My daughters 31/2 month old son was sleeping really good. He goes to bed around 7:30 or 8:00, getting up?

Question

usually around 2:30 or 3:00 and going right back to sleep. The last week he is waking up every hour or two. He is trying to roll over and when she goes in his room, he is on his side. Also she only gives him formula, no cereal. I wonder if maybe he is ready for more to eat. He is a big baby already over 15 lbs. This is driving her crazy because he was doing so well. Any suggestions from anyone else who has gone through this.

Answer 1

They recommend for most babies to start cereal around 4 months, so he's right around there, but at this point all nutrition is coming from bottles or breastmilk. Does he have either of these during the night? At his age, he will get hungry during the night and if you feed him right away, he will go back to sleep. Also, he's just about ready for a growth spurt...right around 3 months. He may want to eat almost constantly...and it's ok to feed him during a growth spurt as often as he would like to eat....it's almost always ok to feed a baby whenever they are hungry. Also, if he's eating at night and then having a hard time going back to sleep, try leaving a heating pad in his crib while you are feeding him so he's not going back to a cold bed that will wake him. Good Luck!!


And I feel the need to put this in based on another response you got....ignoring you baby in the middle of the night does NOT teach him to sleep by himself....It DOES teach your baby that when he's upset in the middle of the night, you won't help him. There is NOTHING wrong with soothing and loving your baby. It makes a more secure child and a more peaceful night for everyone. Do you want to hear screaming and have a miserable baby or do you want to cuddle and comfort your baby. If your baby "becomes dependant" it just means that he enjoys your company. All children learn to sleep alone when they are ready. Remember, he's a baby and doesn't want to be alone. Can you blame him? Comfort him and enjoy these special moments together for all too soon they will be gone and there's no going back.

Answer 2

I had this SAME PROBLEM With BOTH MY GIRLS
They are 3 and 4 now but when they were around 3 to 4 months old I noticed this and I by my own decision had added cereal to their bottles because before they'd sleep for a good 10 hrs a Night because I'd be sure to feed them a good size bottle (5 oz rather than 4) and it caused a better night sleep except on occacions!
Now I done these things because of what my Grandma said when I was younger! "You'll sleep better on a full belly- Infact when you add desert your dreams will be sweeter too!"

So I used this Technique-
An Hour before Bedtime (acording to their baby books beginning at age 3m and 1 wk & my youngest was 3 months 3 wks)

I began adding cereal as for the amount I dont remember but in the day time I'd put less! (I am thinking 1 scoop per bottle for day bottles and then 2 1/2 scoops in second bottle at bed time only)
Then After burping them I'd slowly rewake them and give them attention to help out with GAS Bubbles (letting it all settle) then about 15-10 mins before Bed I'd Feed them a 1 OZ Bottle of Sugar Water and It Worked!
I WAS BACK TO NORMAL

Oh & and FYI - My girls where big too! And I know people worry about this and dieticians (dr's) Don't Support this BUT
IN A Better Homes and Garden's Book from The Early 70's
"The Baby Book" Edition- that my mother used myself, older brother and younger sisters! And Today's Baby Recomendations and ETC are Dramatically Different!!!

But I used this and YES Was in Scuttles with Younger Mothers and the Inlaws but I didn't listen and I was the only with out a baby with difficulties like Sleeping, Indegestion, etc...

SO IT IS MY BABY BIBLE

Answer 3

Babies are not supposed to start solids until the middle of the first year, so closer to 6 months of age. There have been a lot of studies in recent years that show starting solids too early can lead to allergies, diabetes and obesity. Their little tummies don't have the enzymes needed to digest anything other than formula or breastmilk when they are younger than that. PLEASE do not give him cereal.

He is waking up more because -
1. he has probably just gone through his 3 months growth spurt.
2. he is working on a new developmental skill - rolling over - which is a common reason for interrupted sleep.

It is NORMAL for a 3.5 month old baby to still be waking at night and NORMAL for a 3.5 month old baby to still need feedings at night. (46% of 3 month olds still wake at night!) They are growing so fast! They are working hard to double birthweight by 6 months of age. Think how often you would eat if you had to double your weight that quickly! And his tummy is just the size of his little fist.

STUDIES ON NORMAL INFANT SLEEP:

Sadler S. Sleep: what is normal at six months?
Prof Care Mother Child 1994 Aug-Sep;4(6):166-7.


In this study, part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC), researchers surveyed the parents of 640 babies. Some of the results:

Only 16% slept through the night at six months old -- 84% were not sleeping through the night at 6 months
17% woke more than once per night, ranging from twice to eight times
5% woke once every night
9% woke most nights
50% woke occasionally
16% of six-month-olds had no regular sleeping pattern

AND.......

Scher A. A longitudinal study of night waking in the first year.
Child Care Health Dev 1991 Sep-Oct;17(5):295-302.

Abstract: A longitudinal study of the development of sleep patterns addressed the issue of continuity and change in night waking in the course of the first year. Mothers of 118 infants, who took part in a follow-up study of normal babies, completed a sleep questionnaire at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Regular night waking was a common characteristic throughout the first year:

Baby's age % babies waking at night
3 months 46%
6 months 39%
9 months 58%
12 months 55%

The number of awakenings per night was a function of age. Following a decline in the number of interruptions from 3 to 6 months, an increase in night waking at age 9 months was recorded. Although the methodology does not lend itself to an objective validation of the changes in sleep-wake states, nor is it suitable for causal explanations, it is, nevertheless, important to note this profile. The increase in night waking towards the end of the first year coincides with significant socio-emotional advances which characterize this developmental stage.

Answer 4

Could be a number of things. Most likely a growth spurt. Teething is a possiblility but he is still a little young for that.

She should check with his pediatrician (call, don't take him in for an appointment). The doctor might suggest a little rice cereal in his bottle or just increasing the amount he gets at bedtime. If it is a growth spurt, it should end as quickly as it started within a few days.

Answer 5

Babies go through little growth stages. She may need to readjust his nighttime schedule, but I would suggest NOT feeding him in the middle of the night.

Most babies when they reach 12 pounds are able to go through the night without eating....my pediatrician compared it to us getting up in the middle of the night and eating a meal. At this age, if she continues to give him a bottle, she can count on continuing the practice as he will become accustomed to it.

Secondly, the American Academy of Pediatrics further suggests that you should NEVER put cereal in a baby's bottle....It's ok to give a 3 1/2 month old a little cereal in the evening before he goes to bed, but putting it in the bottle just increases calories and leads to obesity....(Our parents didn't know this when we grew up).

Of course I would always discuss with the babies pediatrician, but tell your daughter not to worry. Try not to go into his room in the middle of the night. He will eventually put himself back to sleep. If she does go into the room, she should not talk, turn on the light etc. She can pat him on the tummy to try soothing him, but leave the room without making a fuss....It is hard to do, but necessary....babies are in "training" at this stage....

I have a 10 month old son......I've just been through the same thing! I wish your daughter good luck!

Answer 6

it is what we do, my son is 15 months. i'm getting him very drowsy the two by rocking or purely snuggling on the settee, then I lay him in his crib. If he fusses, I rub his abdomen or lower back, counting on how he makes a decision he's going to sleep, and tell him its ok. As he starts to nod off, I lower back faraway from the crib a pair steps. If he wakes, I enable him know i'm there yet that he desires to circulate nighttime nighttime. gradually this technique takes much less and much less time and there will be much less and much less tears. Its not particularly the cry it out approach and it variety of feels to paintings for us. If he cries for extra suitable than a pair minutes, I many times p.c.. him up and love on him, yet I enable him cry slightly and love on him, yet i don't p.c.. him up many times. sturdy success

Answer 7

You must push the diet issue to your daughter ASAP... get her to see other mums plus her midwife/obgyn ASAP go with her so you both can chat with the right people. In short infats that age needs more than formula milk to grow & develop as per age group. Diet is essential for brain & muscle develop for every one regardless of age or circumstances. At 3mths plus he'd be on pureed to mashed food by now. Yes, just a small helping on a regular basis per say. Don't over feed leads to bad habit. Stick to low GI fresh produce that's best for baby. Maybe you can be the one to feed baby - show your daughter that its natural no fear to this issue ... good luck ! 99

Answer 8

Babies often throw their sleep routine out the window when they are working really hard on a new task...For my son, it was rolling over, crawling, walking and verbalizing more. He eventually went back to his routine. Just tell her to continue to be consistant in the routine and it should get back to normal.

Answer 9

This is a question to ask the baby's doctor, to be on the safe side.

Answer 10

my son is now 4 mos. we started him on one scoop of cerial in his bottle at night, and in the afternoon a gerber fruit. he sleep normally from 10pm to 5 am, better then every 2 hours like before. but, be carefull with his weight at this age. Make sure he is not over weight for his age.