How do I get my 5-month old son to sleep thru the night?

Question

My 5-month old son still wakes up during the night.

First, its cause he wants to eat. He usually falls asleep around 9:30-10 pm and usually wakes up around 3-4 am to eat. I tried everything from increasing his formula during the day to fewer naps. Nothing works. If I don't feed him when he wakes, one or the other will happen - he won't stop crying until he eats OR he'll fall back asleep, but will wake up within the next hour or so wanting to eat. I haven't started him on cereal yet.

Two, he doesn't sleep peacefully. It seems like he wakes himself up when he turns himself over while sleeping, then can't get comfortable. Even putting him to sleep takes several attempts. We'll rock him to sleep, then once we put him down, he wakes, then we rock him again, so on, and so on. By our third attempt, he'll finally stay asleep, until 3 am that is to eat.

Answer 1

there is no magic answer. some babies are good sleepers early on and others aren't. five months is still young enough to actually need to eat at night, especially if he's a big baby. patience is the best solution. he will eventually sleep through the night. until then, try co-sleeping. it will make it easier on you.

Answer 2

i had the same problem with my son until he was a year. he is 14 months now and occasionally still wakes Which i feel is due to teething since he's getting his molars. Anywho, I feel as though my son relied on me to rock him to sleep or to be held in order to sleep. I gradually let him cry himself to sleep which helps him now put himself back to sleep when he wakes in the middle of the night. Also, I would start your child on cereal. I would feed my son cereal about half an hour before i put him to bed to help him feel full at night, which i believe also helped. As he got older he didnt want to eat before going to bed any longer. It isn't easy and by no means is it an overnight process which i hoped it would be. I wish you the best of luck and hope that my ideas will help you some.

Answer 3

Maybe he isn't satisfied with the formula and needs to be started on cereal. Instead of fewer naps try to keep him awake longer in the evening before you go to bed. Feed him before putting him to bed. Be patient, he will start sleeping thru the nite soon.

Answer 4

I think if you havent already introduce rice cereal to his diet. I controlled cryed my baby and now she goes to sleep as soon as i put her down. It was hard work but it was worth it. it teaches them to go to sleep on their own. He is hungry so maybe feed him rice cereal for dinner. I think he is staying up to late to. they say before 7 and after 7. our baby goes to sleep before 7 and sleeps until 5.30 - 6 close enough for me. Good luck do you own the book baby love- great book

Answer 5

Keep him up during the day so he gets tired, do you have plenty of play time with him cause if you dont its called neglect. hes just trying to get attention frfom you by staying up. Harsh huh, well someone hads to stick up for the little ones they cant talk you know...

Answer 6

Give your five month old some milk and baby cereal and a nice luke warm bath and he will go right to sleep!! i do it

Answer 7

well before he goes to bed make sure hes well fed and has clean diapers, when he does wake at 3am check his diapers to see if its clean dont talk or pick him up unless your going to change him, then leave the room do not feed him, trust me its hard but its the only way

Answer 8

u shud allow him to settle automatically. i too had similar problem but its more to do with he settling down (it might continue for a mth or 2 more) than trying to reason it out !

As long as there is no apparent discomfort (chk if ur babay is wet / chk with an ENT specialist / whether he is coliky), you hv to accept a troubled sleep for u as well !!

It is normal...dont worry !!

Answer 9

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Au0UMLuCUbIBBWisdbgh1V0AAAAA?qid=20070201060140AAQBI95

Your baby is normal.