternoon nap, and two or more longer blocks of sleep at night. According to a poll of primary caregivers by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a nonprofit organization, by 9 months some 70 to 80 percent of babies are sleeping a straight 9 to 12 hours every night.

That's great news -- unless yours is one of the 20 to 30 percent of babies who don't sleep so well. "My son was a horrible sleeper!" recalls Lisa Henahan of Peachtree City, Georgia. "Until he was 15 months, he would sleep for an hour and a half and then wake for an hour -- all night long!"

If your nights sound similar, rest assured, these tips can help parents solve a range of stubborn sleep problems.

Sleep Tight, Baby
To exhausted parents it seems that there are as many sleep issues as there are children. But most babies fall into the following categories:

"My 2-month-old son sleeps all day and is up all night."
A common phenomenon during the early weeks of life, day-night reversals often clear up with a little time and a lot of daylight. Try exposing your baby to bright light or sunshine in the morning hours and keep the lights dim in the evening. It also helps to move your baby to a busy part of the house throughout the day, play with him during the daytime, and wake him for daytime feedings.

Then, keep your interactions with him quiet and subdued at night. As babies approach the age of 6 weeks, they begin to respond more to environmental cues, so it helps to have a bedtime routine such as a bath and a song. It may take several weeks, and a baby this young still probably won't sleep through the night, but he may consolidate his sleep into two large blocks at night.

"My 7-month-old daughter won't sleep through the night. Why?"
From around 6 months on, a baby should be able to make it through the night without a middle-of-the-night feeding and without waking his parents. But that doesn't mean he's sleeping all those hours. The term "sleeping through the night" is misleading, points out Lawrence Balter, PhD, professor of applied psychology at New York University, in New York, and editor of Parenthood in America: An Encyclopedia (ABC-CLIO, 2000). "All people -- including babies -- wake and put themselves back to sleep several times a night without realizing it," he says. "That's something babies need to learn to do."

Some kids learn on their own; others need a little help. There are several ways to teach your baby to soothe himself to sleep. Most of them involve listening to some crying. So how do you stay focused amid the tears? Remember that crying isn't going to harm your baby. And the reward -- a good night's sleep for all -- is worth a few teary nights.

The Ferber Method
"My neighbor has recommended the Ferber method to help my 6-month-old sleep through the night. What is it?"
This method was developed by pediatric sleep expert Richard Ferber, MD, author of Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems (Simon & Schuster, 1986). He advises parents to check periodically on their baby when she awakens at night. Here's a sketch of how it works: On the first night, when you hear your baby cry, you go in, give her a reassuring pat, and then leave. If she's crying 5 minutes later, you repeat the process, but this time you wait 10 minutes before going in, increasing the time in five-minute increments. The second night, you start at 10 minutes. Dr. Ferber's system has worked for many families.

"We're trying the Ferber method for my 7-month-old, but I can't stand the crying. Is there another, less drastic way to sleep-train my baby?"
There are also ways of making gradual changes within the routine you already have, notes Jodi Mindell, PhD, associate director of the Sleep Disorders Center at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and author of Sleeping Through the Night (HarperCollins, 1997). If you've been putting your baby to sleep by rocking her in a chair, for example, start by just sitting in the chair together. "Then choose the next step -- putting your baby in his crib and holding his hand.

"A few days later, you can sit three feet away from your child's bed," Mindell says. Within a few weeks, you should be able to work yourself out of the bedroom.

"We've tried the Ferber method. My 6-month-old becomes enraged every time we go in to soothe him. Any suggestions?"
Some children respond better to a cold-turkey approach. If your baby cries, you don't go in her room (some parents call reassuringly from the hall). This is not for the faint of heart, and, as Balter points out, is better for younger babies. An 8-month-old may be able to sit or stand in her crib, which makes it hard for her to settle down if her calls aren't answered.

More Sleep Issues
"My 9-month-old insists on a 3 a.m. feeding. How can I get her to give it up?"
For many parents, a final obstacle to an uninterrupted night is that middle-of-the-night feeding. If your baby no longer needs to be fed at night (check with your pediatrician to be sure), simply stop giving him the bottle or breast when he calls for it. Alternatively, you can use a sequence of progressive steps, which might include offering him diluted formula or breast milk for a few nights and then gradually replacing it with water. He may not find it as appealing as milk, and, subsequently, won't cry for it.

"My 10-month-old son used to sleep through the night, but lately he's been waking up all the time."
Chances are, there's been some change, however subtle, in your child's routine. Everything from a vacation to an illness to an overnight guest can disrupt a young child's sleep schedule and cause her to awaken and need comforting. Some parents report that developmental milestones, such as learning to walk or use the potty, can also upset sleep patterns.

"When a child takes a developmental leap forward, neurons are firing and there are probably connections being made in the brain," says Mindell. "It's no wonder their sleep is disrupted." Most babies are also keen on practicing their new skills; when they wake in the night, sleep takes second place to getting up on all fours or babbling.

At times like this, you may need to repeat old steps, such as sitting in your baby's room for a few nights and gradually working your way back out. But don't despair; experts say children with established good sleep patterns will return to them pretty quickly.

"How can I get my 8-month-old to go to sleep at the same time every night?"
If your baby isn't sleepy at the same time every night, her daytime sleep routine may need tweaking. "Make sure to wake her at the same time each morning, keep naptimes consistent, and avoid letting baby nap after 4 p.m. A reasonable bedtime for a baby this age is around 7 or 7:30 p.m. If she wakes from a nap at 5:30, she's not going to be sleepy enough to go to bed then," says Mindell.

One strategy to avoid, however, is shortening her naps in the hope that this will make her sleepier at night. The fact is, overtired children have a hard time falling asleep. And evidence shows that babies aren't getting enough sleep as it is. Many experts recommend that infants ages 3 to 11 months get 14 to 15 hours of sleep daily, but according to the NSF poll, most babies get fewer than 13 hours.

Even if you've succeeded in creating a great sleeper, remember that every child occasionally has wakeful periods. When this happens, reassure yourself that you're not going to be sleepless forever. Says Peggy Nona, a Rochester, Minnesota, mother with two school-age girls, "I used to worry about getting them to bed at night; now I worry about getting them out in the morning!"

Barbara Solomon is a mother of three and a writer in Scarsdale, New York.

Originally published in American Baby magazine, July 2004....

Passing on a note that someone wrote on a similiar topic of a Local Parenting Resource Board that I am a part of...

I know that Dr. Ferber is less strict than he used to be about getting kids to sleep. However, his techniques are still very useful for kids that have actually taught themselves to stay up and/or to demand/expect a parent to be with them until they actually fall asleep. Also watch one of the Nanny TV shows for examples of being firm yet loving with setting limits.

Briefly, the basic idea is that you (1) stop paying any attention to your child after their bedtime--no hugs, kisses, stories and no yelling either. Just make believe they are little critters that you are putting back where they belong. and then, if necessary (2) let them cry themselves to sleep. Also, and actually first, develop a bedtime routine and STICK TO IT! Letting them cry is very hard, and against some people's principles. What we did when my daughter was little (she is now 21) was put her to bed with the musical mobile playing. If she was still crying when the music stopped (less than 5 minutes) we would go in to her. This happened very rarely. I felt that a short period of crying was not a trauma and having her go to sleep on her own was a learned response. It worked and we had very few bedtime hassles. If you have further inquiries, contact Marion. I wanted to pass her message on to you.

Good luck,

Marion
Coach and parent
Marion C. Bloch, Psy. D.
____@____.com
www.mayaresources.com

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.N.

answers from Boston on

I had 4 babies. My sons were very hungry and wanted to fill their bellies every 1 1/2 - 2 hours. My mother recommended the cereal, but I resisted based on current pediatric recommendations. As soon as my sons got the cereal, they were satsified for longer. My mother says that they pediatricians of the 60-70's used to recommend cereal at 1-2 weeks old! If you need to work; your baby needs to sleep. I'd recommend trying the cereal to see if it satisfies him or not.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.R.

answers from New York on

Hello M..
My son is 7 months now (my first also) and still wakes once for a bottle. My doctor told me to start cereal at 4 months. No sooner, it could cause problems with his digestive system and possibly diabetes later in life. Well, it didnt make him sleep longer. Plus, he didnt like it too much in the bottle, so I started feeding it to him on a spoon at 4 months. All babies are different. It takes time. I went back to work full time when he was six months. It is a big adjustment, especially when they are still waking in the night. My husband and I alternate nights. Some nights we do get lucky with him sleeping from 8-5. Your baby is still very small and is hungry.His schedule sounds all to familiar when my son was 8 weeks.Also, be careful giving water too early. Talk to your doctor first. That can also have an effect on his little digestive system. Good luck!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches