Five month old wakes up often at night?

Question

My 5 mth old is nursing 5 times a day & eats 4 tbsp cereal /day. He appears very satisfied after his meals and goes for about four hrs between meals. He is also gaining weight well. But he wakes up 5-6 times at night. If I try to nurse him he refuses to eat and goes back to sleep. Sometimes I pat him and he goes to back to sleep in 5-10 min sometimes 1-2 min. I have the same problem during his nap times too. He always wakes up 30-40 min after going down for his nap and I have to pat him for 5-10 min and then he sleeps for 30-40 min more. He takes 2 naps (1-11/2 hrs) and one 30 min nap during the day. I dont know why he keeps waking up.

Answer 1

I don't know why, either, but it's actually a *good* thing. Babies who sleep too long or too deeply are at increased risk of SIDS. So when you pat his back for a few minutes, you may be saving his life. Remembering that may make you feel better in the middle of the night!

If his sleep pattern is disturbing you, you could try putting him to sleep in your bed instead. Then, instead of waking up, all you have to do is reach over in your sleep and pat...

And, I agree with the answer above that says that he hasn't learned how to go back to sleep by himself. So...you have a choice, you can teach him that the way to get to sleep is to get really upset and stressed by letting him cry, or you can continue to pat him to sleep and teach him that the way to fall asleep is to relax. Which one do you think is a better lesson for him?

Answer 2

Congratulations on your baby. Is he too hot? Too cold? If all is well, then it sounds like you will have to let him learn to put himself back to sleep. It sucks, but sometimes letting them cry it out is the only option. Let him go for 10-15 min. and see if he'll take care of himself. This solution can take up to 30 min. even. Trust me when I say, it's harder on you than it will be on him. Sometimes babies need some soothing "white" noise in the background too. A "White" noise is just a constant noise, not too loud or stimulating. Try music, or nature sounds. Make sure you keep it very low. He's waking too much during the night. I found that with my first child (I have 5) that to try to nurse them in the middle of the night, don't take them in the living room/den and turn on the TV while you nurse them. They need quiet time then. The only other alternative I can think of is to give him a pacifier. That may help to sooth him. Good luck!

Answer 3

Many people sleep train their babies and many don't. Sleep training is done by letting the cry for 10 or so minutes without patting their back or going to see them. Typically if a child wakes up you go and see if they are OK then leave and let them cry. Soothe after 10 minutes and repeat. (This is the technique I just used on my 6 month old, my children don't appear to be overly clingy as a side effect). Took about 3 days on each of my 3 children to work.

Otherwise, you can just keep doing what you're doing. That's what my aunt did, she never worried about it.

As a side note, If your child is teething or close to learning an important new skill (crawling, pulling to stand/sit) he may not sleep no matter what you try.

Good luck!

Answer 4

It's all about training
Babys don't get the cycle day-night right away because they don't have enough experience of it !
Try to keep him awake during the day. He's gonna be tired enough to sleep at night.
When you try to nurse him he refuse and go back to sleep. Sounds like "mom, where are you ? ok, you're here, now i can sleep ! Let him cry a bit more the usual, it could be impressive even scary but you will have to break the habit to come right away when he's crying.
Another trick, put him back gently in foetal position when he's crying it's very efficient.

Answer 5

look let him cry it is ok, babies need to some times, dont rush in there every time he wakes up you are making it worse, he has to learn its ok and that he can fall asleep. let him fuss for 10 minutes or so then if he still doesnt stop then go in there, but its ok give him some space. some babies have night terrors......bad dreams, just like we do, he will be ok, also, maybe he has an up set stomache, trying changine the position you put him in for sleeping, try on his side, with a blanket on the sides to hold him that way, he may just be un confortable, he could also be alergic to some thing in the house and it could make him have a headache. babies are hard to read at times, just try different things, maybe invest in a baby indoor swing, he may find that a great nap time method.

Answer 6

I agree with the others...just let him cry for a little while and he'll drift off to sleep. He may also be a light sleeper. My youngest girl slept in my room in her crib and seemed like she was up most of the night until she was about 8 months old. I moved her into her sisters bedroom and she started sleeping all night. I figured out that it was the sound of the furnace kicking on and off(it was right next to our room) that was keeping her up all night. I wish I would have thought early I could have had a lot more sleep...lol

Answer 7

He has not yet learned how to settle himself back to sleep. And, unfortunately, it is something he has to learn.

Does he use a pacifier or his fingers? Babies have the need to suckle, but not feed. If he is not using either you may want to try a 'binky' to help calm himself. He is too young to 'cry it out', but try going to him quickly the first time he wakes, talk to him but do not pick him up or pat him. If he does not calm down, do what works. The next time he gets up, wait 3-5 min before going to him and wait a few more min to pick him up or pat him to calm down. Increase the times every day or two. He will start to learn to calm himself down and go back to sleep himself. My youngest, 17 month boy, still wakes up sometimes at night and cries. At this age we can wait up to 20 min to go to him, but he usually is calmed down and back to sleep on his own in about 5 min. Then we have to try and go back to sleep! :-)

You both will do great!

Answer 8

It sounds like he just wants to make sure his mama is still around. I breastfeed as well and my daughter wouldn't take a nap alone until she was about 7-8 months. She had to lay on my tummy or next to me until that point. She is almost 11 months and still gets up several times a night to nurse. It's more of a comfort thing for them, they want to make sure they're not alone. By reassuring him he will grow to be secure and independent, not spoiled and clingy. You're doing a great job, I wouldn't change a thing if I were you.

Answer 9

knock down naps, and sometimes if you just let him fuss or cry at night he will just drift back off to sleep. As long as there is nothing really wrong with him. The fun of parenting huh?

Answer 10

may be he get wet then he wakes up.

or some sound he listens n he gets up--might be very sensitive to sound----just like my daughter.

she use to do the same.

one thing u can do is try to make him sleep on sides instead of on his back as sometimes kids get fritened when they r alone.

put a pillow along with him when he sleeps.

as he is gaining weight no need to worry . it can last like this for a year then it willl improve.