5 month old STILL not sleeping?

Question

My son is 5 months old. He STILL wakes up every 2-3 hours. Since he was born, we've only had 5 - 6 nights where he's slept well (from 8:00 to 4:30 am). We have a well established bed time routine. I feed him rice cereal @ around 6:30, bath at 7:00, book @ about 7:30, then I nurse him and have him to bed by 8:00. He's usually not asleep when I put him in his crib--and has no problem falling asleep on his own (at the 8:00 bedtime). But, then he almost always wakes up between 10:00-11:00, and then repeatedly every few hours throughout the night. Last night, I was up 5 times with him! I've tried the cry it out--he did cry himself back to sleep (we did it for 7 nights)...I'd come to his crib every 10 minutes or so and reassure him. But, he just KEPT up with his same schedule. I finally gave in, figuring it was quicker just to pick him up, rock him (and/or nurse him) back to sleep than to let him cry for a half hour or more each time he woke up. I'm sooo tired and soooo frustrated

Answer 1

My daughter did not sleep throught the night until she was 6 1/2 months old. She would wake up every 3 hours to eat. It is very frustrating!! I tried the crying it out thing, but it didn't work for me either. I just waited it out, and eventually she started sleeping all night. My doctor told me that if she was waking up to eat, then she needed to eat. He told me that she knows what she needs and when she needs it, so I just had to deal with it. Don't worry, it will get better, it may take a while, but it will. I hope it happens soon for you. I know how hard it is. Good luck!!

Answer 2

I realize this can be totally nerve-racking... but don't dispair. Some kiddos just do this, all three of mine did. In fact, mine did it until they were 2 or 3 years old. The number of times they woke up did decrease to around 2-3x a night as they got a little older. And there WERE some nights that they were up more, and some nights when they slept ALL NIGHT. My advice to you is "white noise", like a fan set on low speed (not pointed directly at them) this "white noise" saved my life as far as sleeping was concerned. Make sure the fan puts off a soothing white noise sound, which new fans do, and not a harsh, annoying, vibrating sound like a lot of old fans do. Try it...I swear by it.

Another suggestion I have is for YOU not go to bed until AFTER the second time the baby wakes up, the 10 or 11:00 time. This will make the number of times your sleep is disturbed seem like a lot less.

Answer 3

welcome to parent hood. it can be tough. my daughter didnt sleep through the night until she was about 8 months old. and even now, at 13 months, she doesnt always sleep through the night, usually she does, but not always. maybe you should try feeding him more cereal at night or maybe even giving it to him just a little bit later, like say an 8:30 bed time and give him cereal at 7:00. another thing you can try if he is waking up a lot is having a lullaby cd or tape in his room, when he wakes up you turn it on and it may help him fall back asleep. i do that with my daughter, and since her crib is in my room, i have a remote, i just switch on the stereo from my bed and then back to sleep. it has worked with her several times. good luck, i know how hard it is to be sleep deprived.

Answer 4

I waited until my son was 6 months old before I started NOT picking him up at night when he woke. At six months they are old enough to soothe themself back to sleep. I would start out coming in about every 10 minutes and rub his belly and sing to him, but not pick him up. After a couple days of that, I would come in every 15 minutes and do the same, then 20 minutes. After a short time, I wouldn't enter the room at all, and he would soothe himself back down. The biggest rule of thumb is NOT TO GIVE IN! Trust me, this works, you just have to keep at it. If not, you'll be like some of the women I know with kids that are 2 or 3 years old and STILL not sleeping through the night. Good luck!

Answer 5

ummm i don't know who told everyone else that but babies can sleep through the night when they are only 6 weeks old!!! the routine thing you do is great but it has to be an all day thing. the key is to create a pattern which teaches them to learn to sleep. they always eat, then play, then sleep. Always. no matter what thats the way it goes. occasionally they will fall asleep after eating but if you keep at the eat, play, sleep pattern it somehow teaches them to sleep longer. my baby started sleeping through the night at 8 weeks but i did let him cry it out for about 3 days. by cry it out i mean i fed him good then didn't go in there until time to get up in the morning. not even for reassurance. it only took three days but the pattern was started at birth. try the pattern for a little while then ease him into crying it out. don't go in the first time but maybe the second time he wakes up ect. i hope this helps but he should be sleeping throught the night no matter what anyone says. i don't feel sorry for people whos kids don't because its their own fault. good luck!!

Answer 6

Just reading through all the answers and wanted to assure that every baby is different. And you have to do what works for the two of you. You might try pumping your milk and mixing in a little cereal to see if that will tide him over a bit better. Good luck! Mine is almost 8 months and we are still up at 2 and 5!

Answer 7

My youngest grandson is 11 1/2 months old and he still wakes up several times a night. Some babies are just more difficult than others. I understand you being tired but realize that getting frustrated does no good and only causes your infant to feel stressed from your attitude. He can't help it if he wakes up, he just needs the security of knowing that you are there to comfort him. Try to take a nap or sleep in when he does, that should help some. But, hey babies aren't just cute and good smelling, they can be a little trouble.

Answer 8

Well, i know for a fact that at 6 weeks, my son was trained to sleep through the night. Unfortunately i wasn't able to breastfeed him, but regardless of that, his pediatrician insisted that i don't give him a bottle from midnight till 6 a.m. If he woke up, i should give him a herbal tea like Milupa or even just boiled mint bags. For the first 2 or 3 days he'd wake up, and after that he stopped.
So i guess you could try that.

Good luck.

Answer 9

Some people suggest giving a breastfeed baby a bottle of formula before putting the baby to sleep. You may try also buying a wedge for his crib. He may have heartburn. Check with you doctor first to see what he says.

Answer 10

my kids didnt sleep thru the night until after 8 months old, when basically i forced them too (sleep training). basically you have to let them cry it out.. I'm not sure i would advocate that for a 5 month old tho.. a little older perhaps. And yes it does work, usually only takes a couple of days.