Please Help with my 7 month old baby's Daily Routine?

Question

I'm really trying to work out what's best so I can get some darn sleep at night! My baby is happy and healthy, but I need to be consistent with Bottle Feeds, Meals, Naps and Night Sleep. I NEED A GUIDE!

Lately he is WIDE awake and driving me crazy between midnight up to 4-5am. It's been a couple of weeks now that he AND me aren't getting our "long sleep" until he finally goes to sleep at 4-5am. Some days I'll just stay awake and continue the usual breakfast etc routine, hoping that by night he'll zonk and sleep normally through the night. Doesn't work.

HE DOES HAVE A LONG SLEEP, it's just I think he's got DAY and NIGHT the wrong way around.

PLEASE GIVE ADVICE on what I should do. At the moment, it's 3.30 am, and he's been in his cot awake since midnight. Sometimes crying, sometimes babbling and calling out MAMA.
I've gone in TWICE and NOT picked him up, just stroked his forehead, rubbed his legs to settle him again until he quietens and seems happy, then leave him.

HELP!

CURRENT ROUTINE - (Roughly):

7-8am - Bottle, Nappy Change, Play, Breakfast, Nap (usually until next feed).

12-1pm - Same as Breakfast routine.

5-6pm - Same as Breakfast and Lunch, then a Bath, turn down lights, make it quiet and relaxing in the house.

FROM HERE ON IT'S A NIGHTMARE. UP ALL NIGHT, BURP BURP BURP THEN HUNGRY AGAIN IT JUST GOES ON AND ON UNTIL MORNING AGAIN.

This is really killing me and my health. Please Help US :(

Thank you to everyone who answered. There is gold in every answer here, so I just cannot choose a best answer... They are all best answers and I am working hard to get my little cherub with horns all sorted thanks to your wonderful ideas and suggestions. I shall let the public decide what they think is best! Thanks again and lotsa luv to your littlies. :)

Answer 1

It does seem like he's got his days and nights confused, but that usually would have gone away by now, so maybe it's something else...
My doctor told me some of these tips:
Make sure they are kept in lighted rooms during the day (even during naps)
Don't have it completely quiet during the day
At night when you want them to sleep, do the opposite (keep it dark and quiet)
At night when he wakes up, let him go back to sleep ON HIS OWN... otherwise he'll think it's playtime :) If he's just in there babbling and playing, let him be. If he cries, use your judgment on the length of time to leave him, but if you do go in there don't talk to him or pick him up (just let him see you to reassure him that he's not all alone). Hope that helps at all!
Oh.. p.s. I just read the additional info and it could just be that he is napping too much during the day. How long are each of the naps? Check out this chart... it may take a little time to cut back the nap schedule and it may be difficult to stick with it (especially if your baby is crabby) but it really helped me!
http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/peds_growth/infhab.cfm

Answer 2

My routine is up at 7-8 for breakfast,play time until 10 then nap in between 10-12 up for lunch more play time until 1:30 0r 2 nap until 3:30 4 at thr latest dinner 5-6 bath bed 8:30 or 9. My son is 13 mths now although i have had him on this routine since he was 6 mths old and it works for him.I have found that doing whatever it takes to keep him up from 4 in the afternoon till at least 8 helps him sleep at night.Also try taking him outside for a walk for about 30 mins or so b-4 bedtime it really wears them out.Good Luck!!

Answer 3

Sounds like my first son, I just started cutting down on the nap time in the morning and afternoon and at night making sure that exactly at 7:30 he went to bed. I would let him talk but not play and when he started to cry I would let him only if it wasn't hysterical. Within a few nights he was getting into the routine. Make sure there are no toys in his crib so he doesn't think that it is playtime when he is in there. Also make sure that the room at night is DARK so he knows dark means sleep time. Then in the day make sure it is very bright so he knows light is stay up time even during his nap. He will only sleep for an hour or hour and 1/2. Make sure not any longer. He will get used to it, but I would say not to go in his room unless he is hysterical or sounds painful. He needs to learn to self soothe to sleep. Good Luck and any more questions please feel free to IM me.

Answer 4

i have an 11 mnth old son i put him in a routine wen he was tht age try this it may take a couple of days but once hes used to it it will work
8-9 play with him for a bit change him for the day and give him his breakfast

at about 11 give him a nap for between half hr to hr depending on how long he slept night before then wake him up
12- 1 play with him for a bit to wake him up then give him lunch
3-4 give him another nap for same amount of time as last time remember if u have to wake him up wen nap time has finished
5 give him his dinner
at half 5 give him pudding if he has it
6 play with him
half 6 give him a bath u can play with him whilst u r washing him if he dnt like baths it helps
between half 6 and 7 just sit down with him and cuddle him
then at 7 put him to bed with his bottle and leave him if he crys wait between 5 and 10 mins go in calm him down if he is stressed stroke his head tell him u r still here but dnt pick him up and tell him its bedtime
eventually he will calm down and go to sleep it took me a good few days to get him into a routine but now it works wonderfully
just remember he might also be waking up cos he teething cos my son started bout 7 mnths so give him some teething gel and leave him soon u will both be sleeping all the way through the night i hope i have helped u and good luck

Answer 5

My son just turned 6 mos. I try to keep him occupied and awake for 2 1/2 - 3 hours at a time. He eats every 4-5 hours, baby food at lunchtime - then bottles for the other feedings. At night he gets a relaxing bath before his last bottle @ 11. He usually stays asleep until around 5:30 or 6 am. If he gets fussy to where he doesn't sleep I take him for a walk, it works every time.Putting cereal in his last bottle at night also keeps him satisfied through the night

Answer 6

Sounds like he is either teething since this has been going on just a couple of weeks, not getting enough to eat during the evening ( maybe you are trying out new solids in his diet) , or maybe he is not getting enough stimulus & play during the afternoon. The period of time when babies start large motor play is a time when they need to be on the floor more to get their movement. A child restricted in stroller, car seat, jumper all day at that age will have trouble sleeping.
You can try extending his day longer too and just go to bed later. It is easier to cope as mom staying up a bit longer then waking up mid of night and staying up till early wee hours.
I would look at those three things first. His routine you posted is a good one.

Answer 7

I'd say keep him from taking an afternoon nap, or a nap after 3 pm and see if that helps get him through the night. Or just simply dont let him fall asleeo after 5 am until his regular morning nap time... maybe that will help switch his pattern around.

Answer 8

You need to sleep when baby sleeps, if you do not work , if you do please get a sitter at night to help or a willing family member to help you. If you can not do any of this take him to a daily drop in daycare and go home and do nothing but sleep. This is the hardest time in your life. If none of this works clear his crib dress him warmly, feed him, love him, change him, leave a nite lite on, turn your monitor on, put earplugs in (you will still hear him just not so loud), close the door, & go to bed. I did this even with the bed in my rm so I could look over at her when I would wake, It is so hard to do this but the child will get used to the routine.