how to get baby to sleep longer?

Question

my baby is 4 months old and is still waking twice a night how can i get him to sleep for longer without having to feed him twice

Answer 1

I am a firm believer in not using a bottle or breast to get your baby to sleep. If he wakes up in the middle of the night he naturally associates eating with sleeping and won't be able to fall back asleep without eating again. You should try and feed him during the day when he is awake. Try and help him learn how to self soothe himself to sleep. It will help you be able to sleep better as well. I highly recommend reading The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. It saved my sanity with my kids. I put them on a schedule that we could both live with. Both my kids were sleeping through the night by three months.

Answer 2

There are other ways to help your baby sleep longer. A period of exercise, followed by a warm bath and a good rocking will work better in the long run. Babies need to start learning the self-soothing ways to a good night's sleep early, so that they don't equate sleeping with eating. When rice cereal is introduced, it should be during the day, not before bed, and remember that the cereal is a filler that doesn't have the needed nutritional value of breast milk or formula. I know you'd like a good night sleep, but this is temporary. Pretty soon, you'll look back and probably still not laugh!

Answer 3

hi there, i always put my 2 little girls in there own room with lights switched off and in a cot. I used a sleepbag, and i stuck to the same routine every night bath bottle bed, try make sure baby is awake as otherwise he will wake in the night as you where there when he fell asleep and he wont learn to fall asleep hiself.
If hes eating well during the day he shouldnt really need a feed, sometimes a dummy can help with this.

Also make sure hes not to tired sleeps during the day are needed at this age, and another tip sometimes just putting him down half an hr to an hr later and try get another feed in here, can be all tha is needed.

I hope this helps i can only say this is what i used on both my girls and they both slept through the night at 5 weeks, and they where very poor feeders. There 3 and 6 now and we still dont have any problems getiing them to bed.

I wish you luck

Answer 4

Don't let her/him to sleep to much during the day. At this age they should have 15hours +maybe 1-2 hours more as well 5 times feed per day. I personally feed her every 3 max 4 hours during the day with last fifth feed just before her bedtime. How big is your baby? My girl was born big 4kg.260gr so I always give her more milk then her same age babies. Basicaly as my health visitor told me if your baby satisfied during the day then she will be able to sleep through night. My girl sleeps from 7.30-8.30 pm till 7-8.30am and she's been doing that since she was 2&half months old. Also I know it's a bit hard just let her cry for a while. I don't do it very often but sometimes when she's too fusy I let her cry and when she's tired she falls asleep and sleeps longer as well. Good luck.

Answer 5

Make sure you are keeping up the eating schedule during the day, its said that if you feed your baby every 2-3 hours all day, then its more likely that the baby will sleep longer at night.....
And for the last bottle, try to put alittle rice in there, to thicken it up alittle!
My daughter is also 4 months old. She usually wakes up 1-2 times a night.... it happens.... its what goes on with having a baby!!!

Good luck!

Answer 6

- feed him before you go to bed and make sure he is full. If he started solid yet, try giving solid for "dinner". It will last longer on him.
- If your baby is a light sleeper than can be awaken by a simple sound, try to be quiet. He'd be more likely to stay asleep and only awake when he's really hungry.
- Play with him throughout the day, read books, and do other activities. This will tire him out (regardless of his naps), and make him sleep longer at night.

However, if he's not ready to be fed less than twice, don't force him. Don't force him to solids just so he'll sleep longer at night. And don't stop him from napping. If he's ready to sleep through the night, he'll sleep through the night.

Answer 7

If he is waking up because he is hungry then he will need a feed. Don't forget how small he still is. If however he is waking up because he wants attention, the cry when he wakes will be different, then leave him to settle himself back down. The more often you do this now the more likely he will be able to do it for himself later on down the road. He needs to learn, even at his tender age, that at night time unless we need feeding or changing (generally anyway) we have to amuse ourselves or go back to sleep.
Next time he wakes, leave him for a moment see if he starts to settle by himself. Leave it longer and longer between him waking and you going to see him.
He will sleep longer, but it may not be the right time for him yet!
Good luck, and don't forget to sleep when he does in the morning or afternoon, to keep you going too.

Answer 8

hi,when my children were babies ,they would get plenty during the day food and milk wise ,then once they were over around 8-12 weeks i would give them coled boiled water in the night.they soon learn its not worth waking for.
also when my kids were babies they were all on solids by 3months,i know now they advise six months before giving solids ,but i have say my kids were contented babies.i found if they have enough during the day ,they dont wake up for it at night.
also i got mine into a bath,bottle and bed routine,almost straight away,which i think helped ,babies need a firm routine,thats not to say you cant be flexible when they are ill or you have guests etc.
also when mine woke up aswell as just water i wouldnt talk to them at night,i know it sounds callous!!,i would just give a cuddle and put back,and they would go back to sleep safe in the knowledge mum was near.if you talk to them at night too much ,little one thinks `oh this is fun ,lets play longer!`,so by not talking to them they get the message.
you may have tears for a few nights ,but weather it out,as i will stop sooner than you think!
good luck :)

Answer 9

well, it really depends on what time he goes to sleep at night, and what time he wakes up for the day,,,,,,, meaning the total hours, with the two feedings? if its long, its expected he would still wake up to feed twice,,,,,,about the only way to cut out feedings is to cut down on his sleep time,,,,, feed him alot before he goes to sleep,,, but i dont think you really want to do that,,,,, as if he overeats before sleep, he still is going to wake up wet ,, really, at this age, i would leave him on his own schedule,, soon he will be eating more,,eating babyfood etc,, more active, and his whole schedule will change, and he will sleep during the night,,,,,,

Answer 10

Go and have a look at www.babysleepanswers.co.uk. Its packed full of articles on how to get your baby to sleep. You can sign up for a book and online support, but even of you don't bother its still good.