My 6 month old has taken to waking up every hour and a half to two hours...?

Question

He has been sleeping through the night since he was 3 months old, suddenly he has stopped taking naps except for a 2 hour nap in the morning and another in late afternoon. At night now he wakes up several times and screams until we pick him up and when we do he stops immediately. I offer him a bottle and he won't really eat so he's not hungry and he doesn't need to be changed.
Should I just let him cry himself back to sleep?
I'm afraid that if I keep picking him up all night he'll expect it all the time. There are times he will go back to sleep if I just give him his pacifier and pat him w/o saying a word, but he wakes up 20 to 30 minutes later and the patting doesn't always work.

Also, what if I don't pick him up and he IS hungry or needs a diaper change?

I give him a bath and a bottle every night and it's just been the past 5-7 days that he has been like this. He just had his 6 month check-up this week and physically he's fine.

Yeah, I put cereal in his bottle, too.

All very helpful, thank you!!!
I'll put it to a vote. ;)

Answer 1

Young children learn very quickly that crying gets them picked up whenever they want. If you know for sure that there is no other problem (hungry, nappy etc) try leaving him a little longer before picking him up. Also, stay in another room where he cant hear you - if he hears noise the crying will persist.

Gradually leave him longer each time until you are able to let him cry back to sleep - this may sound cruel but if you know he's ok physically and he gets plenty of attention during normal waking hourse, then I think you are doing him AND yourself a favour by trying to train him not to do it.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

As long as you expect to take up to twice as long, yes, that is safe as a one time (well, obviously twice, there and back) thing. Allow for frequent and long stops. Your baby should never be more than two hours at a time in a car seat, and absolutely never in a moving vehicle except when in a car seat. Take something like a moses basket. That way, when you stop to nurse, afterwards your baby can also spend a little time on a flat surface before going back in the car seat. When you make stops to eat or drink something yourself, do NOT leave her in the car seat, even though it seems convenient to just carry her in the car seat into a diner. Get her out of there any time you're not moving. A hotel isn't less safe than your home for a 3 month old. She won't be crawling yet, so as long as you have a blanket so she can play on the floor and a travel cot (or the same moses basket) so you're sure she has a safe sleeping surface, you're fine. This is a situation where breastfeeding makes it far easier to travel with a 3 month old, it's far more complicated if you have to prepare bottles.

Answer 3

Maybe try giving him a little more cereal without being in the bottle before bed.. and then the bottle..you didn't specify what time he usually went to bed either... but I would say he probably is waking more for security... I wouldn't rush to pick him up, but I would shush him and genlty pat or rub him and offer comfort while standing next to him... eventually you will end up doing thr cry it out method.. but don't let him make hisself sick over it.. somtimes they just want to make sure your there... good luck

Answer 4

I feel you!! My son did the same thing. I couldnt sleep through it but I let him cry for 10-15 mins, if screaming gets bad, I would peak in and make sure nothing is wrong, but after less than 10 mins he would fall back asleep. I did this early in the problem, if this has happend a while you may have to wait a little longer for him to fall back asleep. I got up and did something myself, it helps if you have trouble listening to it. You may have to change his sleep schedule and wake him up early from his nap.. around 6 months my son went from 3 1.5hr naps to 2 2hr naps. GOODLUCK

Answer 5

hi, sounds like u are a new mom, I have two girls. I've noticed lately that a lot of babies are teething earlier and if this is the case he is hurting. a soothing warm towel rubbing his gums and give him a lil tylenol or as the doctor recommends of course. Also keep a nice warm out the dryer blanket around but don't pick him up again after you soothe his gums put the warm blanket on him wrap snuggly, lie him on his stomach and rub his back till he falls asleep, the warmth of the blanket is like being in the womb again if you bundle him tight enough he will sleep all nite, don't wrap too tight though, he still needs to breathe..

Answer 6

i also experienced that lately when my baby started teething, it is very uncomfortable feeling for babies because their gums are starting to erupt, that's why they can't sleep through the night, there are babies who started teething at around 7 to 8 months, but by 6 months gums started to erupt, check with your pedia if there is something you can put in their gums, . . . or maybe she/he has a gas pain which is common to babies, give her tummy a little tap you may feel or hear a sound of a drum so it means it has gas on it that's why he can;t sleep, put some oil in her tummy before he/she sleeps, i used azeite de mancinilla, i don't know if it is available in your area better check, or just put oil . . . or much better ask your pedia

Answer 7

Try to keep him up during the day. Feed him well late at night. My friend does this, and her newborn almost sleeps through the night. Also, don't always pick him up when he cries, even during the daytime -- yes, he will come to always expect that. Then you'll really have trouble on your hands, literally!

Answer 8

let him cry himself back to sleep,,

my 7 month old grandaughter is spendng the night, she went to bed at 1 and has been awake since 430 this is the last time for a while i think shes gonna spend the night

Answer 9

Maybe you need to give him a better dinner, my son used to wake up at night until i started to give him a bottle with baby cereal to make it heavier, he was happy and slept all night