HOW DO I HELP MY 4 AND A HALF MONTH OLD TO SLEEP ALL NIGHT!

[margarita]

Hi, I have been reading posts for the last 4 and a half months and have found it very helpful, but now I need direct advice.  My baby hasn't slept all night since he was born, he had woken up two or three times.  He got sick a couple of weeks ago, and now i put him in his crib (room) for the first time day before yesterday.  He is now waking almost every two-three hours and i'm exhausted.

This is a semi typical day for him

6am wake up
6:30 5onz of soy /hidrolized protein formula
9:00 sleeps for about an hour

10:00 4-5onz formula
12:00 sleeps for about one and a half hours

1:30 4-5onz formula
(this is were it gets crazy)
4:30 4-5onz formula
5:00  tired so he wants another nap (try not to but gets really cranky)

7:00 BATH/Massage/wind down
7:30 4-5onz formula
8:00 SLEEP

Hes waking up at about 11, 3, 5 and is eating like crazy at night, almost 5onz everytime.  Problem is he doesn't eat more than 5onz in the day, and I think he sleeps too much.  What can I do to help him sleep more at night, and eat less? Dr, doesn't want to give solids until 6months because of his sensitive stomach.

HELP PLEASE!

[kirsty_167]

HI.....

I am no expert but here is what i see may be happening.

Your wee one is up a long time before bedtime.From what you wrote bubs wakes at 1.30ish and then doesnt sleep again until 8? Maybe an extra catnap in the afternoon may help them go to bed more relaxed and have a better nights sleep,an overtired baby can be more likely to waken at night.

Like i said im no expert but i know that my 5 month old sleeps better at night if he gets enough rest in the day.If he stays up too long or doesnt have enough sleep he will wake during the night.Just a thought and i know it made a huge difference when i tweaked his routine to include a catnap around 4/4.30pm

Take care and good luck
kirsty

[jueboo]

Hi There,

I agree, I think your LO needs more naps, my 4 nd a half month old was doing exactly the same until recently and I now make sure he has 1 1.5hr nap in the morn one in the afternoon and a catnap at about 5-6 pm, he has slept from 7.30 - 7.30 for the  past 4 nights (apart form last night but had his vacinations yesterday).   I hope he is going to carry o n like this because after a long struggle I feel it is really working and I get to sleep at night!!

good luck

julie

[margarita]

Thanks for your help.  Should I try not to get him his cat nap too close to his bedtime?  Is he asking to eat at night because he isn't sleeping OK?

[Kimberly®]

Cat naps before bed aren't to bad at all. My LO takes a 20 minute power nap about an hour before bed.
I would also suggest, from my own experience, that you try putting your LO to bed earlier. Once I started putting my LO down at 7pm instead of 8:30 she seemed to be less tired and cranky during the days. Its just a thought, but your LO may need an earlier bedtime as he sounds like he's getting over tired.

Let him nap for half an hour-45minutes at 5ish, then at 6:30 start a bedtime routine and give him his bottle, then put him to bed. At 10:30 try giving him a dreamfeed.
This wont work overnight and it may be hard at first, but I really think it may help. My LO is also 4 1/2 months old and when I started the earlier bedtime she started to slowly sleep longer untill she slept right through.
If he doesn't, don't fret, it just means he's not ready yet. He'll seep through when he's ready, its just a matter of you helping out.

HTH