5 month old won't sleep through the night.

[chrissyed]

I have 2 girls, a 21 month old, and a 5 month old.  I am having trouble getting my 5 month old to sleep entirely through the night.  They both go to bed around 7pm, but my 5 month old gets up every night between 2-4am and wants to eat.  I have tried giving her the pacifier, and tried the "cry it out" method with no luck. I feel like I have created a bad habit by finally giving up and nursing her.  Once she is fed, she goes back to sleep immediately and stays that way until around 8am.   After my mid-night struggles, I am so tired the next day I barely have enough energy to make til 8pm!!!  So, what do I do?

Any suggestions?  I guess I could say it were a time habit if it was the same time every night, but I ALWAYS varies.  PLEASE HELP!!!!

[albertasweetpea]

I'd say if she goes straight back to sleep after eating then she is waking out of hunger. Do you dream feed her?
My DD is just over 5 months and takes 4 bottles a day, 7 am/11 am/3 pm/6:30-7 pm - the bottles are 6 oz. Then she takes 4-6 oz. at a 9:30 - 10 pm dream feed. She will wake during the night but just cry out and go back to sleep. I think going 12 hours without eating at this age is a long time, at least until you introduce solids and she is eating twice or three times a day plus bottles.

[Katet]

Michelle is right & as you bf, it is not unreasonable for your lo to wake even if you do df.
As you have 2 lo's you (like me) will be finding it harder to look after yourself & that could mean your milk supply is a bit lower & so your lo needs the night feeds, added to which she is at the "distractable age" & so may also be feeding less well in the day & need to compensate.
I would definitely keep feeding at night, esp as it is random times.
As well I would work on making sure the day feeds are really good ones & thay you are eating well - the rest part is hard (I know after my 4mo sleeping 8-10hours he is now feeding 3-4hourly after being in hospital & it is a killer)
If you don't df, I'm not sure I would advise it now as it may actually cause more night wakings. So I think for the time being, get up do a quick feed & don't try to fight it & you may find your sleep doesn't suffer as much as when you stress about it trying to "stop & fix" something that is actually probably needed.
I find accepting night feeds in a baby under 9mo (& toddler wake ups due to teething & illnes) as a normal part of my life & makes it easier on me... sleeping through is something I see as a bonus, not the norm & that helps me cope much better.