Need Help Sleeping Through the Night!!!

I just heard this trick from a friend going through the same thing. She didn't want to let her little boy cry at night and he would wake up just wanting to be cuddled. She started putting one of her (worn) t-shirts in the crib with him and the 3 times that she's done it, he's slept through the night! She looked at him last night and he was cuddling with it. It's worth a try!

I read this recomended book babywise (easy fast read ) and got by som sleeping through the night. It has to do with order of events Eat play sleep. I person at my chuch recommended it to me because it worked for her and several moms there so i got it and it worked for me too. A word for the wise keep with it. we stopped whem he got sick and had hin in out bed and paid a long time for that mistake when he was a toddler. Hope it helps.[ps - i know reading a book sounds impossible right now but order online, read at lunch breaks and you'll get it - it not too long.]

By no means am I an expert, but my 7 month son just started sleeping through the night and it was a little bit of tough love. I am also a breastfeeding mom, and I was told to not feed him every 2-3hrs at night, so when he woke up the first few nights i went in there and helped him fall back asleep with a pat on the butt. A week later, the middle of the night feedings stopped. Now if he cries, I wait about 10 min, and if still crying i go in, but now for most part he falls back asleep within minutes of waking up in middle of the night.They say they become trained with habit, and if we continue to offer them milk at night they will continue to want it. Good luck.

hi L.,

this is an email just to let you know you are not alone. I too am a breastfeeding mama. my child is 18 months old. she has never wanted to take a bottle and refuses a pacifier. We are cosleepers (bad idea). it was easier to do it that way for night feedings, however now i am a human pacifier! I am not an advocate nor am i tolerant enough to let my child CRY IT OUT! this is why i still nurse her. looking back, i wish that i had stopped nursing around 6 months. now my child is at the stage where she asks for it and i give in because it is easy. sometimes when she cries out at night if i do not jump up to respond she will settle down within a minute or so. apparently babies make all sorts of whimpers in the night. i think the key is to just stand strong, if she is crying for more than a few minutes then go to her to soothe her. cuddling her without offering the breast and just laying her back down. the longer you prolong it ... the harder it is going to become to ween her. I am by no means an expert, this is just based on my very recent experience.
if your partner is available have him rock the baby in the night. if she can't smell the milk.... she won't want it. i am sure this will take at least 3- 5 nights. I am a single mom of a 3 yr old and the 18 month old. otherwise it would be up to daddy !

best of luck to you !!!! i am routing for you! breastfeeding is a beautiful thing , but after some time it can wear you down!

D. r

I am a mom of three under 6 and nursed all for at least 1 year. I also used the "No Cry Sleep Solution" book and reccommend it. Unfortunately, sleep deprivation is part of motherhood and all kids are different. It will get better, as she gets older. Hang in there!

She is right on track, as one response stated, 5 hours is technically "through the night" as far as your baby is concerned. My children were not 10-12 hour sleepers until they were 10-12 months old. If you don't mind the bed visitor, that is what helped me get some extra sleep with my third child. He liked being suggled. As she eats more solid foods (6-9 months old) she will stay fuller longer, that breastmilk is soooo good, she processes it very efficiently! Good luck!

Hi! I Breastfed My 2 Boys And They Also Nursed A Lot At Night. Breastmilk Is Easily Digested, So Babies Naturally Need To Nurse Often. I Put Them In My Bed And Didn't Lose Much Sleep Because Of Nursing, But That Isn't An Option For Everyone. At 6 Months, You Could Give Her Cereal And Add Breastmilk For A Filling Meal. With Solid Food Added To Her Diet, You Know She Isn't Hungry And You Can Focus On What You Need To Do Next. Hope This Helps And Enjoy That Baby :)

I know what you are going through! We had sleepless nights for 13 months until I quit nursing her during the night. It was the hardest thing we have had to go through. I would recommend the book Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child. It truly helped us in so many ways!!

My son did the same thing. He was just hungry, thats why he would wake up. Thats when I started introducing formula and cereal. I would mix it with my breast milk in a bottle and give it to him before bed time. I think I gave him enfamil AR formula. It is a little more expensive, but it is thickened with rice cereal. You can also buy cereal and put a spoonful in her bottle. This helped him to stay full and sleep at least 6 hours. I started the enfamil AR even younger, around 3-4 months. Babies at this age DO sleep through the night (sorry for those of you who's children did not) but my son started sleeping at least 5-6 hours at around 3-4months old. Again, I credit this to the cereal.... if your baby is only getting breast milk, it does not keep her full, and she will wake up hungry. If you mix it with the breast milk, she is still getting the nutrients. Good luck!!
p.s. make sure you have a bottle with a nipple that has a bigger hole to let the thickened breast milk pass

5-6 hours is actually considered "sleeping through the night"
I had to pump and give my DD a bottle for the first 3 months due and she slept through the night beginning at 2 1/2 weeks. I contribute this to her eating more than the recommended 2oz, she typically had 4oz, which increased as she got older. At 3 months I was able to breastfeed and she began waking up every few hours to eat because she would get hungry. I tried going back to pumping and giving her a bottle so that I could add cereal, but she would not take the bottle anymore. At 6 months I began feeding her food in addition to breastfeeding and she's back to sleeping through the night and taking 1 long nap and 1-2 short naps during the day. She eats breakfast and dinner with me. She typically doesn't want (or need in my opinion) more food than that, but she may on occasion come get a snack if she sees me eating.
If your daughter eats and goes back to sleep without being fussy, it doesn't sound like reflux. It sounds like she is simply hungry.

Not all babies sleep through the night. Most people claim that their babies do but few actually do especially breastfed ones. At her age you can try a set routine with a good hearty meal, bath, then breast and bed. That is going to buy you the most sleep at one time. However, to take advantage of that you are going to have to go to sleep then also. Breast feeding is very draining this early in the game, you will become more used to as you go along but it is draining. Try putting her down everytime she sleeps instead of holding her during naps. Also, put her crib sheets or what ever bed she sleeps in sheets, in your bed for a couple of nights before you put them on her bed so that they smell like you. It is comforting for them to smell you while they sleep. I am only guessing that you are against co-sleeping? If not then that is an alternative, if she is in the bed with you at night or in a co-sleeper, and you are wearing a nursing nightgown or other loose nightshirt it is easy for her to nurse and return to sleep without you fully awakening. If you are not currently or havent in the past coslept than that may be to big an adjustment for you at this time. Look into an ArmsReach Co-Sleeper. I recommend them for all nursing moms!
Remember my advice is only my opinion and take what you need from it and throw the rest out!
K.
Mom of and nursed
Jacklyn 14
Gabriella 5
Kyra 1

I had that same agony too. My son wouldn't take a bottle from me because I was the human bottle. However my suggestion would be instead of feeding her before bed maybe feed her some baby food which is much heavier and will hold her longer. Also add cereal to your milk.

I am a mother of three children who are 4,6, and 8, and mine loved to eat. The key I found to them sleeping through the night is having a full tummy when they go to bed. My pediatrician told me to add rice cereal to their last bottles at night. You are feeding food during the day, right? Like fruits and veggies?? Anyway, I'd put like 1 oz. of cereal in the bottle, then add the formula and shake it up real good. You'll have to use a 3 or 4 hole nipple because it will be a little thicker. Good luck! Oh, by the way, I nursed all three of mine, and did Babywise, and they all slept through the night at 12 weeks. I was lucky I know, but a true believer of Babywise. When I said last bottle, I was talking about that silent feeding bottle!! Good luck! Prayer helps too.
T.

Add a little cereal to that bottle! My DR had me to do that with mine ( I had to pump then put it in a bottle to add cereal every feeding, starting at 3 weeks for other reasons) Some will say not to, but at 6 months, the baby should be eating cereal now anyway!

L., I certainly know how you feel. I'm not sure if this is something for you. But, my Dr. told me at 4 mos. I could start giving my baby plain rice cereal in his bottle with formula or breast milk. It was heaven sent! He started sleeping longer because he was full longer. It did not hurt him at all and he is very healthy. NEVER been sick in 15 mos. You could start with the last bottle before she goes to sleep. My Dr. said 1 tsp for every ounce of milk, also by 6 mos I was feeding him rice cereal from a bowl. A little at a time. Hope this helps it certainly worked well for me. Good Luck!
Johna

The only way to get your baby to sleep longer is to feed her water instead of milk (breast or bottle). Once there is a reason to wake up she will. Water is not a good reason, breast milk or formula is!! You certainly don't need to feed her more than every 4 hours at 6 months.
I am married, mother with a 2 year old son and a 11 month old baby girl.

My 7 month old son has in the lasat month begun to sleep through the night. He is also breast fed. He goes down around 8 and wakes around 7, sometimes waking between 11 and 1 to be fed. I can only tell you the changes that we made before this happened. We moved him to his own room, before that he slept in a cosleeper. We started cereal and baby food a month ago, he eats supper at 6 and bottle right before bed, we no longer keep him up....the later he went to bed the more he seemed to wake! I also quit waking him to feed before I went to bed, this seemed to backfire...with him waking every few hours after that. The funny thing is that I still wake just as much to check on him. He seems so much happier during the day now, I believe we were both sleep deprived. Good Luck. J.

I exclusively fed all three of my children breast milk for 1 year before introducing "solid food", and my son was 9 lbs. 3 oz. with a big appetite. I would definitely say the best thing you could do would be to check out a book called "On Becoming Babywise" and focus on the fact that it is about using a flexible schedule that suits your family and wise guidance from you to get your child on a routine. If you follow the feed, wake, THEN sleep cycle as recommended for your child's age, you will find that once her metabolism establishes a routine, she will begin sleeping through the night--and so will you!!
We have 3 kids, all different temperaments and personalities, but they all three slept through the night by 9-10 weeks of age with NO adverse effects (other than some frustrating times for us parents as we got to know their personalities and when they really needed something and when they just needed to be left alone and allowed to learn to fall asleep on their own, which can mean crying some). There is no such thing as frustration free parenting, but this is a really great tool to get everyone on a comfortable, confident even keel (as even as it can be with kids). It all comes down to at which point in time and how you prefer to go through the "pain" and effort! As the saying goes, anything worth having takes work. (There are tips in the book for what to do when your child needs to fall asleep on their own but is crying and all you want to do is pick them up. They don't advocate torturing your child by letting them cry unecessarily or being cold to them, but there are times that they can be soothed but not picked up. This way they learn to know that when you put them in the crib, it is time to sleep.It will be best in the long run as it also sets the precedent for when they move to a "big bed".) It is a matter of guidance and teaching them the skill of falling asleep on their own, which has the benefit of them sleeping through the night! It will also help your milk supply and energy, since you will be able to rest and produce on a regular routine without constant demand. Also, make sure she is getting a full feeding and not just snacking and wanting to go right back to sleep during the day. The only time you would put them right back to sleep is during the night until that feeding gets dropped.

Hope this helps! Best wishes; it's worth the effort!

Hey there.. Just wondering if you've tried putting cereal in her bottle at night to hold and fill her up more. That way she will sleep sounder and hopefully not be hungry in 2-3 hours.. Try and it and let us know..

I was breastfeeding consecutively for 4 1/2 yrs (middle and youngest daughters). I know lots of people will not agree with what I did for night time feedings, but I would not have made it otherwise. When either of the girls woke up, their dad got up and changed the diaper and brought the baby to me. After latching on, we both we quickly back to sleep. I always felt rested during the day. Both of my daughters nursed every 2-3 hours until they finally weaned at the ages of 2 1/2. If I had to be up and awake for night time feedings, I do not think we would have lasted.
Good luck !!!

i gotta agree with most of the other mama's below me..most babies don't sleep through the night until around age 2. they are developing so rapidly, teeth are coming in, sometimes they just don't feel good, they get most of their nurtrients during night feedings. Good for you for breastfeeding. my advice is to be patient, these things will come with time.

Every child is different. I do not want to alarm you, but my son did not "sleep through the night" which is defined by 5 hours of consequetive sleep until he was 4 years old. I kept looking for that miracle cure. We tried everything including all the suggestions below. His problem was reflux, but we did not diagnose it until he had so badly ruined his sleep, required sleeping with us, and could not sleep lying down. It was a nightmare. He had some but not all of the classic signs of GERD - but I did not realize it because he rarely spit up. His reflux was going up into his nose and back down his throat causing great pain, ear infections, and of course the inability to sleep. You can get more information GERD from the web, baby books, or your pediatrician. Check and see if any of the symptoms are there. You can also do one simple check to see if it makes a difference - you hold your baby upright or put her in a carrier after each feeding for 25 to 45 minutes. If this provides her longer sleep in between, I would look into reflux. I hate that both of my children had to take medicine as infants, but being aware my second child got meds early and slept through the night from 8 weeks until she was 2 years old - at least 8 hours solid every night. What a difference and blessing that was, since my son was still not sleeping through the night.

Hi L.!
I am a pediatric nurse and infant care specialist in the Atlanta area. I specialized in getting infants to sleep through the night within 3 days. I come out to your home and spend about three hours going over my materials and showing you the momsoncall methods. Please feel free to check out the website www.momsoncall.com and email me @ ____@____.com. I look forward to hearing from you!
L. E

Hi! I used Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby with my children. I liked it so much, because I could not stand to let them "cry it out". It was a little harder with my second child, because of the older one's pre-school schedule. But the general idea still worked. She didn't "sleep through the night" until she was about a year, but I did get 5-6 uninteruppted hours of sleep starting around 7 months.

Good luck,
Caroline

It seems that milk alone is not keeping her satisfied. Try putting some baby cereal on her "before we go to sleep" bottle. It will keep her full and satisfied through the night. I did this with both my children once they were ready to eat cereal and they slept throug the night.

A good resource that helped me was a book called The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night by Elizabeth Pantley. The author is a mother of four,pro-breast feeding, and against the "cry it out" method.

Have you tried co-sleeping? Some babies just want the reassurance that you are there for them and are soothed just by your warm presence. Good luck!

actually when they say "through the night " its not what you think it is, its actually 5-6hrs, not a full 8-12 hrs. and she's 6 months old she's prob going through a growth spurt and needs the extra food. It's completely normal for her to not sleep through the night right now. Kids will sleep through the night when they will. my daughter didnt sleep trough the night till she was 3 yrs old , my son at a year, I did nothing different between the two of them.

if you're looking for a book,
check " the no cry sleep solution" by elizabeth pantley