My baby won't sleep...Please Help me!?

Question

I have 2 children. My first son began sleeping through the night at 6months, no problem...my second is 7months old and still getting up many many times a night. I have tried everything-cereal in his bottle, feeding him baby food and a bottle right before bed, I gave up rocking him to sleep, and I have tried letting him cry it out. I just can't let him cry. I feel terrible. I know he isn't hungry, I make him a bottle and he refuses it. He rolls onto his belly and wakes up crying. I tried a infant postioner to keep him on his back...that doesn't work either. I don't talk to him or pick him up when I go in to check him when he is crying. I am doing everything I can and nothing is working. I am tired. I have been getting 3 or less hours of sleep for the past 9 months. I need help. I don't know what to do. His doctor and all my friends tell me to let him cry. It seems so cruel...I can't bring myself to do it for more than a few minutes. Any suggestions would be wonderful. Thank you.

Answer 1

when he starts to cry, set a timer for 10-15 minutes for yourself. You know that you will go into the room after the timer goes off (he doesn't) -- but this will give you a way of not making it seem like forever, and you know that if he really needs you, he will still be crying. If you can't bring yourself to do it for 10 minutes at first, try 5 minutes, and then 7 minutes and then 10 minutes. A bottle with water should be fine at this age if he is trying to get full. If he's eating well during the day, he probably isn't waking up for food. Check to see if he's got teeth coming in, too.

take care.

Answer 2

My 3rd child is the same age, and here are a few things we do with him. You said you used an infant positioner - which one? We use a "safe t sleep" to stop him rolling onto his tummy. It is a sheet with a velcro belt that goes around his tummy. Secondly we put him in "grobags" to sleep (www.grobag.com) These replace all sheets and blankets so baby wont wake up due to being too hot or cold. They come in 3 different types from summer, winter and in between. Excellent for sleeping through the night and also recommended by sids for safe sleeping. Make sure the room is completely dark, and as you already have been doing feed baby a meal as well as milk before bed (but make sure he is well burped and comfortable.) If all else fails, with our second son we actually purchased a cot rocking device that simulates a ride in the car. If he wakes you turn it on and it soothes him back to sleep. I can't remember what it was called but it worked a treat. It was a new zealand company, but maybe you could google it??? Sorry. I hope some of this helps, there is also always sleep school. Please ask for help in the mean time from friends or family to care for your children for a few hours to catch up on sleep. You need to look after yourself as well, your health is very important. Good luck.

Answer 3

It is going to take time, but try this - let him cry for couple of minutes {10}, than come in, talk to him for a minute, leave again {it will probably make him hysterical, so let him cry for 20 minutes}, come back... and again and again untill he is asleep, always let him 10 minutes longer than previously. IT WORKS, although you will feel bad, but he will know you didn't leave him alone, that you are around. It should not take longer than a week, based on my experiences. Also, what you can try, is to cut off his naps, perhaps let him nap only for a half hour three times a day, but that is even harder as every child has a different needs. But trust me, the worst thing you can do is to come in at night and pick him up - this way he is going to be waking up in the middle of night for another couple of years. Oh, and another thing that might work is the sound machine - get the one with the white sound. I don't know how, but it works... i guess the baby's brain concentrates on the sound and get him into the deeper sleep.

Answer 4

I understand how you feel, I have neices and the youngest had a hard time sleeping for a while, but I ended up putting a nightlight in the room with her and something to calm her; t.v, radio, something like that. And she ended up crying first few minutes but then she saw the motions on the television and watched it until she went to sleep and if she got up in the middle of the night, she would just see the t.v on and start watching that. I did check in on her and she paid me No mind what so ever. But keep a bottle in the crib or some where, the baby can reach it. I hope this helps.

Answer 5

I know you are frustrated. I remember the days when sleep was a precious commodity. I probably won't have a popular opinion, but here is what worked for me:

I brought my son into my bed. When he was with me, he slept great and thus I slept better. No, it wasn't always comfortable to have him right beside me, but it was better than getting up and down all night. If you think about it, these babies spend 9 months in our womb, hearing our heartbeat and knowing we are there. When they are born, why do we as a society think they should sleep by themselves when they are so young? Obviously some babies do well with this (your first child), but some babies need more. I hope things will smooth out for you and your baby. The bottom line is you have to do what feels right. I applaud you for not going the "let them cry it out" route. I think that is damaging. A baby's cry is supposed to elicit a response from mom. Best wishes.

Answer 6

I had the same problem and my dr said to let my daughter just cry it out, but i dont have the heart to . So instead, during the daytime, after she was fed, burped, clean diaper etc, i just lay her down in her crib , told her night night and let her cry for a solid 15 minutes at a tme....I closed the door to her room and stayed about three feet away until the 15 minutes was up. It seemed to get some of her fatigue and stress out and se was able to sleep better at night.

Answer 7

try playing with him for 30-40 minutes or so right before bed time, and then give him a bath right after, He will be very tired out.

At that point give him a warm bottle.

Flannel Sheets work well too they are very cozy.

Try a to play a soundscapes cd or tape really low. (or if he likes a music mobile - my daughter has a rainforest mobile that plays up to 18 minutes of music and has rainforest soundscapes with a nightlight. She loves it eases her to sleep.

These where some of my babys preferences.
Hope some of these will work for you!

PS below is a link to the mobile. She really loves it! makes my life easier.. even comes with an remote control

Answer 8

You don't have to let him cry it out......that is mean and then he thinks you are not coming back for him if he needs you.

Get him into a regular bedtime routine. and do it the same every night. put cereal in his bottle. But burp him before bed so he is not uncomfortable. Get him used to a blanket or stuffed animal or something. That way he does not feel he is alone in the crib. he can benifit from a comfort item. He is old enough that you can put him down on his belly, if he likes. Or on his side. My doc said once they are old enough to roll over, they can sleep how ever they want. wait a little bit before you go to him. if he is just fussing, let him be. But if he cries like he needs you, then go to him. just pat his back and let him know you are there. But DO NOT pick him up or make it fun in any way for him to be awake. Also I have the Fisher Price aquarium in my daughter's crib. if she has a REALLY bad night I put on lights and music. otherwise, just music. also she has slept with "bunny" since she was 6 months old.
good luck............hang in there!!!

Answer 9

There's nothing wrong with letting him cry it out. He's going to learn so much if you let him do it. He's going to learn how to soothe himself which will end these sleepless nights.

Parents "baby their babies" too much (if that makes sense). The second their infant cries they're right there to help, but that does more harm than good. That can spoil the baby and teach them how to manipulate you with cries. And like I said before, they aren't learning how to soothe themselves if you do that.

You don't have to just lay him down and walk out of the room. If he cries, go in and stroke his head and "shhh" him. Maybe sing softly to him. Just don't pick him up. That's all there is to it. You can comfort him and teach him how to soothe himself without picking him up but also without letting him scream the whole night.

Maybe put on the radio very softly. That helps alot of kids sleep better. The noise is comforting for some reason and I actually think that might help here.

I promise, crying it out is the best way to go. It doesn't make you mean or a bad mom, it makes you a caring parent who wants some sleep! Good luck and God bless :-)

Answer 10

Will he take a pacifier? Maybe that will help. If I were you though I would hold him until he calms down and then take him to his bed after he falls asleep.