6 month old up every 3 hours at night?

Question

My 6 month old baby used to sleep better at night. For the past few weeks he has been waking up every 3 sometimes 2 hours at night. The only thing that will get him to calm down is a bottle. I can't really do the cry it out method as my baby shares a room with us and my husband has to be up early for work. I'm very tired what do I do?

Answer 1

I personally don't like the crying method. A baby can't really be spoiled that young, but they do need to have boundries.
He is getting used to this schedual and if you keep responding, he will keep doing it.

If you can have him sleep right next to you. Right when he stirs.Rub his back and say Shhhhhhhhhhh. Put his bikey in his mouth.
If you do get him a bottle, don't make it a fun time in the middle of the night. No talking or singing. no bright lights. Make is low key. And not a reward or mommys attention
.
At that age as soon as you think baby has a routien, they change it.
Hang in there.

Answer 2

Oh, sweet, sorry to hear about the lack of sleep! That's really awful. My daughter went through a stage like that not long ago (she's 6 months old). Night waking is extremely common between the ages of 6 & 12 months, but the good news is, it does get better. I know it feels like you will probably never sleep again, but you will!

I took my daughter to Torrens House, which is where you stay for a week with qualified staff, to help get her to sleep more. They suggested that I keep my daughter up for an extra fifteen minutes at a time before she goes for a nap. It's amazing how much of a difference that made.

Also, you may find that he is actually 'sleep crying' which is what my daughter does sometimes. She will cry whilst her eyes are shut and she's still asleep. I will let her go for around 2 minutes, and then she will settle down.

Also, you might find that he would sleep better in another room, especially if either you or your husband are noisy sleepers.

I think if you are going to want to break the habit of the bottle, you are going to have to be strong, and not give in. Your baby is old enough to go through the night without a feed, so perhaps try giving him a dummy. Otherwise, you might have toget your husband to sleep in another room for a few nights, and try the 'pick up, put down' routine., When bubs cries, put him down in the cot, pat the mattress, rock it, whatever you need to do. If he gets really worked up, pick him up, settle him, but put him down whilst he is still awake. He'll soon get the picture. As it takes 3 days to make a habit, and 7 days to break it, for babies, it may take a few nights, but it will absolutely be worth it.

Hope this can help!

Answer 3

Maybe he is teething? At that age it is totally normal for babies to do that, it's just unfortunate when they start out sleeping well and you get used to it. Is there any way he can have his own room soon? If so I would get a rocking chair and give him cuddles or a bottle when he wakes up, for now just leave the room, go on the couch and feed him or in another room. I went through the same thing with my son, giving them a bottle in their bed is a really bad habit to break and it's not good for their little teeth. Also he may need to be getting a few more calories to last him through the night from real food? And also making sure he is not sleeping all day. Good Luck.

Answer 4

Hi my 3 month old daughter was having the same problem - in the last few weeks we were using an oil heater to warm our room up which was making the room too stuffy for her to sleep proerly and she was waking up really thirsty. Lately we have been turning the heater completely off and only warming the room an hour before she goes to sleep and she has been sleeping through again. A pharmasist also suggested spraying water in the room if you want to continue to use the heater (just make sure you spray away from any bedding).

Good luck...

Answer 5

He maybe just going through a fase at the moment. What i do with my 5 month old is i give him a bath (about 30 mins before bed time) and than after the bath i give him a bottle straight away...this puts him to sleep for ages...and it really relaxes them too. You should give that a go tonight. Even after you bath him try massaging him with baby oil or moisturiser..this helps to relax him aswell. Their is nothing worse than getting up all night long than having to keep awake during the day for him and than going through it again the next time. Hopefully this will help him sleep longer...hope so. Good luck and hope you get a good night sleep soon.

Answer 6

Sometimes babies go through phases where they wake up 1 or 2 times (or more) a night....the only thing you can really do is keep doing what you're doing, and wait it out.


However, you don't want to make it a habit, or else he'll get used to waking up and having you get him a bottle. After about a week or two, I recommend you trying just to let him soothe himself.

Answer 7

From what my pediatrician tells me, babies go through phases where they may sleep more or less, or eat more or less. Right now my five month old is teething, and she is still sleeping through the night, although her naps have been rather short. She also isn't eating half as much, probably due to the teething pain.
Maybe your child's problem is teething as well? Try giving him the homeopathic teething tablets, I buy mine at Wal-Mart. Perhaps he is just going through a growing spurt and needs more to eat than he used to.
I have had such good luck with sleep, my daughter has slept through the night since we brought her home from the hospital. Bless your heart!

Answer 8

Maybe he's going through a growth spurt or teething. If you were breastfeeding this would help to knock him out pretty easily. It made life soooo much easier in my household! :o) Since you're bottle feeding I suppose you should give him what works... just make sure to try other things before resorting to a bottle. Like checking to make sure it's not his teeth that are bothering him... rocking him, etc. I know it's tiring. If you are pumping and giving him milk, breastfeeding is your best friend during times like these.

Answer 9

well i may not be the expert parent but when i had my son he was like that try giving him Pablum and a warm bath be for bed that worked for my son or talk to your doctor if that don't work then lotions worked to or maybe eating more be for bed. i all depends but try out some off theses things they worked for me i was 15 and had my son he slept all though the night and now hes almost 2 and he still dose now i have another one on the way

Answer 10

It sounds like he is teething .Try baby orajel and something cold and soothing at night. My children liked frozen bananas. They were healthy and they could gum them until they felt more comfortable. Also get some teething rings.