How do I get my 9 month old baby boy to sleep on his own and to sleep through the night?

Question

I have a consistent routine, dinner: 6pm, bath: 6:30, bottle:7:30, but my baby still battles to fall asleep on his own. I have tried leaving him to cry only going in at 5 minute intervals but this only seems to escalate the crying. I have also tried leaving him completely, but then he stands up in his cot and takes almost 2 hours to get to sleep. I have also tried rubbing his back to relax but no luck. Some nights I rock him just to get him to sleep. Once asleep he rarely sleeps through the night. He usually wakes up between 1 and 4 for a feed sometimes more. Should I eliminate the feed? What if he is hungry? Sometimes after his feed he takes a long time to get to sleep. His naps are not great either. His first one he takes in the cot after I have rocked him(after his10:30 bottle) and his afternoon nap he takes in the pram (after his 2:30 bottle). Day sleeps in total are about 2 hours. I know I shouldn't rock him, but as I said if I don't he just stands up + CRIES and CRIES and CRIES

Answer 1

Who says not to rock him? If that calms him then do it. If he doesnt calm after 5mins at the age I wouldn't leave him any longer. I'd rock him straight off. Try leaving him and going in at 5min intervals again in a couple of months. I rock my little one off at night time (not daytime though) and she's set for the night. I have found a late bottle when i go to bed at 10/11pm helps her sleep through til morning. Or you could try giving him his dinner at the same time, and a dessert after his bottle. Baby cereal or something like that.

Did you know there are 'Sleep Doctors' out there? Maybe get in contact with one if suggestions fail, and see what they say. They have solved many sleep problems with parents in the childcare centre i once worked at.

Answer 2

Hey! You are going through just what I am with my husband. We have a 9 month old girl too. She still wakes up once at night for feedings, every once and a while she wakes up twice. Here are some things we are trying or going to try.
1)Make nap times a little earlier. Maybe you could try to give him the afternoon nap a half hour earlier so he may be ready for bed earlier. Some babies don't have long naps and don't need a lot of sleep during the day. Maybe his nap times could be shortened about 10 min or so as well.
2)Stop the nighttime feedings. I asked my pediatrician about this and she told me that because my girl is gaining weight steadily and she is very healthy, she no longer needs to eat throught the night. She is just used to it and that's why she wakes up. What we are trying to do is give her a bottle but cut the amount down slowly. We are just starting this so I can't tell you if we will be sucessful!
3)This is what we do if she doesn't go to sleep at night... The first time she starts crying we set a timer for 5 minutes. If she is still crying we go back in, lay her down again, reassure her and put the mobile on. We leave the room. If she starts crying again we set the timer for 10 min. Then go back and do the same. The next time we set the timer for 15 min. We got this suggestion online from another parent and let me tell you, I didn't think it would work, but she hasn't even cried for the full 15 minutes the third time.
Good luck! I hope this helps and I realize everyone does things differently. We are first time parents and still trying to figure thing out too!

Answer 3

Try play time at 6:30-7 then bath with body massage then bottle and the put im in bed try playing some classical music or Celine Dion it worked for all 4 of my babies except during teething which may be your son's problem give him 1/2 a dose of Tylenol with his bottle before bed but if that is not the case and he is not sick get a night light for his room and if worst comes to worst put your vacuum by his door with it closed of course and turn it on give him about 10 minutes. I think his bed time is a little early.

Answer 4

Sounds like you have a specific schedule and routine. It seems like you have exact times and amounts for feeding. Did you consider that growth and feeding are cyclical and not constant? Perhaps you would do better feeding him more...till he's done eating. Listen to him. Let him decide when to eat and when he's done. If he cries more than 10 minutes, something is wrong. could be he has teeth coming in. Check the room. Is it too hot, too quiet? Does he have something that smells like you? Does something happen at a specific time (sprinkler system noise) that wakes him? We had success with the rule of 2. When he's crying, wait 2 min. and then come in to comfort him and let him know you are there. If he continues, wait 4 min. Then 8, then 16. You get it.

Answer 5

Give him a jar of food before bed, or some cereal...but not in his bottle. Get into the habit of reading to him in a soothing voice. Also, he may be teething so check for obvious signs, like chewing on things a lot, drooling, slightly high temp, diaper rash when he hasn't gotten one before. If he displays any of these signs give him a dose of Infant Tylenol, and use Hyland teething tablets. They are all natural, disolve in baby's mouth and are suppose to help the teeth come in a little faster.

Answer 6

I agree with the cereal before bed.
I always did this with my 2 kids.Cereal and a bottle before bed.
Also start reducing the afternoon nap if you can.Let have have perhaps half an hour nap so when bed time comes around he will actually be tired and ready to sleep!
Good luck xxx

Answer 7

I agree with the cereal before bed. My9 month old was the same way. Then I started feeding him the cereal. He now sleeps through the night. And he may be teething and yes the teething tablets are great. And for alittle added help rub the baby down with Lavender lotion. They say it helps sooth the baby and make them sleepy.

Answer 8

hi
i am a doctor
you see the children at the age stated have a feeling of being neglected and anxiety
they prfer being around parents and wander even to the extent that tey know they can return to the parents
i sugest you start the baby sleeping in a diffrent bed in your room
and then slowly get him to sleep in a different room
its more like getting the baby from breast feeding to normal fod

Answer 9

ok..precisely HOW long are you wanting the infant to sleep? First, consolidate his naps and shrink the entire time with the aid of half-hour. 2d, placed him to mattress at 9:00 pm. 0.33, upload a snack to the night bottle. that would desire to look after it. At 10 months, he ought to in basic terms be taking one longer nap rather of two and he is going to mattress too early to sleep for the period of the night.

Answer 10

beer