Please Help. Im So Ready for a Full Night Sleep...

Good advice Laurie. I would only add that it may be a food issue. Both my boys had several periods where they couldn't eat enough to sleep through the night. They both slept through the night within the first few days of life, but then during growth spurts, would literally be too hungry to sleep for more than 6 or 7 hours. I fixed it with high protien snacks just before bed. I don't know how much she is eating now, but maybe she needs a fuller stomach at bedtime.

Hi M.! You've received some great advice so far. I have four kids and struggled with this same issue with my oldest when she was a baby. However, when I had my second I found a book called 'Secrets of the Baby Whisperer' and it was a LIFESAVER. I STRONGLY recommend it. It will help you with all kinds of issues -- sleeping, feeding, etc, etc. And not just with babies -- it will carry you thruogh the toddler years to. The book's author is Traci Hogg and she had years of experience being a nanny and consultant to parents. She offers sound advice that will help tremendously.

You have gotten really great advice so far. I really second the food thing. When my little guy was on breastmilk I would feed him like every two hours, sometimes even in 1 1/2 hours bc he was in the 90% for height and weight so I had to keep him full for him to sleep at night. Of course now she is eating a good bit of food and starting into milk I assume, but you might need to amp up the food. The fact she wakes up every few hours just sounds like hunger to me. I know it can be so hard to get them to eat sometimes, but maybe let her graze all day on healthy food, or whatever food she will take if need be! Babies that age need about ###-###-#### calories so I used to add my boy's calories in my head during the day to be sure he got enough. I don't know how you feel about God, but I so recommend praying for her and praying in her room for the peace of God to rest there. I do that for mine every night and I believe whole-heartedly that is why he is a champ sleeper. I wish you all the best and a great night's sleep in the near future!!:)

I would recommend the book Good Night, Sleep Tight by Kim West. It really helped me when I needed it for my daughter.

H.

You really need to pick a system and keep with it. Getting her ready for bed at 7:30 may be a little late. You may want to start her getting ready for bed at 7:00. Remember it is still very light outside so kids have problem with that sometimes.Put up darkened window coverings or black out curtains in her room to help with this.Also no loud or rambunctious or playing after dinner. It needs to be calm in the house, so that it does not seem as though anything interesting is happening.. No phone calls during this time either.

You also did not mention when her last nap time ends.. It really should not be later than 2:00. Make sure she has a light snack and and then you all do some really active play outside. Swimming, riding her trike, running around time, till about 5:30 then some slow down time. Quiet play or an activity. She could help get dinner ready. Remind dad no roughhousing after this time. It takes double the time to calm her down once she is riled up.

Eat dinner and then a calm bath, no loud playing. Have HER bedroom set up with darkened curtains and sound machine. Have her bottle ready in HER room.Turn on a fan and make sure the room is cool.
When she is finished with bath, do your routine with the lotion while she is in her crib. Then read her a story, v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. Find a chapter book like Winnie the Pooh. She may not understand all of it, but she will rest with the language. Do this with her in her crib.This is not the time to ask her about the book or really talk to her.She needs to just drink her bottle and listen. Then she will be calm enough to sleep or may doze off.

There may be crying and you will need to let her cry. You can check back on her, but do not turn on the light or say anything and keep a blank face. Place her down in her crib with her lovey and then leave. If she cries again give her about 5 minutes and do it again, NO Talking. I know it is hard to hear them cry, but they deserve to learn to sleep on their own and you should have been sleeping through the night a long time ago.