my 5 monthold son use to sleep 5 hours straight a night now he is waking up everyhour does any one know why ?

Question

i breastfed my son to get him to go to sleep at nights now i am finding myself waking up everyhour he crys i pick him up again and nurse him back to sleep

Answer 1

Don't use your boobs as a pacifier, it will only make it harder when you stop breastfeeding.

Now is the time when he should start learning how to put himself back to sleep. When he wakes up, just go in his room and softly talk to him or sing to him. Stroke his head and let him know you're there but don't pick him up. He needs to try and put himself to sleep rather than being cuddled and fed back to sleep.

Answer 2

Babies go through these phases. You know it will pass. In the mean time, a few possibilities could be:

He hit a growth phase and needs more milk so he won't be hungry.

He could be ready for solid foods. Between 4 to 6 months is a great time to start. I started my 6 month old on infant cereal a couple weeks ago right before bed and now she sleeps 6 hours straight.

Or he might be waking up because he's not nursing and that is how he fell asleep. Try nursing him in the day but stop right before he gets to sleep, then rock him or lay him down so he can practice getting to sleep on his own.

good luck. Take LOTS of naps when you can!

Answer 3

This use to happen to my grandson and it's a stressful time. Just when you think they are down for more sleep, they start crying. Maybe someone will have a good reason, but you aren't alone.

You have my compassion......it's just a phase I guess. Or maybe it's upset tummy.....not sure. Sorry I'm not much help.

Or I wonder if the baby still feels hungry? Talk to your doctor or other mothers.

Answer 4

What I did with my daughter is start him on formula and a bottle you can still use breast milk but it may not be as filling for him anymore because breast milk is thin. You could also do what I did with my daughter and that was I put her in bed with me and held her so that she was confered while she was sleeping so you may want to swaddle him in a blanket if you dont want him in bed with you. this way it will still feel like you are holding him. also it is ok to let him cry for a little bit not to long. he could just be crying knowing that if he crys you will come running in with the goodies. you are being played. lol it happens so soon. lol

Answer 5

You are just continuing the vicious cycle of wake, feed, sleep, wake feed sleep. LET HIM CRY IT OUT. My five month old son sleeps through the night from 8pm till 7am. yours can too but you have to help him do it.

Answer 6

i had the same problem with mine .i was breastfeeding he was sleeping through then started waking .maybe he is still hungry and breast milk is not filling him anymore.or it could be he knows when he crys you come running.try and let him settle himself you obviously know if hes is any stress by the way he crys.and he is used to being fed to fall back of to sleep now. so try controlled crying what i is you put him to bed awake leave him settle himself if he is just giving little moans leave him you will notice a pattern in his crying where he crys then stops then crys again then stops he is waiting for you to go in that's what wants but try and stop yourself you will benefit in the long run. if he is really crying go in don't pick him up just rear-sure him that your not to far away don't look at him direct in the eyes look at his chest or tip of his nose try not to pick him up or you will be back to square one this worked for me it just sounds like you have giving in to him by rocking him to sleep and that's the only way he knows now to fall of to sleep try it and let me know how you got on

Answer 7

he could be teething!

my son used to wake up of a night time and i ended up buying him a dummy (pacifier) and gave it to him when he would wake up and he went back to sleep!
sometimes it's ok to let them cry for a little while because they might just fall to sleep again, but if he cries for too long its just cruel and not fair.
have you ever tried checking his nappy? i know my son hates being in a wet or soiled nappy and wont sleep like that!

Answer 8

It is just his sleep cycle. Don't make a big fuss - don't turn on any lights. Keep talking/humming/singing (any vocalization) to a minimum. In other words, don't stimulate him with talking to him. Quietly put him back in his crib as soon as he is done and don't make any fuss about leaving. This helps him realize that he can get fed, you ARE there, but it is time to sleep.

Answer 9

He may be going through a growth spurt and may need to eat more often for a while. It might be time to start some cereal with him to give him calories he needs to get him through the night.

Answer 10

maybe his diaper is wet!!or he is distracted in noises,lights or etc....just make the night,calm,smooth,warm and good and surely,he'll sleep more than 5 hours straight....and doctors said feeding your baby soft foods at afternoon like 6:00 will make him wake up at night!!