should i just accept the fact that my baby will never sleep thru the night?

Question

My son, who is now 7 months, have never slept thru the night. The first couple months he woke frequently to eat (breastfed). I then changed to bottle at 3 months; at 3-5 months he would only get up once or twice. But the last couple months he's getting 3-4 times (just crying, not hungry)!! It's been awful. So we're so tired all the time. I've done every suggestion possible from increasing his food/formula, less naps during the day, keeping him up later, EVERYTHING and nothing works. Do some babies just never sleep thru the night?

Answer 1

I always found that its not a matter of making them as tired as possible (through limiting daytime naps and keeping them up late). I think that has the opposite effect of making them overstimulated and unable to settle into a deep, satisfying sleep. At 7 months old, my son would go to bed at about 6pm and sleep through until about 7am. Try to make sure that your son is able to self soothe--through thumb sucking, pacifier, lovey, or crying--then allow him to get himself back to sleep when he wakes during the night.

Answer 2

My oldest slept through the night right away ... she was approx. 5 months and did wonderful...

My youngest.... is another story. She would not sleep for nothing. The day she begin to sleep through the night was when she was about a year and half.

Some kids have constant nightmares, so they are always freaked out in the middle of the night, some are hungry, some just down right want to play.

Do not enter your child's room what-so-ever once you've put them down to sleep. If you do, you risk making noise and waking them up. Feed them right before bed, so they'll be full, and keep your baby up as much as possible during the day. Try not to let them sleep past 6 pm (for naps) and you should be fine.


Good luck!

Answer 3

Oh jeez, first, sleep begets sleep...so depriving him of sleep during the day will probably result him him sleeping less and less restfully during the night. Second, it's not really all that normal for babies to sleep through the night until they are over a year old. They still need food in the middle of the night at that age. Third, you may have a child who has no idea how to self-soothe...I dealt with that and finally the only way to "fix" it was to let him cry himself to sleep. He's a perfectly happy and healthy three year old who sleeps like an angel every night now, so I don't see how any harm came of it. Good luck, he'll sleep through eventually, but don't be shocked that he isn't yet.

Answer 4

My daughter is 4 months and is doing the same thing I don't think it was her last lot of needles but I think she may be teething or something happening in that area and a bit of a growth spurt. I feed her once may twice if she wakes a few times but sometimes a little cuddle is enough for her to go back down. I was told by my child health nurse not to feed her all the time if she wakes cause she will get herself into that routine and expect it all the time and not go back to sleeping through. Good luck : - )

Answer 5

I have three children and around six months both of my oldest decided they wanted to change their sleeping habits and become nocturnal children, then at about 10-12 months they both started sleeping all night without waking up.
You could try a bassinet. My youngest is 6 months now and so far so good. My other two were in a crib, so I am hoping to curb the trend.

Answer 6

Usually middle of the night wakings are due to the inability to self soothe. Once they learn how to put themselves to sleep they will be able to put themselves back to sleep if they wake in the night. Keeping him up during the day is not the answer. It actually will make it harder for your child to sleep. Get into a daily routine. Have your child take a nap every day! At least for 2 hours 3 if he will stay asleep. My son had problems and now he sleeps 11 hour nights and 2-3 hour naps. 1st if he's still in your room, move him out. 2nd create a bedtime and nap routine. With my son i get his room dark, not too dark i have a humidifier (originally for his eczema but found that cool air and the quiet hum help him sleep) i read him a story in the rocking chair after he has had lunch and diaper change, rock him a little and then place him in crib with a pacifier (the only time he gets one) and shut the door. At night time I do the same thing except he gets a bath after dinner. The first few times he cried for awhile, but that actually wore him out so he learned to fall asleep on his own. Now we don't have any problems! it's wonderful! make sure he is dressed appropriatley so he won't wake up for being too hot or cold, and just stick to your guns. once you leave don't come back in to check on him until you are certain he is asleep. if he sees you it will undo everything. also in the very beginning at night sometimes it helped to sit on the floor and hold his hand through the bars. do not make eye contact, and do not talk to him. it's not playtime. having you there the first couple fo times will help comfort him, but do not let tug on your heart strings. be firm and be calm. anger and frustration only make it worse, and when we are tired it is easy to let those feelings show. when he wakes up in the middle of the night. get him his pacifier, blankie, a t shirt of yours whatever, lay him bak down and walk out...do not come back. he knows right now that if he cries loud enough and long enough eventually you will give in...you can't give in, he has to be the one to give in. also when they are going through growth spurts, sick or teething their sleeping habits change, the tend to wake up more often. if teething give some tylenol, some orajel and rock them a little and then get out of there and if necessary let them cry to sleep again. it will only take a few days of crying, 3-7 days once you implement a routine for your child to get it and fall asleep and stay asleep. It's hard I'm not gonna lie but it so worth it and it's better for the both of you. My child is healthy and happy and knows how much a love him and he loves me know less. If anything i love him more because I can sleep!! plus he's not cranky from lack of sleep! hang in there...it's all worth it in the end! good luck!

Answer 7

I feel you.. my son is 8 months old and has never slept through the night,... makeing me and my boyfriend walking zombies everyday for the past 8 months.. i am also wondering if this is every going to end lol:)

Answer 8

my daughter is 22 months and still dont sleep through the night.I havent had a full nights sleep in 3 years

Answer 9

yes...my 8 mo old still wakes 2-4 times a night my 2 tr old still wakes wanders about dazed and then gos back to be and most nights my 4 yr old wakes jibber jabbers nonsence, drinks something and gos back to sleep.........its very normal ur little one is still a babe so u r his sorce of comfort and saftey as he gets older he will naturally just settle back to sleep.......is for the ferber/ cio method it is up to you wether you want to put ur little one threw that

Answer 10

Does he have a night light? Some babies need one.