Why isn't my 4 1/2 month old son sleeping longer at night?

Question

He wakes up almost as often as he did when he was a newborn. I read all kinds of stuff saying he needs to fall asleep on his own--he does! We've been putting him down awake for a couple months now (we used a very gradual approach) and he rarely fusses at all anymore. So he goes to sleep great! But then he's up 3 or 4 hours later, breastfeeds, then sleeps for another 4-6 hours. Is this normal? It's usually 2 times a night, but sometimes 3. Once in a while he'll wake up 30 minutes after going to sleep.... we let him cry it out for that waking.

A few more things to add: he has started on rice cereal (advised by his doc) in the evening; for the most part we do have a schedule going.. he goes down every night between 7:30-8:30 (has 2-3 naps during the day) and I feed him as much as I can during the day. His 2 yr old sister was sleeping through the night at 4 months.... I guess I'm spoiled?

Answer 1

I think you are doing great! Remember, each baby is different. You might want to try cutting down on his naps, give the rice cereal earlier since some babies tend to get gassy or constipated more...other than that ... you're spoiled! ha! It took my son 9 months to sleep through the night...he was a very big baby and very hungry and until we had variety of food in his diet and cut his nap to one a day was when he decided to sleep through the night.

Answer 2

Well, all babies are different. My daughter is nearly 9 months old and still doesn't sleep completely through the night. She wakes up wanting to be fed maybe once a night. And, she sleeps with me because she wants to feel secure--be glad he goes to sleep so easily in his own bed! At his age, he should be sleeping 4-6 hours w/o needing anything. But, again, as I said, all babies are different. The babies, apparently, haven't read the manuals the doctors' have published! He's perfectly normal. Also, your idea of a full night and the baby's idea may be different. My daughter goes to bed around 9:00, wakes up between 12-3 am, eats, then sleeps until 7 or 8 am.

Answer 3

Your probably right that you were spoiled with your daughter. My son is 11 months and still gets up one a night to eat and he's on solids too. My sister first slept through the night very soon but the second was a trouble maker from the start. She would wake up sometimes even 5 times a night. I know my answer is not much help to your question but I don't think there is anything you can do. It all depends on the baby.

Answer 4

Every child is different... I was going to suggest feeding him more often but you mentioned that you do.

My son is 4mth's and he sleeps through the night actually he would fall a sleep about 11pm and wake up around 5am for a feeding and go right back to sleep, then he would wake up again at 8am.. I am so happy that he is sleeping more because for the first 3 mth's I was not getting sleep at all. I thought that I was going to pass out but thank God I didn't.. Don't worry he will start to sleep longer hours eventually. Good Luck to you!!!

Answer 5

Breastfeeding babies eat more frequently then formula fed babies. It's because breastmilk is easier to digest, so they digest it quicker and are hungry again sooner. That being said, the schedule you have explained sounds perfectly normal for a breastfed four month old. Don't worry so much right now. He has plenty of time to learn how to sleep through the night. If he is waking up hungry you need to feed him. Don't let him CIO. He's hungry. Babies know what they need. He could be going through a growth spurt, also.

Answer 6

I've heard stories from mothers saying it took as much as 16 months for their children to sleep through the night.

Every child is different. Try giving him a bath before bed, and wake him up for feedings and changings during the day when you want him to be awake. The transition will be tough at first, but if you continue to let him sleep when he wants to sleep he'll be awake at all hours of the night and will never be on a schedule.

Answer 7

Depending on what he weighs, he may be ready for a bit more cereal or solids than you're giving him. Other than that? Getting up twice a night isn't all that uncommon for a breastfed baby... So, yeah... your daughter spoiled you!! Each one is different... if he seems satisfied with the solids he's getting, I'd just keep on keepin on... he'll settle in when he's ready.

Answer 8

From the time my daughter was two months old she actually slept through most of the night. Around four months old my daughter started doing the exact same thing. Unfortunately it is normal. It is a pain, but some children just require less. My ped said that that for some babies that is just normal. It does get better in a few months, probably six you will not even remember getting up in the night, and if you do it will be one time. Good luck and enjoy it goes so fast.

Answer 9

Personally, I would ditch the cereal. It will only interfere with the natural nutrients in your milk.

And yes, you were spoiled by your daughter! :)

All babies are different, some are just high needs. My son has woken up nearly every 2 hours since the day he was born (he slept 5 hours straight the other night!!!) and hes 14 mo.

Every 3 to 4 hours sounds pretty normal for a 4.5 mo old... he just gets hungry.

Answer 10

It sounds pretty normal to me and when my son was a baby and I breastfed him. Breastfed babies do get hungry more often but trust me it's worth the effort as you pass along your immune system & other obviously helpful & healthful ingredients. He actually sounds to me anyway like he sleeps quite a bit at night. But everything's relative you know, and my son is now 19 years old, still growing, 6'5" tall & STILL doesn't sleep!!! But that boy has also never been sick a day in his life as I also never get ill. I never catch anything anyone has, never get colds or the rest of it, and neither does my son!!! I'm more than happy to have that myself, but to have passed that along to my son.....not sure if he'll appreciate it as much if he wants to call in sick sometime, but hey.........!!!!!!! You don't REALLY want to be sick when you call in sick, do we?!!!!!!!