Will He Ever Sleep Through the Night??

Updated on June 07, 2008
K.P. asks from Laconia, NH
8 answers

Hi guys, I have an almost 8 month old son who was born 10 weeks prematurely. I have read healthy sleep habits, happy child and got a lot out of it but i am still having trouble...He is still waking up sometimes 2 times a night, STARVING! he eats and goes right back to sleep, no playing or anything. I just think he is a little old to be needing two feedings still...Any hints or suggestions? he is eating solid foods and goes to bed full, I just have no idea! Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Well just a couple days after I posted this question, my little guy slept from 9p-7:30a!!!! I did nothing diff. I still do not know why he slept through but I am not complaining!!! and each night since he has made it until 5:30 then needs to eat...goes back to sleep till 7-8!!! It is wonderful! Thanks for all the advice!

More Answers

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L.S.

answers from New London on

You will have to cut out the night feedings. It will be hard, but it is a must. Eating at night is a habit and they will outgrow it eventually. My baby is now 1 year old and he finally sleeps through the night. He would wake up sometimes every three hours especially if he was teething, which is what he did at 6 months and again at 9 months, so if your baby is 10 weeks premature, he could be teething. try to cut out the night feedings and in a couple of months he should be sleeping through the night. I co-slept until my baby was 10 months old. Then he stopped breastfeeding and we switched him to a crib. It wasn't until he was 11 months old that he slept through the night. Well, except last night when he woke up at 2:30 in the morning. We have no idea why. He was sleeping 11 hours straight, so let's just hope that was a fluke. He actually tells us when he wants to go to bed (by putting his head down on the floor or a blanket) then we put him in his crib and he sleeps until sometimes 8. He used to wake up early morning, but I made it my mission not to give a bottle until at least after 5 am. Then it got later and later. So, the answer is yes, your baby will sleep through the night, it just may take some time and some help. Good luck!!!

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L.Z.

answers from Boston on

The short answer to your question is, yes, he will eventually sleep through the night! It just might take longer. Today my youngest daughter turned 1 and I can tell you that she only JUST started sleeping through the night consistently about a month ago. We were bracing ourselves to spend the summer trying to get her to sleep through the night because she was waking up and eating a bottle still at 8, 9, even 10 months. I thought it would never end! I also felt like we were doing something wrong, seeing as though other babies her age weren;t doing this, and my oldest never did it. But around 11 months she started really eating more people foods on a better schedule, and she also started walking, and I think those two things together made her more full and tired by the end of the day. Now she seems almost happy to go to bed, whereas before she cried even at bedtime. I still feel like my daughter needed the food in the middle of the night, and it sounds like your son does too, especially considering the fact that he was 10 weeks early. If he's not playing, he may seriously be hungry. You might want to try giving him water instead of milk - we recently tried this as well and some nights my baby will take a few sips and settle right back down to sleep. Other nights she drinks almost the whole cup! If he's still not settled after the water, you need your sleep, so don't feel bad giving him a bottle. I agree with the other post who said his adjusted age is really shy of 6 months, so give yourself a break and don't stress - he WILL grow out of it!! He just might not be there yet developmentally. Good luck!

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B.G.

answers from Barnstable on

I have a 16 mo that still wakes once a night to nurse, it is mostly for comfort but occasionally she is really hungry which is why I havent taken it away at this point.

What time does he go to bed? Possibly make it later - maybe he will only wake once at that point. Some people eliminate night feedings all together (I dont see how - if I am hungry during the night - I eat, why shouldnt my child?).

At his age though, even if it is adjusted to his prematurity, it is common for them to wake once even twice a night. They go through growth spurts in 3's (3 mos, 6 mos, 9 mos, etc) - he is also at an age where he could be cutting teeth. The discomfort could be waking him and therefore is wanting to eat.

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K.V.

answers from Boston on

Every child SO different. My son woke up to eat until he was 4yrs old. He was seemingly starving. He is now 25yrs old, 6'4 and is healthy as a horse! My daughter slept 12 hrs straight and is almost 24yrs old is is healthy! My grandbaby(will be 3yrs in 5 more weeks), who I care for full time, is still waking up to eat and is seemingly, just like her dad, starving!! She is very tall at 40 inches already. I would never deny her food for my own pleasure of sleeping.

There is no set schedule for children that fits every child. They are all unique and being moms is the most unselfish thing that one can do with one's life! Enjoy it...they do grow up, VERY fast and then those night's that we all lost sleep over are long gone and then we wish we could go back and cuddle a babe in our arms!!

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M.K.

answers from Boston on

If he's 8 months old counting from when he was born 10 weeks early, his chronological age is more like 5.5 months, which I'm afraid is still young to be sleeping through the night (some babies will, but they are the exception rather than the norm). You must be exhausted though, especially with another one on the way. The only thing I can think of is to try to feed him a lot in the evening, and if you go to bed after him try feeding him again (some babies will stay asleep even while they eat) right before you fall asleep.

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L.S.

answers from San Francisco on

It sounds like your baby is normal and healthy, and yes, he will eventually sleep through the night. So hang in there! I know it can't be easy, but it really sounds like your son needs the nutrition and calories he's gaining from these middle of the night feedings. This is not unusual for pre-mature babies. As long as he eats and goes right back to sleep, you can be sure that you are meeting his nutrtional needs and not contributing to a developing sleep problem -like
waking up to play ,or nurse for comfort- etc. Good luck and let me know how you are doing ! L.

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L.S.

answers from Hartford on

my second son was still getting up at 9mo for a feeding, i added the oatmeal i believe into his formula and that seemed to help, you have a growing boy there and he is still young to be sleeping thru the night

good luck to you

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J.O.

answers from Boston on

I would ask your pediatrician. My said do not feed my daughter after dinner once she reached 7 months old. We put her on a normal feeding schedule(breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner) and then one night we did not feed her when she woke up and she never woke up again. She only cried for 10 minutes. I think putting him on a schedule to make sure that he is getting three good meals with 6-8oz of formula 4 times/day would eliminate the need for nighttime feedings. there is a a big crisis in this country for overfed babies and I think it is because many moms confuse habit/comfort for being hungry. As long as your child is normal in his weight ans growth he should not need to eat at night.

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