my son is 4 mths and still wakes up every 2-3 hrs througout the night. Need help?

Question

Yes I breasfeed, only at night time, I've tried adding cereal to the bottle, I let him cry for 5-10 min. before getting him. I'm a working mom and seriously need some advice. VERY TIRED

Answer 1

I completely agree with doubledwn's answer, I don't agree with the dumbass that said to let the kid cry for 30 minutes, idiot!
An infant that young is crying for a damn reason. Even if it's only to receive comfort from you, it is essential that he get it. Do not put cereal in his bottle, like everyone else said it can cause harm and should only be done at pediatrician's recommendation.

You're gonna be tired. Believe me. I work night shift and my baby stays home with me during the day, he wants to be awake when it is my night time. It is very hard, but for the benefit of the baby you must suck it up, basically and find others to help you so you can catch up on your sleep when you can. But do exactly like doubledwn said, I couldn't have said it any better.

Answer 2

My son did the same exact thing. Until he was about 4-5 months old and then BAM, he started sleeping through the night. Scared the living crap out of me. I kept checking his crib like every hour on the hour when he didn't wake up for his "scheduled" feeding.

I recommend just sleeping when he sleeps. Yes, this means that you will be taking naps during the day. But, it may be the only way that you grasp on to the last of your sanity until the little bundle of joy learns to sleep more than 4 hours at a time.

Answer 3

OH man, I'm sorry you are having to face this. My advice is to not give him cereal until his doctor has cleared it. It may cause a LOAD more problems (now and in the future with his digestive tract) than it solves.

I'm not totally against letting them cry a little bit - but 4 months old seems a little young for that. Perhaps if he were comforted sooner, he wouldn't be as anxious.

Quite honestly, that doesn't seem out of the ordinary. That's what a LOT of newborns do and that's why we tend to look like sleep-deprived zombies right after we give birth.

Mine always slept best when they were with me. I'm a light sleeper and never drank/used sleeping pills, so I didn't worry about things. You might try that. Or find one of those co-sleeper thingies that attach to your bed. Babies really do find comfort being close to you and it might give you the rest you deserve and need.

Good luck and please know that this will pass.

Answer 4

You need to put him to bed at an earlier time. It is NOT true that keeping a child awake during the day will help them sleep through the night.

First of all, your baby is only 4 months and is starting to develop his internal clock, making him able to distinguish between night and day. Don't expect your baby to be sleeping through the night already. He should be fed at least 3 times during the night still. (If you want to increase the time between feedings, try slowly giving him an ounce more during a nighttime feeding).

You need to make sure he's only awake for 2 hours at a time to avoid becoming OVERTIRED. This is really too much information to explain, so I suggest you buy a book on sleeping for babies. "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth.

Answer 5

Been there, done that and sleeping at night is a tough one. Try taking a nap after work, when your hubby can watch baby.

You can also express some milk, so hubby can take a night time feeding.

What I did...was put my son in for the night, then right before I went to bed, I picked him up and fed him...this extra feeding seemed to help both of us. I got to sleep right away and he slept longer.

Answer 6

First -- cereal in a bottle will do nothing, and is dangerous. It poses a choking hazard. Discontinue this practice immediately.

Now, here's the thing, at age four months it is entirely biologically appropriate that your child is waking in the night. His stomach is not large enough for him to eat enough that he won't have to awaken to eat, and discomfort from wet or dirty diapers can also be a source of nighttime waking.

Letting him cry is not the answer. All that does is tell him that he's alone in his discomfort and hunger.

Consider bringing him into your room or even your bed. There are safe ways to do this, and it will reduce your need to get up and go to get him, and you can simply put him to your breast and you can both go back to sleep easily.

Answer 7

Try keeping track of how much he sleeps during the day. Try keeping him up more throughout the day and see if that seems to help. If that doesn't solve the problem ask your son's doctor for suggestions. Does he seem to be in pain or bothered by something when he wakes up at night?

Answer 8

A good thing to do is not to have him so alert when you feed him. When he wakes up, go check on him, change his diaper, feed him but do not turn on the light and do not talk. This will only make him alert. Keep it boring but comforting. It is also helpful that right before you go to sleep, wake him up. Play with him talk to him feed him and try to tire him out. Eventually he should start sleeping more. And enjoy it - soon he will be grown and on his own.

Answer 9

Try just using your breast milk in the bottles then. It may be from having the closeness of you breastfeeding him at night. Baby's usually do better when they have a strict schedule (either one way or the other), it's a comfort thing.
Also you could try getting something that mimcks your heartbeat. My son had a bear that did it and it worked to sooth him at night pretty good.

Answer 10

I agree with the above doubledwngrey's post...

You will have to take your naps when you get home from work. Have your husband or a friend help you while you rest.

Whatever you do dont keep him up when he is tired. That can actually make things worse. They will get too tired and cannot settle done as easily as we do.