Why won't my baby sleep!?!?!?!?!?

Question

My son, Aidyn, is nine months old this week. He is still waking up three or more times a night, and nothing but a warm bottle put him back to sleep. He eats great during the day, takes naps well (even without the bottle), but at night, he won't stay asleep! It's been a year now since I have slept all night, and I am getting very tired... What can I do to help him sleep?

Answer 1

My doctor told me a story once that really helped me understand my kids.

Imagine its 3am and you hear a knock on your door. When you answer it a man hands you $100, then leaves. The next night the same thing happens. This goes on for a week. By the 7th night would you be waiting at the door at 3am? chances are you would be.

Kids wake up for food in the beginning. Once they get past that point they wake up for the hugs, kisses,songs, and the comfort of food. They are probably not hungry, but like many of us adults they eat for comfort. Try this trick, I have been telling as many people I can about it because it really works, it will take about a week or two

Go in a sit with your child. Don't pick him up. Sit next to his crib, rub his back, hold his hand...whatever you have to do. After this works for a night or two, move farther away in the room. Still talk to him, tell him he is ok, sing a soft song. Every night you move farther and farther away until he can sleep without you.

The other thing I learned is, are you turning on lights, and smiling and talking with him when he wakes up? If so, stop. I know it hard cause kids are too darn cute. Make his nighttime wakings as boring as possible. I used to close my eyes while I fed my son, so I wouldn't be tempted to smile at his cute little face. If you make things boring chances are he won't be interested in hanging out with his party-pooper parents :) Good luck!

Answer 2

Hi there are a few things you can do to help your baby to sleep a bit longer in the night. I have 6 Children from 14 down to 1 year old. The way i have done it is to make a routine together for each child. I start with food then a bath with some baby bath with lavender in it. Then i use a warm or a cold bottle and put them to bed with it. I give the children a small night light to look at and only one teddy in there bed and one blanket. A few hours later before i they awake again and change the bottle over so if they do wake up then they have a drink in there bed with them. Now this has always worked for me. And make sure the bedroom door is shut as noise can wake the child and make it feel like it is missing something. You could also try and let them have a 15 min cry they will then see it is bed time and not there time. You need your own time for yourself and your partner.

Answer 3

I also have a 9 month old. She has been sleeping through the night since she was 2 months old, but she has been waking up a lot more frequently at night now. I have tried reducing how long I let her nap during the day, and she seems to be going to bed earlier and sleeping better. Also, lots and lots of play time to wear her out. Something that I have noticed to...take your son out for walks at night. Something about that night air that makes them sleepy.
I hope this helped. Good Luck!

Answer 4

He keeps waking up because he gets affection and a warm bottle. He knows that if he cries long enough he will eventually get it. When he cries at night go into his room, just lay him back down and pat his back 2-3 times and tell him he's okay. Then walk out. Let him cry for about 10 minutes. If he is still crying then go back and do the same thing but this time do say anything just lay him down, pat his back a couple of times and then walk out. This time wait for 15 minutes and continue adding 5 minutes each time.

You are going to feel terrible but as long as nothing is wrong with him - (wet diaper, hungry, hurt) - then he will be fine. He just has to know that at night we sleep. This may take a week, but if you stay consistent and keep with it - it will be worth a full nights sleep. By 5 months both of my kids were sleeping through the night - they survived they are teenagers now.

Answer 5

Do a combination of the following: introduce solids, esp rice cereal at night so his tummy is really full before putting him down for the night. Reduce or eliminate daytime nap times. Eliminate the positive reinforcement (warm bottle when he cries) Wait at least 10- 15 mi, then console him, but leave him in bed to cry if there is nothing else wrong. It could take several days to a week to break the habit. Be consistent! Good luck. (experienced mother of 3)

Answer 6

Wow!-- I can't imagine how you must feel.

1) I would suggest not letting him sleep too much during the day.

What I did when my baby was 3 months is replace the middle of the night bottle w/ a pacifier. About a week later, my son stopped waking up for the pacifier and he slept through the night.

Your son now depends on the night bottle. Help him to realize that he doesn't need it. I would suggest giving him less & less milk each night until he eventually fails to wake up for it.

Good Luck:)

Answer 7

My son didn't sleep much either, but he didn't sleep much during the day or the night. I WAS EXHAUSTED!!!! Have you started him on solid foods yet? He may be waking and wanting a bottle because he is hungry. My doctor had me feed my son rice cereal at bedtime and this helped some (then I only got up once in the night). Make sure he doesn't sleep too much during the day and make sure he gets out into the sun at least once a day.

I feel for you. GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 8

These answers are all practical, but you have to feel comfortable with them – and so here is a possible checklist.

Daytime- lots of fresh air and exercise
-shorten the two naps OR gradually cut out the morning nap.
-Keep a VERY consistent routine
-No bottles in bed
-Soother – a bedtime treat only – must be all rubber. No hard plastic.

Nighttime- filling supper such as rice pablum
-relaxing bath either before or after supper
-bedtime ritual – gentle song/ ‘short’ massage
-teething pain? Apply gel at wakeups and back to sleep
-no stimulating toys or activities
-only one special sleepy toy to hug – keep in the bed
-less light in the room
-bedtime and supper 1 hour later than usuall
-consistancy
-no bottles in bed – rubber soother or teething ring only
-

Answer 9

Do what I did when my daughter was that old. Pick a day and just let him cry it out. It took about a week. But now sleeps through the night without a peep. The first night she cried for about 2 hours. The second night about an hour and a half. Third about an hour, fourth about 30 min, fifth about 15 minutes and after that she started sleeping well.

When she cried my husband and I just layed there and didn't make a peep.

She is a very happy and healthy child.

Answer 10

I"m with ya girl. My daughter is 7months and she wakes up at 3 am and then again at 5am. I'm really getting sick of it too. She only naps one nap during the day. I notice if I keep her up longer in the evenings she stays asleep. it's hard to do every night cuz she gets really cranky when she wants to sleep. Good luck and I'll be thinking about you tonight around 3am!