How do I get my 7 month old son to sleep through the night?

Question

I have a 7 month old boy who has only ever slept through the night (at least 10pm til 6am) for the period of one week! He weighs 24lb and is 76cm tall so he's a big boy, and I just put it down to the fact that he is hungry? He is eating a normal balanced diet and having about a pint of Cow and Gate baby milk a day. He uses a dummy just as and when he wants soothing but not religiously.
Its not that he wakes up and is wide awake, he doesnt even open his eyes he just cries, I just give him a bottle and off to sleep he goes again, but he is waking for a feed twice a night and after 7 months I'm dead on my feet!
Any tried and tested tips? Can't just leave him to cry as I have a four and a five year old who need their sleep too!
Help :o)

Answer 1

I would recommend Tracy Hoggs baby whisperer book. We didnt have it and did the 'controlled crying' on our son (who is now 2 1/2) which worked wonders but I dont fancy that again, it only took 3 nights but seemed so cruel. So I bought the baby whisperer book and have been reading it for when bump arrives. She has a method called the shush pat method, which Is like controlled crying without the crying. You stay with them and pick them up, sooth them then put them back down and gently pat their back. Apparently it can take a couple of days or so but she says its never failed. So it has to be worth a try. It really is an excellent book, ive tried alot of her ideas from her baby whisperer for toddlers book out on my son and they work miracles and are all very kind and dont need too much sticking to routine. You will probably find the book useful for other stuff too. Maybe try your local library and see if they have it. You could also try www.thebabywhisperer.com For advice. Good luck!

Answer 2

I had the same problem with my son, started around 6 months but he was waking up every 1 1/2 hours all night. Best thing I ever did was buy a book called Dream Baby Guide by Sheyne Rowley. It is about 700 pages long but so worth it in the end. I know a lot of people think reading from books wont help, but after I read the book and put in practice her suggestions my son now sleeps from 7pm - 7am. Well worth a try!!

Answer 3

First of all, have you checked that he's comfortable - not too cold, hot, thirsty, teething etc? You sound like a kind and caring mum, so that's probably a bit patronising.

I used a different technique from controlled crying (which is where you leave them to cry for 5, 10, 15 mins) because I also couldn't bear to see my daughter cry. Its called "pick up and put down".

Basically, you make sure you have a set bedtime routine and follow it. Make sure that they know that its bed time. If they wake in the night make sure you go straight to them, pick them up and check that everything is OK (do anything that you need to like changing nappies etc) and put them back down in the cot and leave the room and close the door. Do not make eye contact (this is essential), speak to them, make cooing noises etc. If they continue to cry, re-enter the room, check that they're OK and walk out again, always with out making eye contact. When he wakes in the morning, go in and make a real fuss of him, even if he's been up for most of the night, so that he knows that there is a distinct difference between your nighttime and daytime response to his waking. It will take about four days before he gets the message that mummy (or daddy) will always come if he needs help but that he wont get any "fun" or emotional response out of you.

I used this with my daughter, who had a similar problem and it worked like a dream. I much prefer it to controlled crying because I believe it sent a strong message that I would always come if she needed me but that bedtime was bedtime and mummy wasn't going to engage in playing, cuddling or any form of chitchat.

Good luck. I know how hard it is when a baby won't sleep through the night.

Answer 4

Don't let him nap as much during the day if possible.

If you are feeding him an evening meal give him a rusk mixed with his regular milk as dessert, this should fill him up and help him sleep longer than if you gave him a fruit dessert.

He might not be waking up thru hunger, if he's not opening his eyes, it might be teething pain. try rubbing some calgel/bongela on his gums instead, give him his dummy back and see if he will drop back off.

That's the best tips i can give withou more details but i hope it helps!! Good luck, my daughter didn't sleep thru the night until we moved her into her own room at 6 months old and even that was sporadic!

Answer 5

Sounds like he's hungry to me, maybe try giving him some baby rice or rusk with his last feed, that'll give him some bulk to work on through the night. Also maybe try that 'hungry baby' milk, I think Cow & Gate do one. My youngest was a greedy beggar and the baby rice thing worked for him.

I know its hard to leave them to cry, but he may have just got himself into a routine of waking up to feed, maybe try leaving him for a bit at the weekend, so at least the other kids can catch up on their sleep the next day.

I really feel for you, it's hard to explain how absolutely exhausted they can make you. It will get better eventually :) Good luck chuck

Answer 6

I agree with the other ladies. It's hard to let them cry. At first it was something I could not do at all. But while they are crying and you go in there room every couple of minutes to assure them everything is ok, it helps. I didn't pick her up but would pat her on her back. At 6 months old I had to go this route. I was rocking my baby to sleep and she would wake up and could not soothe herself back to sleep. She went from waking up several times a night to once a night. I was in heaven. LOL. Until the pediatrician told me that she did not need that 3am bottle. I slowly weaned her off that and she completely started sleeping through the night at 9 months old. She is 10 months now. They suggest weaning off by diluting the formula until it's water and they will no longer wake up for it. I've also learned not to jump up as soon as she cries. By doing this the learn to soothe themselves. I not saying let them cry forever but do what is comfortable for you. For me, I can't handle but 2-3 minutes but she is now going back to sleep way for 2 minutes. Good Luck!!

Answer 7

My daughter turned a year old last month. She has only slept thru the night one time and that was b/c she was on an antibiotic that made her sleepy. All children are diferent. I would not recommend the cereal in the bottle . You have a big child already you dont want to make him over weight. I would try talking to his pediatrician, but if he is like ours. He is just going to tell you it is something all children go thru. My daughter gets really relaxed with a warm bath with the "Johnsons bedtime bath" It has lavender in it . It makes her get sleepy and calms her when she is cranky. I Hope that helps.

Answer 8

If his belly is full before bed and still wakes up he probably just needs to cry. It is a hard thing to do and I understand your other kids need sleep.. but I think if you get through those first few days to a week of letting him cry it will be much better in the long run. That's what worked for me anyway. Good luck.

Answer 9

Why are you feeding him if he isn't fully awake? Just go in, pat him a bit and then go back to bed. It's not that you CAN'T leave him to cry, it's that you don't WANT to. Your four and five year olds will survive few nights of his crying. Of course if you want to make sure the baby has total control of the situation then keep on doing what you're doing.

Answer 10

Try to keep him up during the day as much as possible. Take him for walks...get into a routine...bath and then bed. Maybe keep him up a little later...for example if you put him down at 8 try to put him down at 9. You could alos just let him cry. There is nothing wrong with him. In fact, he isent hungry in the night...he wants the comfort from that bottle...break him of that habit. The first week will be hard but it will be worth it...trust me i had the same problem