How do I get my 6 month old to sleep longer through the night?

Question

He's been waking every two to three hours since he was born. He's now on cereal and baby food and doesn't seem hungry in the night. He wakes and cannot get himself back to sleep. Last night we let him cry it out after feeding him two ounces, he fell asleep, then woke, and it took him 45 minutes of crying before he went back to sleep. Do we continue this? It seems so cruel. Help.

Answer 1

My son didn't sleep through the night till he was around 7 months, every baby is different. Feed him a bigger bottle at night to "tank up". Don't let him cry himself to sleep, that harms babies http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/handout2.asp
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Answer 2

well, he might have a cramp in his neck from sleeping on the wrong side, my daughter has this problem. She is 9 months and has been sleeping through the night completely from 7 months. Let him stay up longer. Have a routine. Take early naps and stay up. My daughter takes a nap around 11 am then at 3 wakes up around 4 or 5 and stays up until 8: 30 or 9 than sleeps through the night. Plus your baby might need more formula. My daughter was drinking 6 ounces at 6 months, they are having growing pains.

Answer 3

I really think you should simply give him more ounces. About 20 minutes before he goes to bed you should give him 8 ounces. I read that there is a formula for how many ounces of formula a baby should have a day. You just take his weight and triple it. For example, if your son weights 15 pounds, he should have 45 ounces of formula a day. Just divide thouse ounces up throughout the day, saving 8 ounces for his bottle before bedtime. This worked for me. The eight ounces should keep him full throughout the night. I dont think you should let him cry though. At this age, he's crying for a reason, not just for attention.

Answer 4

After you are sure that he is not hungry, dirty, or in pain, it is OK to let your baby cry it out for a little bit. However, I would suggest that you do not let him cry for that long. Maybe start with 5 minute increments...after each 5 minutes, go in and attempt to soothe him for a few minutes, then leave again. Continue to go in every 5 minutes until he falls back to sleep. Do not take him out of his crib during this time. I think this is similar to the "Ferber method." Turning on a mobile with music, an "aquarium toy" (they attach to the crib), or white noise (like a fan), may also help to soothe your baby back to sleep.

You might also want to talk to your pediatrician about this.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Have you tried giving him a pacifier? It sounds like he is trying to find a way to comfort himself back to sleep. Also, try just rubbing his chest and shushing him. It helps my son. And is he teething? If so, his teeth might be hurting. Try giving him 0.2mL of Infant Tylenol and see if that helps. But if nothing works, there's nothing wrong with letting him cry it out at night at six months. At this stage babies cry for no real reason, and eventually they settle themselves down. But you have to do what you feel is right.

Answer 6

when i had my little girl she was like that and ti was hard but try a warm bath when he wakes and then feed him he should be so relaxed he just knocks out that's my advice but every baby is different so try that and good luck the first year is the hardest and restless especially when your only a teen but it can be done!!!

Answer 7

Cut down on day time naps..give him a warm bath befor bed?? It's been 22 years since my kids wrer babies

Answer 8

try giving him a small bowl of oatmeal 1/2 hour before bed

Answer 9

try to cut naps short during the day. when you see them falling alsleep play with them, etc. you have to get them on a schedule close to what you want, BE CONSISTENT!!!! Also, make sure that does not have gas, the slightest gas can cause pain.

Answer 10

cut down on the daytime naps