My son is 8 months old, breastfed, and eating table foods twice each day. He goes to bed at 8 and nurses before he goes to bed. He wakes up once during the night, usually between 3-4, eats then goes back to sleep until 7 or 8. I'm not sure if he needs this night feeding or if he has just been accustomed to waking at that time, but he usually eats and falls right back asleep. I'm just curious as to what other babies this age are doing and how long they sleep through the night. I have a friend with a baby the same age and she sleeps through the night without waking to eat but she is formula-fed so I don't know if that makes a difference. Also if anyone has any good ideas on getting him to sleep through that feeding I would love to hear them (not crying it out though, I'm only opposed to that because it will wake my older child). Thanks!
Thanks to all for your responses! I think I am going to continue to feed him when he wakes up, as he is definitely eating and not just nursing for comfort. It is really not an inconvenience to me either when I think about it, the whole process takes 15 minutes or less and we are both back to sleep. I think he will eventually stop needing that feeding, and the nights I have tried to let him "cry it out" he just continues to wake up until I feed him so I just think we both get more sleep this way. It's just nice to know he's not the only one his age who still does wake up to eat. Thanks again!
No a breastfed baby should not be expected to sleep through the night at this age. Here is a link to an artical that expresses the reasons much clearer than I ever could.
http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepthrough.html
Blessings, K.
Hi Christine,
My son is also eight and 1/2 months old and he has been sleeping through the night for months. I strictly breastfed him until 4 1/2 months or so and started cereal and I would notice a difference in the amount of sleep if I gave him the rice cereal at dinner time. He would sleep longer. I started him on solids/baby food at 6 months and now he pretty much eats table food for all three meals b/l/d and nurses still 6 times a day: 6-7,9,12,3,6,8pm. If he is sick and wakes during the night I try everything before I feed him(recommended by pediatrician) for the exact reason you said not to get into the habit of middle of the night feedings. I will pat his back, rub his tummy or massage his head, sing a lullaby, that sort of thing. We also use a pacifier so I don't know if your son does or not but I feel it's a lifesaver. Good luck. :) Any chance you are in St Clair County? Our kids are the same age.
My breast fed daughter slept through the nightat about 8 months.. My breastfed son didnt sleep through the night until at least a year.
He is now 20 months old and still wakes up between 4 and 6 am.. nurses and goes right back to sleep.
I never let them cry it out...
It takes 10 minutes for me togo in and nurse him and then he goes backto sleep until 8 am. I actually like the 6 am feeding as then he goes back to sleep.. If he sleeps past 6 and wakes up at 630 or 7 then he is up for the day and that is too early -(it messes up our morning activities and he needs a nap too early..)
My baby started to sleep through the night at 6 months, but it was the cry it out method that worked for me. She was breastfeeding to, and wanted the comfort when she woke up. It only took 2 nights and only cried for 20 minutes. My other 2 didn't wake up at all. At that time of night it takes alot to wake an older child. I ended up doing the cry it out method with all 3 of my kids. The second one was still waking up at 14 months to nurse just out of habit. I was getting really fed up and did the cry thing and after 2 nights, it was no more waking up. Good luck.
Sounds like he is going through a growth spurt and may need that little extra to get him through the night. If he is latching on and actually eating (not just playing around or falling asleep at the breast for comfort) then I would say definitely feed him.
Hi Christine,
Every child is different. Some will sleep through the night very early and some will not. And quite honestly, if he is ONLY waking up ONCE during the night, that is really really good. Most doctors will define "sleeping through the night" as a straight 6-8 hours", not the 12 hours we would LIKE them to sleep.
My daughter was never a good sleeper. She did not sleep 12 straight hours consistently until she was about 15 months old.
He may still need that night feeding. Growth spurts, new emerging skills, and things like that can disrupt sleep. If he is breastfeeding you should be able to still tell if he is actually taking milk. If he is NOT taking milk, then yes, it is a routine thing that he is just used to. But if he is taking milk, then he NEEDS the milk. Babies at that age do not eat just because they like the taste. They eat because they are hungry. In addition, breastmilk digests much faster then solids or formula.
You could try offering something like baby oatmeal with some applesauce just before bed. I did that with my daughter and it did help with the waking up starving thing.
If your son isn't taking milk and is just waking out of habit, then I'm sorry to say there will be crying. I'm not a cry it out fan either, but that is his only way to communicate he isn't happy. What I did when it was clear my daughter wasn't actually eating anymore, I held her and rocked her and let her know I was still there for her even though I wasn't offering the breast. Obviously with an older child it will be difficult. But you little guy has no other means of communication and there will be crying. Hopefully by holding him or rocking or something you can minimize it.
Just keep in mind, every baby is different. Just because your friends baby is sleeping 10 or 12 hours each night doesn't mean yours will or should.
Good luck!
Hi Christine- I have a 7 month old that is breastfed and slept through the night (mostly) at about 4 months. I have read that if you try to put them to sleep earlier- they sleep longer. My son goes to bed at 7:00pm. On the days he stays up later because we are out, then he ususally wakes up in the middle of the night. I don't know if it is hunger, but I ususally nurse him back to sleep. I would try to move the bedtime a bit earlier and see if that helps. Good luck!
That sounds completely normal to me. Just keep at it. Eventually, he won't wake up to eat.
Hi christine,
I think every childs needs in different. My son didn't sleep through the night till he was 9 months old. Then he just naturally stopped waking up. What I like is the fact that your child is not looking to be rocked to lulled, but just fed. If he/she is eating, then to me that means he needs the calories still. I used to give my son a bottle of like 7 or 8 oz of formula and he gobbled it up. It me, that meant he needed it. Just hang in there.
My son still nursed throughout the night until he was at least 8-9 months old. Not sure if he really needed it, but I did it anyways!
at 8 months you don't need to cut that feeding out yet, especially if he goes back to sleep why worry about it now.
Yes, he should be able to sleep through the night at this age. I would say the nighttime nursing is more a habit. I weaned our son from his nighttime nursing at 6-months. Since the crying approach is not an option for you I would suggest that you have your husband tend to him. If you get him, then he will probably want to nurse. If possible, you should try to soothe him without getting him out of the crib. Gently pat him, sing to him, play gentle music or soothing sounds. Try to settle him without picking him up. Eventually he will learn to self-soothe but it is a learned behavior. Good luck!
