up to how old the babies normaly stop waking up at night?

Question

my boy is ten months old he still wake up at night,what can i do to stop him if is the right time yet.

Answer 1

http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/sleepstudies.html

Studies on normal infant sleep
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Probably one of the main reasons that babies who don't sleep through the night are such a big issue is that parents don't have realistic expectations of the sleep patterns of babies. Babies were designed to wake up often at night to feed and cuddle, and keep in mind that many adults wake during the night, too. If our expectations for babies were not so different from our babies' expectations for themselves, much of this "problem" might disappear.

Following is information on studies that have been done on the typical sleep patterns of babies and young children.


Harrison Y. The relationship between daytime exposure to light and night-time sleep in 6-12-week-old infants.
J Sleep Res. 2004 Dec;13(4):345-52.


Abstract: This project investigated the relationship between exposure to light and 24-h patterns of sleep and crying in young, healthy, full-term babies living at home and following a normal domestic routine. Measures included an ankle worn activity monitor, an external light monitor and the Barr Baby Day Diary in which parents recorded periods of sleep, crying, feeding and other behaviours at 5-min intervals throughout the 24-h period. Fifty-six babies (26 males and 30 females) were monitored across three consecutive days at 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age. There was an early evening peak in crying which was associated with reduced sleep at 6 weeks. Across the trials there was a gradual shift towards a greater proportion of sleep occurring at night. Sleeping well at 6 weeks was a good indication of more night-time sleep at 9 and 12 weeks. Babies who slept well at night were exposed to significantly more light in the early afternoon period. These data suggest that light in the normal domestic setting influences the development of the circadian system.



Goodlin-Jones BL, et al. Night waking, sleep-wake organization, and self-soothing in the first year of life.
J Dev Behav Pediatr 2001 Aug;22(4):226-33


Abstract: Few objective data are available regarding infants' night waking behaviors and the development of self-soothing during the first year of life. This cross-sectional study examined 80 infants in one of four age groups (3, 6, 9, or 12 mo) for four nights by using videosomnography to code nighttime awakenings and parent-child interactions. A large degree of variability was observed in parents' putting the infant to bed awake or asleep and in responding to vocalizations after nighttime awakenings. Most infants woke during the night at all ages observed. Younger infants tended to require parental intervention at night to return to sleep, whereas older infants exhibited a greater proportion of self-soothing after nighttime awakenings. However, even in the 12-month-old group, 50% of infants typically required parental intervention to get back to sleep after waking. Results emphasize the individual and contextual factors that effect the development of self-soothing behavior during the first year of life.




Scher A. Attachment and sleep: a study of night waking in 12-month-old infants.
Dev Psychobiol 2001 May;38(4):274-85.


Abstract: Sleep regulation was examined from a mother-child relational perspective. Although the link between sleep and attachment has been previously discussed, empirical support is rather limited. This report, which is a part of a longitudinal investigation of sleep in infancy, examines the association between the child's sleep pattern and mother-infant attachment in 94 mother-infant dyads. At 12 months each dyad participated in the Strange Situation procedure; 77% were securely attached. Mothers' description of the infant's fussiness was not found to predict the attachment pattern, but was associated with the sleep habits. It was found that 55% of the secure and 60% of the ambivalent children were described as night wakers. To a sub-group of 37 infants, a sleep monitor (actigraph) was provided for two nights' recordings. The frequency of the objective awakenings was higher than what mothers reported but similar for the secure and insecure infants. The findings confirm that night waking at the end of the first year is a common developmental phenomenon. Among this group of non-risk infants, sleep characteristics were only marginally associated with the quality of the child's attachment relationship.




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




Armstrong KL, Quinn RA & Dadds MR. The sleep patterns of normal children.
Medical Journal of Australia 1994 Aug 1;161(3):202-6.

The above study is the definitive work on sleeping habits of (Australian) children to 38 months. The researchers surveyed 3269 parents, with a 96.5% response rate, over a one week period. The parents had to report on their child's sleeping habits over the past 24 hours, plus answer a few questions related to their perceptions of their child's sleep behavior.

What did they find?

There is a wide range of normal childhood sleep behavior.
Circadian rhythm is not well established until four months of age.
Daytime sleep becomes less regular with increasing age, the most marked reduction in length occurs around 3 months of age. However, a surprising 11% under 3 months of age don't have a daytime sleep every day.
Frequent night waking that disturbs parents is common from 4-12 months (12.7% disturb their parents 3 or more times every night).
Night time settling requires more parental input from 18 months.
Nearly a third of parents have a significant problem with their child's sleep behavior.
Sleeping through the night: 71.4% did this on at least one occasion by 3 months of age, but many of these relapse into more frequent waking in the 4 to 12 month period. It is not until after 24 months that regular night waking (requiring attention) becomes much less common.
Although this study did not address breastfeeding, it is relevant because a lack of understanding of "normal" sleep patterns can lead to supplementing, early solids, belief there is not enough milk, etc. The authors claim it also leads to misdiagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and overuse of sedative medication. A worrying 31% of 25-38 month-old children were disciplined (mostly smacking) to get them to settle. 27% of parents let their children cry, 11% at less than one month.




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.




Elias MF, Nicolson NA, Bora C, Johnston J. Sleep/wake patterns of breast-fed infants in the first 2 years of life. Pediatrics. 1986 Mar;77(3):322-9.

Abstract: Published norms for infant sleep/wake patterns during the first 2 years of life include an increase in length of maximum sleep bout from four to five to eight to ten hours by 4 months but little decrease in total sleep in 24 hours from 13 to 15 hours. Thirty-two breast-fed infants were followed for 2 years and data collected on 24-hour patterns of nursing and sleep. Infants who were breast-fed into the second year did not develop sleep/wake patterns in conformance with the norms. Instead of having long unbroken night sleep, they continued to sleep in short bouts with frequent wakings. Their total sleep in 24 hours was less than that of weaned infants. This pattern was most pronounced in infants who both nursed and shared a bed with the mother, common practices in many nonwestern cultures. The sleep/wake development accepted as the physiologic norm may be attributable to the early weaning and separated sleeping practiced in western culture. As prolonged breast-feeding becomes more popular in our society, the norms of sleep/wake patterns in infancy will have to be revised.

Answer 2

He should have been sleeping through for at least 4 months.
It has become a habit now, it's the same if you wake up to go to the bathroom every night. The only thing that works is, don't go when he wakes up, let him cry. It will not hurt him. It might take three nights, best to do on a weekend and you will see that he will stop waking up. I did it with one of mine, it took a lot of willpower not to go, he cried for more than an hour the first night and then I went in and settled him down and he was fine, the next night it was only half an hour and the third night not one peep. Like i said, its a habit and just like any other habit it takes a bit of determination on your part. as long as you show up every night he will continue. And you need to establish a routine, the child should be in bed by 8 pm, therefore a nap is from 1-3 pm
he should sleep 12 hours at night, and children should not be running around the house until 11 pm. Have him take a bath every night and then is beddie time. You need time for yourself and your husband too and a baby before the age of 2 its much easier to raise and discipline then after 2. What you have not achieved by the time he's 2, will become a problem after.
Good Luck, I'll be thinking of you.

Answer 3

It varies between babies!! He can't wake himself up, but doesn't yet feel secure enough to get himself back to sleep. Check the temperature of the room and make sure he's got the things that comfort him (cuddlies / dummy / special blanket).

When you go to him at night be really boring - it sounds funny, but you don't want him getting the idea that it's fun to wake you up in the night! Pick him up and give him a cuddle, but don't talk much, don't put the lights on and don't take him into the living room or wherever other people are. If he seems hungry (or didn't finish his last bottle) give him some milk and put him down again.

Don't leave him to cry as that will only make him unsettled and less likely to sleep.

Answer 4

All babies are very different, and some is determined by their personality and some by their routines & schedules. At approximately 4-5 months babies should be able to sustain a 6-8 hour sleep at night. Lucky me, my second child went 12 hours after 5 months! My first however, was trial and error, she did not sleep through the night or stay in her crib all night til well over 14 months! Infants have to relearn to self soothe, if we have always been there popping a bottle/breast in their mouths or picking them up when they wake up, they are dependent on you to get them back to sleep. Start soft, by entering the room and rubbing the babys' back and talking or singing, if they use a pacifier, place it in their mouths. Then proceed after a couple days of just talking from the door, or from next to the crib...then proceed to just let them cry a bit for a couple of days, (feberizing,I believe it is called). They realize eventually, that they are OK and crying is not bringing you to their aid and if they just roll over and get comfy again they drift back to sleep. As they get older, sometimes cutting out one of the daytime naps or a little later bedtime, a new ritual (story, etc.) Trust me it is tougher on you then on them, but the most important thing is consistency...good luck.

Answer 5

My son started sleeping through the night at about 12 weeks. He occasionally wakes up at night, but since I"m right there(we cosleep) he goes back to sleep with just a simple shhhhh and a pat on the back for about 15 seconds.

Every single baby is different. With some children attachment parenting works, some crying it out works, and some it takes a combination of both, or something totally different. The main thing you have to do is to figure out what's best for you and your child, no matter what anyone else tells you, and stick with that.

For us we use a little attachment parenting. I wear him in a sling, he sleeps in the bed with me, and I'm a stay at home mom. My son is very well adjusted, and loves to snuggle with mommy and daddy, but he's also perfectly happy staying with his aunts and uncles or our friends.

However, I know mom's who work full time, and let their kids cry it out and still have kids who are just as adjusted as my son. So again, that points to figuring out what works and sticking to it.

Good luck.

Answer 6

Nope, i've got fairly by no skill had that ensue XD nevertheless, i've got woken up in the midst of the night, taken a tub, and gotten dressed for some social gathering, all together as final asleep, for the main area! i've got additionally been customary to sing (no longer nicely i might upload) in my sleep, from what i'm advised XD BQ - The curtains do no longer tournament the drapes ;) Hahh

Answer 7

i found this is the only thing that makes my daughter sleep.. a warm bath before bed time, and get a box fan, put it on the corner facing away from him, it drowns out all the extra noise from outside, and he will sleep alll night. When i dont use this, my daughter is up 3-4 times a night, but when i do, i end up having to wake her up.

Answer 8

He shouldn't need to eat during the night at this age, so try not feeding him, unless he is sick or there is another medical reason you are feeding him. He should be able to sleep through the night. It might be difficult to change his routine but it will only last a few days. To get him to stay asleep or at least soothe himself back to sleep don't pick him up as long as he is safe. go to him and rub his tummy or let him hold onto your finger for a little bit. when he calms down leave him. When he goes to bed at night don't let him fall into a deep sleep until he is in his bed.

Good luck and you can do it. (if it is the right time for him)

Answer 9

I know what you mean, my daughter started sleeping through the night when she was about 4 months old, then all of a sudden she started waking up again, it took forever for her to start sleeping throught the night, I think she started slepping through the night about 12 months. Every now and then she will wake up, if shes sick, or something. I just try to let her take one nap during the day at about 1 or 2pm (she wakes up at 9-9:30 am), then she goes to bed at night around 10-11pm. It seems to work. Good luck oh yeah and if someone else watches him like your mom or mother-in-law make sure you tell them just to let him take one nap and not a late one either, believe me my mother-in-law will let my daughter go to sleep about 6 or 7pm and its 1am before she goes to bed, it makes it hard on us when we get her in to a routine and she messes it up!

Answer 10

Technicall, EVERYBODY wakes at night. Yes, everybody. It usually happens during the lightest stage of sleep, I believe. Normally, we don't remember these nightwakings b/c we go right back to sleep w/o interruption.

Babies, toddlers and small children cannot always put themselves back to sleep so easily.

For babies and toddlers especially, nightwaking is a hardwired survival instinct. There are many reasons that a baby might wake at night and it USUALLY has a specific reason: teething, impending or currently illness, developmental leaps, stress, emotional upheaval (even if it seems small to adults), discomfort, fear, etc. Sometimes, a child can develop a sleep pattern of nightwaking at a particular time. That can be dealt w/ gently and still should not be considered a "bad habit that needs breaking."

Regarding illness: It's especially important, I think, for breastfed babies to be respected when they nightwake/nurse. Impending illness sends the baby signals that s/he NEEDS reinforcements from Mom's milk. The breastmilk contains immune factors that will help speed healing, may even prevent an illness from getting very serious. Having just spent the last few nights marathon nursing my 16 month old son who is just tonight showing the outward signs of being sick, I can't emphasize enough how important it is to listen to the wisdom of the body, especially your baby's.

As for current illness, even if you are not nursing, it is good to give baby comfort when s/he is ill. When a baby is uncomfortable s/he'll let you know. B/c s/he's really too little to "self-sooth" (and, honestly, how can a baby learn to self-sooth unless his/her parents teach it by offering soothing whenver asked?), s/he NEEDs a comforting adult. I've heard of several cases of a child waking at night and crying, the parents doing CIO and then finding out the child had and ear infection, UTI or some such. Talk about guilt. Once the illness has passed, this type of nightwaking usually ceases.

Teething: I recenetly read an article that said that teething doesn't interfere w/ sleep. Apparantly the author has never even seen a child. Ugh. Teething, in my experience, can cause a great deal of nightwaking. I can only imagine b/c my kids have always seemed especially grumpy during teething and desperate to chew that teething is indeed uncomfortable. How quick some ppl are to dismiss a baby's pain merely b/c the child isn't old enough to verbalize. Blech. Anyway, that kind of nightwaking also tends to pass once the discomfort is over.

Nightwaking also seems to increase when the child is going learning something especially big and/or new. Have you ever been studying something really hard and found yourself dreaming about it and maybe waking up all night? Same thing. Something about nightwaking seems to reinforce the learning process. Again, this kind of nightwaking usually passes once the leap has been accomplished.

If the child is uncomfortable, afraid, or stressed then the parent needs to address the source rather than try to "train" the child to sleep on his/her own. Babies can't take care of themselves. That is the parents' job.

As for true habitual waking, that can be dealt w/ in a gentle way too. It tends to be much easier to deal w/ than trying to force sleeping on a baby who is nightwaking for a reason like the ones stated above. Dr Jay Gordon has some great info on that.

And some kids wake more at night or take longer to "sleep through the night" than others. My daughter used to wake a lot at night. She often wanted to nurse and/or be held at night (cosleeping made this possible w/ a minimum of sleep loss for us). Around 2 or so, she really started being able to settle herself. She's 4.5 now and sleeps just fine (moved out into her own room of her own accord, in fact). My 16 month old son has always been more of a regular sleeper. He slept longer much, much earlier than my daughter. He generally "sleeps through the night" (the medical definition of which is 5 hours straight, by the way) unless he's experience some of the issues stated above.

All in all, I agree that parents in our culture have a serious misconception with regards to nightwaking. Sometimes, simply realizing that nightwaking is actually a necessary and natural part of baby and toddlerhood can dramatically ease stress. Sounds hard to believe, but an attitude change can make all the difference in the world.

I'll admit that nightwaking can be really tiring, especially when one legitimate reason for nightwaking rolls right into the next. Been there done that. I imagine it would be harder if you worked outside the home or had early morning obligations. One way to catch up on sleep, of course, is nap when the baby naps or go to bed early. I've cosleeping to be immensely helpful. When my baby needs me, I don't have to get up and go down the hall or even across the room. I'm right there and can pull him to me for a nursing or a cuddle. Even during the intense nightwaking episodes, I lose a minimum of sleep compared to those who have to get up b/c I don't usually have to even wake up all the way.

A note about "self-soothing"...I never lack for amazement when I hear ppl say that babies will never learn to self-soothe if we're always comforting them. Here I am shaking my head even now. Most ppl would agree it's ridiculous to say, "That baby will never learn to stop soiling his diapers if you're always changing them." or "That baby will never learn to feed herself if you're always giving her the breast or the bottle." Babies need us b/c they can't do these things for themselves, however inconvienent it is for us. Babies learn to self-soothe primarily when they are developmentally ready (just like walking, talking, etc) and when their feeling have been accepted and respected. A BABY THAT DOESN'T CRY OUT FOR SOOTHING WHEN S/HE NEEDS IT IS NOT NECESSARILY A BABY WHO HAS LEARNED TO SELF-SOOTHE...S/HE MAY HAVE JUST REALIZED THAT ADULTS AREN'T GOING TO HELP HER AND SO DOESN'T BOTHER ASKING.

Babies are babies for such a short time. Many years from now, you probably aren't going to care how much sleep you lost in these early years. Life will have moved on so fast. You might even find you miss the baby years. Nightwaking CAN be a time of one-on-one bonding that is often missed b/c of our culture's obession w/ "sleeping through the night."