Our soon to-be 6 month old is constantly up at night. At first it was teeth, now that 2 are in we were hoping for some sleep. Then we it was a growth spurt, and she grew a little. Again, hoped for some needed sleep. Now we have no idea but possibly it bacame a behavior... she naps great during the day. She will go down for bed at 8p and sleep until 9:30. Then is awake until 10-11ish then sleeps until 2. Then is up again at 4 and 6. Up for the day at 6. I have tried giving her a small evening nap, does not help. We are on cereal two times a day. She has acid reflux and is on medicine for that since she was 4 months old. So that does not seem to be a factor. She is breastfed. She slept 6 hours from the time she came home from the hospital until about a month ago.
I should add in here that our 2 year old is getting up several times a night also. His are because of night terrors though. We often can get him back to sleep easily.
This is just exhausting going from one child to another through out the night!!
Any ideas or thoughts??
She's only 6months old...she may not be ready to sleep all night without nursing, or being comforted. at 6months it's not a habit. She's waking because she really does need something from you.
If you are comfortable with it you can try co-sleeping either tucking her into bed with you (safely! you can google safe co-sleeping rules) or invest in a sidecarred co-sleeper.
try laying her down for just one nap during the day and maybe she will sleep for you during the night. My 4 yr old step son does the same thing as your two yr old so i'm no help there
Hi R.
You must be exhausted! Whew -
I've got two little guys (3 and 1). From what I've read, it sounds that she's just getting older and is "getting it". If she cries - you come in. Know what I mean?
I would go in - "tuck her back in" (say "night-night") and leave. After 10 minutes, go back in and repeat but this time wait 15 minutes to go back in to repeat the process. Don't pick her up - don't snuggle her. What I think is happening is she's just getting older and needs some help learning how to soothe herself when she wakes up in the night. Know what I mean? I've always read that babies wake up repeatedly throughout the night and was shocked when we stayed in a hotel with both kids and heard the baby get up again and again in his little hotel crib - he would pull himself up - sing - babble a little - and then eventually lay back down and go to sleep. Over and over this happened! Maybe your little girl is waking up but not sure how to get herself back to sleep without you?
HANG IN THERE!
My daughter started sleeping through the night at 6 weeks. Then at 5-months started waking up again. We tried the "cry it out" method (which worked with our son) but she was stubborn and wouldn't cry herself to sleep. I finally just decided it was easier to nurse her for 5 minutes and go back to sleep myself. This went on from anywhere from 1 to 3 times a night until she was 10-months old. I finally stopped breastfeeding her and just gave her a bottle with water. That lasted about a week before she decided she'd just rather sleep.
Basically, it's normal. You just have to find a way to either accept it or find a method to teach her how to go back to sleep on her own. Good luck.
I understand competely. I have a 2 year old and a 9 month old. My 9 month old slept through the night at 3 months and at 6 months started waking up in the middle of the night which also woke up our two year old. Now I keep a bottle with 4ooz of water in it next to her crib. So when she wakes I run in there hand her the bottle and change her diaper in her crib. I dont take her out because when I did she seemed to wake up more. When I'm done i play her music and go back to bed. She is really good about going back to sleep. The benifet is I'm only up for 5 minutes max. good luck and happy sleeping!!!
M.
I had same problem, sleeping well til now, he is 6 months as well. I spoke to a breastfeeding consultant and here are some of her ideas. When baby is little they nurse often. Once you introduce solids, they nurse less. THerefore baby is up at night only for the simple fact of being close to you. They need that time My son did the same thing, he did eventually change his his sleeping pattern. She also suggested cutting out a solid feeding so he is nursing more. Less likely to need more time with me overnight. I have my son on cereal in the morning and baby food at night. If you want more specific info please contact me, but that what her advice. I would not try the "let them cry it out" she says they are still too small to understand that. Good Luck
Completely normal. They are learning SO MUCH right now that their brain is on overload and they don't want to miss a thing! Is she learning to crawl, scoot, etc? Sleeping through the night is a milestone just like crawling, walking, etc.
6 mths is another growth spurt for BFing. Since she is 6 months, I would start introducing more solids into her diet. You can actually replace the cereal with a meat and a veggie, fruit. I made all my baby food www.wholesomebabyfood.com, but you can buy them jarred if you prefer.
My son didn't sleep through the night until he was over a year old and we had to do cry it out for a couple of days. I didn't feel that CIO any younger is beneficial because that is their form of communication. I BF him until he was 16 months old.
Hang in there. Yes, it is hard with 2 kids getting up at night (I went through that for a few months), but just be consistent in your routine, continue BFing and things will get better!
My daughter had the acid reflux problem as well and would wake up frequently, so I put her in her baby swing to keep her elevated and she slept much better. If she woke up frequently a lot before then it becomes a habit as it did with my daughter. Try the swing and hopefully that will work. As far as your two year old my daughter is doing the same thing due to night terrors; however, she would sleep through the night at my inlaws house. I used to have a night light in her room and have recently taken that out and she has slept straight through the night for a week now. I think when she would wake up she would see shadows from the night light and get scared.
My son started waking up @ 6 months because he was trying to master rolling over. I let him have more time playing on the floor during the day so he wouldn't be so apt to do it when he should be sleeping! Anyways, I know if tough, but hang in there, stay firm, and she'll start to get it. With your 2 year old...we haven't had too much of that disturbance. Mine did it a few nights, but after a while, they get better. Is he watching TV or a movie or something just before bed? Try turning those off and starting to get them settled down earlier in the evening and hopefully that will help!
I too have a 4 year old, a 2 year old, and a 7 month old so I understand that sleep for Mommy is very important!
