Why doesn't my baby sleep peacefully?

Question

She won't sleep for more than an hour at a time. At night she wakes up every hour, sometimes less, and 2 hours is the longest she'll go. She wakes up and wants to nurse. I'm not sure if she 's doing it from hunger or for comfort, because sometimes she just takes a few sips, and goes back to sleep. But she won't go to sleep unless I nurse her for even a minute. She doesn't want a pacifier.
Even during the day, when she takes naps, she won't sleep for an hour or two at once. She wakes up all the time and wants to nurse. Is she using me as a pacifier? Could something be really bothering her? I took her to the doc, and she seems just fine. And when she's awake, she's a happy baby who laughs and babbles all the time. She's gaining about 3oz a week, which is okay for her age (8months).
Why won't she sleep for more than an hour at a time? I am soooo exhausted, but that's okay, I'll be patient. I just wish I knew what 's bothering her. It doesn't seem normal to me...

She's on a schedule when it comes to solids. She has oat cereal for breakfast, fruit for lunch, veggies in the evening, and rice cereal for supper. She has 4-5 tbs of each, and will not have more no matter what I do. Between solids, she nurses as well. Even when she seems to be full, and doesn't want any more solids, she still wants to nurse shortly after.

I really really don't want to supplement. I'm hoping to find a way to get through this without formula. I hope there's a way...

Answer 1

Hang in there. One of the best bits of advice I could give you would be to get in contact with your local La Leche advisors. Breastfeeding is obviously important to you and they wll be able to help out.

I don't know that offering supplementary (I am assuming you are referring to formula?) feeds will help. She is already on solids. I know with my baby that sleep did not improve when he started solids. A breastfed baby is unlikely to overeat (this is good!) and knows when he/she is full.

As for the sleep problem, I understand. Have you tried using a sling or a wrap to tie her to your body. I have been told that the mothers heartbeat and walking motion is great for settling a restless baby. It is recommended for colicky and windy babies as they are upright and it is when they are on their backs that the problem gets worse. There are some really great slings on the market.

Also, when she wakes at night, try waiting to see if she will self-settle. I am not recommending the control cry method (although I did use it for my first), but I found myself in a similar position and often my son will fall back to sleep in a minute or two. I realised I increased the problem by taking him out of bed as soon as I heard a noise. Training yourself not to wake at the slightest sound is hard though.

Now I am only woken two or three times. I also try to sleep/rest during the day when he is - the housework can wait. It is more important to invest time in being the best mum you can be for your baby girl - being the best housekeeper comes further down the list of priorities.

You know your baby best. There are many mums in the same situation as you - there aren't many who can honestly say that their baby sleeps through. I know mine don't! Ask for help from La Leche (or the Breastfeeding Association).

Good luck - you will get through this. Make sure you look after yourself though because this is the best way to know that you can give your best to your baby

Answer 2

I have been wanting to post this question for a while now. I just wasn't sure how to ask and actually get answers that were helpful. Anyways my son is a week shy of 8 months. He wakes up constantly. I lay him down at 8 he is up every hour until midnight then every other until 6 am. We have no choice but to keep him in our room at night. He is formula fed and also on a routine. We do the thicker dinner, bath, Johnson's soothing line, cuddle time then bed. Sometimes the pacifier works to get him to sleep but sometimes he thinks he still needs to eat in the night. He is nearly 23 lbs. I don't think he needs to get up and eat still. Part of me wonders if he doesn't like his crib or maybe he's teething. I do believe it may be habit and I also heard some babies are just that way. He is healthy and happy but I am tired and more tired, wondering when and if I will ever sleep again. LOL.

Answer 3

This is exactly what I'm going through with my 7 month old, so it makes me feel better to know it's not just me and my daughter. My daughter used to soothe herself back to sleep, she does not like pacifier's so she would suck her thumb but lately she doesn't want to even do that and wants to nurse all throughout the evening. At first I thought she was reverse cycling, since I have problems pumping a lot of milk, but sometimes she just nurses for a minute then goes to sleep; so I definately think she's just wanting comfort when that happens. I don't want to let her cry it out, but I may have to resort to that if it doesn't get better in a month or so. I've even thought about giving her a bottle of formula right after nursing before bed just to fill her belly but haven't tried that yet.

I really don't have advice, but want to thank you for asking the question since I'm experiencing the same thing. Hang in there. I'm hoping in time she will adjust and get back to sleeping at least 4 hours at a time. Good luck.

Answer 4

Yes, she's using you as a pacifier =]

A baby's sleep cycle is about 45 minutes long. When she wakes she cannot put herself back to sleep, so she calls out for mommy to nurse her back to sleep.. Those 2-sucks-then-out deals is where she's got you! She's defentely waking up for comfort. Nursing is her only sleep association.. i'm guessing you've been putting her to sleep by nursing since birth. It's very natural, but you need to break her of this habit, you'll have tougher time weaning later..

Nothing's wrong with your little one, she's just used to mommy's breast thats all.. All you can do - is not give it to her, unless it's time to eat. Try getting someone else to comfort her, since she'll get more frustrated with you, b/c the milk is right there...

Answer 5

First let me say I have felt your pain. With my last son now 4 I breastfed him, he woke up every 1 1/2-2 hours to nurse. When I talked to my breastfeeding counsler she advised me first I may not be producing as much milk as I thought therefore he was really not getting much causeing him to wake that much for more feedings, so I pumped and added to formula. Also she advised that breastmilk is very thin and does not last long as regular milk does on your babys stomach causing breastfed babies to eat more often, and the last which is what was really going on with my son is your baby could be using you for a pacifier. in this case you may have to search until you find one s/he will actually take and the only one I could find was the avant and the one the hospital issued, which now playtex sells one similar to. I hope all works well for you. If you have any lactation consultants in your area try contacting them for advice. WIC has lactaing consultants you can contact for free of service. and they are usually more than happy to assist you.

Good Luck

Answer 6

As I read along, I thought your daughter was a newborn.

Yes, she is using you as a pacifier. She has become totally used to you coming to her an nursing her every time she wakes. She hasn't learned how to soothe herself/put herself back to sleep.

How about slowly starting more of a sleeping and eating routine for her? Babies thrive on routine. I don't mean a rigid schedule, but some sort of structure. You do not mention what's happening with her other eating habits (if any). Does she have any solid meals? Not a lot of info there.

Answer 7

is this a new problem? it could be a growth spurt or that she is getting ready for a developmental milestone. sometimes like before they start to crawl, they will sleep poorly.

or she could be teething. you could try some tylenol or motrin to see if that helps.

if you think she's using you as a pacifier, try sending dad in one night. you just plan to feed her every 3-5 hours and in between, he will go in and rock her or pat her back in her crib. it will be hard but should get better.

she may just be getting into a pattern of waking. she should be learning how to put herself to sleep. if you're not comfortable with her crying, then just wait and see how things go. maybe try in a month or two when she's a little older. good luck.

Answer 8

chloe, my 1st 3 kids all behaved like that, it took me my 4th attempt at being a mum to get it right!
if i know she isnt due for a feed, i just pick her up incase she needs to burp then i wrap her, lay her down then walk out,
if u keep that up they will get used to it and do the controlled crying if she starts to cry, that works well
with my 1st 3 kids i had to feed and rock to sleep every hour 24hrs a day, but with this one i only fed her if it was more than three hours after the last feed
good luck, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx i hate when i cant sleep properly, i get in the shitts bad!, lol

Answer 9

depending on some parents, some don't want their children to be addicted to the pacifier, but in this case, you could ween her on it & try to have her stop using you as a one. cuz it's hard on you (sleep-wise). if she wakes up during the night, you could give her the pacifier & then go back to bed. it probably won't be that simple, but it's worth a try.

Answer 10

Hooray for you. Breastfeeding has so many benefits for babies. But with her only sleeping like that I would supplement her a bit with a bottle so you can get some rest. If you become to exhausted you won't enjoy the experience as much. Also I would try wrapping her snugly when you lay her down.