Sleeping Tips?

Question

Does anyone have any tips for getting your child to sleep longer at night? My son is not a very good sleeper at all and I would like to try something different maybe something that has worked for someone else. Any suggestions?

He is 3 months old and only sleeping about 3 hours at a time and eating 6 ounces every 4-5 hours

Answer 1

Hi,

I have three ons and have been through this! What can I say, he might still NEEd his bottles or milk...he is still young. however it more depends on his weight. you suddenly find they can take enough in to get through the night on.
Ok other ideas, from birth I used a tape recorder, or a CD player, to play music to them...
Actually I made cassettes of nursery rhymes in my own voice! that meant they were comforted by my voice, but I could go to bed myself! This is a top tip actually and i copied and recopied that cassette many times!! Worked really well! even when he was 6 one son would play it if he needed comfort!
(Later i made story cassettes too)
The other way to train is when you do go to feed in the night, do not talk to the baby, do not put bright lights on, you do not want to reward them for waking. It is a business meeting at that time at night. you will soon find if you are not giving other attention they will sleep through.
the final tip when you know they are getting enough food to last the night and are heavy enough for their bodies to manage but they stilll wake you, you need to allow them to cry Im afraid. Limit the time, so the first time wait 10 minutes till you go in to them, next day the same, do it about 3 days like that then extend it to 15 minutes and so on...you will find this works really fast actually! I have just helped a friend with a problem baby with this this week and the baby causing trouble for 6 months is nearly cured in 4 days!!!

Loads of luck!

Answer 2

There is a bear out there that has the sound of your heart beat in it. You turn it on and put it in the crib with the baby. I don't know if this will work since your baby is no longer a newborn, but it wouldn't hurt to try.

I do not suggest cosleeping. It is nearly impossible to break. I have friends with a 3 year old who won't sleep in her own bed and other who is 2 and insists on sleeping with the parents. I feel it is better to just try and get the baby to back to sleep in his own room. While this may be frustrating at the moment, in the long run you'll be happier you decided to do it.

There is now right answer for this question. That is why parenting is such a hard job. It is ultimately up to you and your partner as to what choice to make. I would encourage you to create a natural habit with your child to encourage him to sleep through the night. I probably won't happen for another three or four months, but starting them off early won't be a bad thing!

Answer 3

Well if there's nothing wrong with his development at all(I'm not a parent so I don't know the details of child development) then you can try a couple things.

First, don't let him nap as much before bed, let him learn the association with nighttime and sleep.

Next, use the circadian rhythm(the fact you sleep at night, are awake during the day), so don't put him into dark places during the day, or even before bed, the lights should help keep him awake, then turn the lights out everywhere when it's bedtime.

Next, if he wakes up, and you know that he won't want anything(as in if he doesn't wake up because he's hungry), let him cry a bit and he should go back to sleep on his own, he'll learn that you won't just come to him because he's awake.

Lastly you can try wrapping him, it's supposed to help sleep, I'll put a link below for the 5 S's. You'd want the swaddling, because movement could be what's making him wake up(because he was used to restriction in the womb).

Answer 4

How close is he to 4 months? He may be needing some cereal once a day. If he has good head control you can try giving him about a tablespoon of rice cereal mixed with formula to a soupy consistency (fed from a spoon). It doesn't really make a difference when you give it to him, just getting that little bit extra may help fill him during the day so he doesn't need bottles at night. I used to give my daughter her cereal around 4pm so that she'd take one last bottle before bed and she'd sleep at least 5 or 6 hours at that point. Now she's 7 months old and sleeps a solid 10 hours at night. You can always give it a try and if he's not ready for the solids yet hold off a few more weeks :)

Answer 5

I'm not sure if its a part of your routine now, but try feeding him well right before bedtime (don't over feed), and give him a warm bath or vice versus. It usually helps them sleep longer. Also monitor how long he's sleeping during the day. There may need to be a little more playtime and interaction during the day. Keep in mind that all infants are different. It may work, it may not, but its worth a try.

Answer 6

Sorry, he is to young to do anything really, 3 hours at a time is not bad as long as he goes right back to sleep after eating. My son will be 3 months on the 5th and thats the schedule he is on as well.

Answer 7

Knowing your child is an infant is a little twist in the situation but melatonin supllement at bedtime could be your trick to the issue..It is produced by your body normally and by taking a supplement it raises the effects of "bedtime" ie. the bodies reaction to darkness..There are NO known toxic levels of melatonin-it has been taken in extreme amounts with no side effects, the body just urinates the excess out of the system. Its just an idea- good luck

Answer 8

Well I have 4 kids, and none of them slept thru the night till they were 6+ months old, some a bit older. But giving him a good feeding before bed and a nice soothing bath (johnsons lavender soap) is a good way to start

Does he wake up cause he is hungry? Or does he get up to play?

If its the middle of the night and he isnt hungry the best thing is be consistant. Try not to turn on any lights (keep a night light in his room so you can see), dont play with him, try a few things like soothing music or rocking him back to sleep.

There really isnt anything specific to do, he is still young and its normal for them to wake up, as hard as it is on us lol
Just hang in there.

My last one we started co-sleeping which worked wonderfully, she slept thru the night from when I started it just to wake up to feed now and then. But co-sleeping isnt for everyone and is quite hard to break.

Answer 9

You could try feeding him more before bed. Also, try not feeding him each time he wakes. He'll hate it for the first few nights but he'll catch the hint eventually. He doesnt need to eat all night long anyways, not at this age. This is when you start making routines.

Answer 10

Not unusual for most 3 month old.
They will out grow it quickly..........
Try putting a radio in her room, or
a small disc player. Music is the
best thing. They don't feel alone.
You won't have to worry about
breaking her from it later on.