Any tips on helping my 10 month old baby stay asleep?

Question

My little boy wakes every two to three hours during the night. Im nursing him . He goes to bed with a nice full tum of grub yet keeps waking in the night. Im not sure I believe in the "Cry it out" method, besides, he stands in his crib and would get so upset that he'd bump his head off the cribs rim...Its such a difficult situation and because Im so tired I cant think straight and figure it out, also, this is my first child, so Im no pro!
SOS....Im going insane with exaustion!

Answer 1

How is his nap schedule during the day? How long is he up between his last nap and bedtime???
At 10 months you can go to 2 naps a day, and if hes still staying up all night, try going to 1 nap early afternoon.....
My son didn't sleep through the night until he was 15 months old, I tried everything..... but he only woke up usually once or twice.
I understand that you need sleep too!!!!!

Does he sleep with anything? A passy? Suck his thumb? Have a special blankey or stuffed animal?
Do you have one of those musical sounds things that hook to the side of the crib? My son learned that when he woke up, he would reach up and turn on his sounds thing, and put himself back to sleep....
I always had a 15 minute cry time before I went in there to see what was wrong...... I couldn't stand more than 15 minutes :)
Try the nap thing, and maybe the music thing....

Good luck!

Answer 2

Try feeding him dinner right before bedtime like cereal with some baby apple food in it. My son kinda did the same thing. I know you're tired but it won't last forever! He might be going through a major growth spurt right now and needs to eat more. About the cry it out, you are going to have to endure it. I had to with my son and he would cry sometimes 30 minutes to an hour at first. Just a couple of nights to a week of this and he will soon catch on. Think of it this way, he needs his sleep and he needs to learn how to put himself to sleep. 10 months is a perfect time to do this. I know its hard but it will not hurt him. He won't hold it against you. Give him 15 minutes of crying then go in quietly and lay him back down. Leave again and wait for another 15 minutes. Repeat until he wears himself out. Every successive night it should get a little better. If you want your sleep this is what you will have to do. Lack of sleep for him is equally as stressful. You want to point him in a more healthy direction, so don't feel so sorry for him when you are doing something that will help. Convince your self of it, he will be fine. I had to do the same thing. He's just gotten into a routine, you have to change the routine and he will adapt. It for the good of both of you. Kudos for nursing! If you ask your pediatrition, they will tell you the same thing, I'm sure. My resources... I have 2 kids that I nursed they are 3 and 6 now. Remember this its all temporary, next year you will have a whole new set of problems! Enjoy it all they grow and change so fast!

Answer 3

Does he sleep much during the day? I have an 8 month old, I also breastfeed her--- but she was waking up 2 or 3 times a night, so I slowly introduced her to formula by adding a small amount each night to a bottle of breastmilk, right before bed. The rice cereal just didn't seem to work. She has a very structured schedule at night, she gets her bath at 7 and by 7:30 I'm rocking her and she takes 6-8 oz of soy formula... she sometimes wakes up once during the night, I won't pick her up-- only put a pacie in her mouth. She usually sleeps til 5-6am and then I nurse her in bed w/ me. Her schedule during the day is pretty structured too, babies just do better on schedules... she has lunch at noon and a 1-2 hr nap after. Sometimes she'll take a 30 min or so nap around 10am, other than that-- she's all play. My cousin is still nursing her daughter who will be 1 yr in the middle of April-- she still feeds her at 2am every night, I recommended that she use a pacifier for that feeding, but Lily has never took one and she doesn't want to start her on that. (In addition, Lily on eats a total of 2-3 ozs of baby food a day-- My daughter eats 4-6 ozs plus yogurt in the morning). I don't recommend letting your child sleep w/ you all night--- it's a very hard habit to break and if you are like me, every move or noise they make will wake you up! I totally understand the lack of sleep, I couldn't take it after 6 months! I wish you the best of luck!

Answer 4

In my experience(I have 4 kids) a breast feed infant will get up approximately every 4 hours for another feeding. Is he eating solid foods(he should be at this point)? You can try feeding him some cereal and fruit about an hour before you give him his (hopefully) last feeding for the night. This might keep him satisfied a little longer and help you get a little extra sleep.
I don't believe in the "cry it out" method..I've tried but it never worked for me. My first son used to do the same thing as yours, bang his head and get himself so upset he vomited.
I sympathize with you, I've been thought it too. I can assure you that it only gets better. Try to get some sleep during the day too when your son naps.
Good luck!

Answer 5

First of all dont let anyone talk you into something your not comfortable with( crying it out). If he is getting full before you lay him down, possibly gas may be waking him. But my first guess would be, since he is 10 months, he is most likely teething. Some night are worse than other with mine if I noticed a lot of drolling earlier in the night and more than normal chewing on everthing. I would give them a small dose of infants advil right before bed. Also you may want to consider supplementing with a bottle of Formula at night and make the father stay up for awhile.
And pick a routine, same thing every night, that stability is comforting.

Answer 6

I am sorry for your pain! I am in exactly the same boat, but my son is only 8 months. I also have a 2 &1/2 yr old. I truly am going insane too! Lots of good advice from people, I will follow some of it too!

What helps me mentally: when you wake up in the morning, say to yourself that you can do it for one more day (i.e. take it one day at a time). The next morning, tell yourself the same thing. Next thing you know, time will fly and he will be sleeping all night and life will be easier!

Answer 7

He's just looking for attention. Each time he wakes go in to him and comfort him, but don't take him out of his cot. Then leave. If he cries again, go in again, but offer him less comfort each time. Don't talk to him - just settle him down and snuggle him in. Eventually the message will get through that he's not going to get any more support from you in the night.

Of course, if he is genuninely hungry then you should feed him, but at that age he should be able to go 8 hours without feeding.

Answer 8

If she wakes up crying, there's probably something wrong. Try a bottle, change her diapie, rock her, and sing. If that doesn't work, try a warm bath. Always put my baby to sleep. If she just wakes up playing, just don't worry about it. Eventually she'll play herself to sleep. Have you tried a sound machine / music?

Answer 9

Think he ready for something heavier. Did you try putting rice cereal in bottle? Ask for pedi can you give this to him now due to his irritability. My son did this...I did not breast feed...but it milk/formula was not enough to keep him throughout the night. Each child is different as is each pregnancy. Don't panic....ask pedi Dr opinion....then see what works for him. Good Luck with the ZzZzzzzz's

Answer 10

He may be hungry. You might want to try giving him a little cereal before bedtime. I had to start my son on cereal before he was 6 months old, liquids weren't enough.