Sleeping through the night? (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Life] >> Parenting



Message

alaskajamaica -> Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 4:11:45 PM)

When did your child start sleeping through the night? For me, he started around 2 months and now that he is 4 months he wakes every 2 hours.

What methods did you use? we are using the EASY method.

Did your child go through spurts where they slept through the night and then stopped? I am experiencing this.

I feel like he will never sleep through the night again and we will be sleep deprived forever. (sigh)



lucyk -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 4:36:18 PM)

We have a 9 week old at home, and he is on a 4 hour schedule (however, he was a preemie, and this is a marked improvement from when we brought him home!). I have been researching sleep patterns of infants, and one thing I'm finding consistent with everything I read says that as babies go through growth spurts or developmental "spurts", their sleep habits can change for awhile until they adjust. So, if your baby is teething, that could affect his sleep. Or if he's rolling around more lately, or getting the hang of something new, he might go to a different schedule briefly. Is he wanting to eat every 2 hours, or is he just waking himself? If he's wanting to eat, my first instinct would be to think it's a growth spurt, but I haven't been there yet, so I don't know. I'm looking forward to reading other responses!

What I found really interesting with our foster baby is that we were on a 1 hour, then 2 hour, then 3 hour, then 2, then 3, then 2, back and forth for several weeks, and then the night before his original due date he "turned into" a 4 hour schedule baby.



Brandy -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 4:59:19 PM)

4 months is prime time for them to change their sleep habits.



alaskajamaica -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 5:51:35 PM)

thanks for the replies so far. I am just like a zombie. I got a little to used to him STTN for 2 months and here we go.



Mrs.Wifey -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 5:58:44 PM)

DD STTN from 8 week-4.5 months when she promptly decided that waking up several times a night was what she preferred. It didn't end until recently, and she just turned a year old.



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 6:59:38 PM)

HERE is a LINK to Dr Sears page explaining sleep cycles in babies....very interesting, and I have found with our five, very true.


I notice a few ladies new to the forums...just wanted to say hi [sm=wave.gif] and extend an invitation over to the women's folder where we have a "chat style" thread on our babies/toddlers. LINK HERE to that thread.
*chat style thread* meaning we each chit chat and offer support and advice when needed on what our kids are going through on a daily/weekly/monthly basis)

my kids sleep and eating changes when they grow, and for my kids, growth has typically been at.....
first year:
every 6-8 weeks for the first half, evening out to about every other month during the last part.
second year:
every 3-4 months
third through fifth years:
every six months (usually at their birthday mark and the six month mark from it).
over five years:
about every birthday (usually within a month before or after)



alaskajamaica -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 7:14:58 PM)

thanks lady2. I have read dr. sears book- got it from the library but forgot about this. I am going to get the book again to read this.



SurpassingPeace -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 7:29:10 PM)

I have hope that some day dd will sleep through the night! Seriously though, she did the same thing. She was sleeping well through the night until 4 months old, then it all changed. Sometimes she does still sleep through (rarely), sometimes she gets up once, last night dh and I tag teamed all night long. Right now she is teething so I think that is really the disruption.
She is now 10 months old. One thing I do know that if she gets up there is a reason, it may be a growth spurt, a cold, teething, or... I have finally lowered my expectations for what I accomplish on days following rough nights. I think God knew I needed to let go perfectionism so He introduced me to the mommy twilight daze as I like to call it.

I have faith that this time will pass and she will sleep. However, as much as I enjoy sleep, and I really, really do, I know I will miss some of those night feedings and cuddles.

Hang in there. There is an end eventually.



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/25/2008 7:36:56 PM)

quote:

... I have finally lowered my expectations for what I accomplish on days following rough nights. I think God knew I needed to let go perfectionism so He introduced me to the mommy twilight daze as I like to call it.

LOL....you have arrived!!!!! LOL

at the time it may seem like it won't ever end, but seriously it does get easier. I look at our son who turned 9 on Saturday, and I remember going through the same things with him that we are right now with our 5th (who is 9 weeks old). It really does pass....and in hindsight just getting through and lowering my own expectations really does help....of course it took til #3 for me to get that....got it down pat now though!!! I consider it an accomplishment if all the kids ate and the house is still standing when hubby gets home some nights.



3cappuccinosmom -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/26/2008 7:22:29 AM)

Ummmm.....15-18 months, if we're talking 8 hours on a regular basis. I have finally decided I'm not going to let that be a reflection of my parenting. I don't care anymore if other people think I'm doing something wrong. So there! [8D]

I absolutely cannot stand listening to a baby scream, and we have tried all the no-cry methods we could find. I'd rather be a zombie for a year than spend a week with the cry-it-out method. [&:]

They do eventually learn to sleep. I know it seems like forever in that first year, but it really isn't. [:)]



SurpassingPeace -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/26/2008 8:33:50 AM)

It is so good to hear there is hope! It is also really nice to know there are others out there. I am happy to have arrived somewhere. I am so sleep deprived, I didn't even know I was going!

3cappuccinosmom- I agree and I cannot listen to my baby scream. I have a happy, bubbly little girl with such a fun dispostion that needs me at night. One time for a for a very short time I caved into parenting pressure (She should be sleeping through the night by now!) I let her go. She proceeded to throw up everywhere and was such a sad baby the next day. That is when I decided to be a zombie and parent my baby at night.



crankius -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/26/2008 3:02:57 PM)

Our babies were on "routines", and both slept through the night by 7 weeks (starting with 7 hour stretches and growing into 11 hours).

They did have growth spurts where during the day they would eat a lot more, but their night sleeping stayed consistent.



Mrs.X -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/26/2008 3:04:24 PM)

My 15 month old still wakes 3 or 4 times. It's not too bad because we co-sleep and I nurse. When he was 6 weeks old though, he was sleeping from 11pm to 6am though. Didn't last long.

One thing that helped a little is nursing often in the afternoon/evening so the baby can tank up on calories before bed.

When the baby is old enough for food, try a high protein snack before bed. The baby might not wake out of hunger.



alaskajamaica -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 2:53:37 PM)

did anyone give rice cereal as a way to boost up calories and have them sleep longer? I nurse 100% so I don't really like the idea, but thought I would ask.



3cappuccinosmom -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 3:05:20 PM)

quote:

did anyone give rice cereal as a way to boost up calories and have them sleep longer? I nurse 100% so I don't really like the idea, but thought I would ask.


Depending on the baby's age, it may be a bad idea.

Closer to 1 yo, it probably wouldn't hurt them, but I have tried with all my babies nursing them and feeding them something else close to bedtime, and it never worked for me.



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 3:15:43 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: alaskajamaica

did anyone give rice cereal as a way to boost up calories and have them sleep longer? I nurse 100% so I don't really like the idea, but thought I would ask.

I have not used it with my five kids because of this.....rice is empty calories and I feel that if I need to feed my kids something then I would much rather prepare their bodies to properly digest fruits and veggies then a rice product. It is a lot more healthy. Babies rarely *need* anything except breast milk or formula the first year of life anyway...anything you feed them during that time is all experimental and just getting them used to food...it shouldn't be for the caloric intake at that point. Also if you look at cultures that eat rice often and young you will find that the percentage of allergies to that rice is dramatically higher then countries that don't eat it as much. Babies bodies often times can't handle certain items very early, and giving it to them, before they can handle it can cause food intolerance and allergy issues for the rest of their lives.



Brandy -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 3:25:50 PM)

My Ped yesterday mentioned starting foods at 4-6 mnths and getting her used to a bottle so we could wean if we wanted to.

I said no thanks, I enjoy feeding her breastmilk right now and we will do child led solid starting and weaning.

He still said bottle was atleast a good back up for her to use. I said I would think about it.

I don't mind getting woken up to feed her in the night. It's a short period of my/her lives and I relish any cuddles I get. I can survive ok on sleep chunks of 4 hrs at night. Although I didn't realize how much her mid morning nap means to MY naptime until we missed it yesterday!! We were both worn out!!



Mrs.X -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 3:41:14 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: alaskajamaica

did anyone give rice cereal as a way to boost up calories and have them sleep longer? I nurse 100% so I don't really like the idea, but thought I would ask.

Not before 6 months. Lijke Sarah said, rice cereal is empty calories. At six months the baby can eat fruits, veggies and legumes. Legumes are high in protein like pureed beans, split peas, pureed lima beans. At 8 months, most babies can have dairy products like cheese, yogurt and cottage cheese which all have a lot of protein in them.



Sideways -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 4:27:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: alaskajamaica

did anyone give rice cereal as a way to boost up calories and have them sleep longer? I nurse 100% so I don't really like the idea, but thought I would ask.


We do give our toddler a bedtime snack, and did even when he was an older nursling, but we generally stayed away from rice cereal specifically. He really liked pureed fruit mixed with oatmeal.

But he needed solids a lot earlier then most die hard BF supporters would suggest, before 5 months actually, and I was delaying solids as much as I could stand. I got a lot of flak for feeding him solids here at CW when he was 4 months old, but it was either that or we were switching to formula. Solids actually saved our BFing relationship. By 10 months he was nursing around 8 times a day and having 4-5 solids meals a day of pureed food.

The week he turned 1 he refused all pureed food and we switched to finger food. I think that's when he started sleeping better, but it may've had more to do with teething and just being able to put himself back to sleep when he woke up.

There was never a light switch moment with sleeping through the night. Just a gradual progression.



Sideways -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 4:39:32 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brandy
My Ped yesterday mentioned starting foods at 4-6 mnths and getting her used to a bottle so we could wean if we wanted to.


That's kinda what mine said at Nathan's 4 month checkup, when I mentioned how often Nathan was nursing and that I was really getting worn out. It's a deeply personal decision, though you're going to have a few folks around here question just how much do you love your child if you aren't able to nurse every 90 minutes around the clock for weeks on end?

Some can and some just reach the end of their rope, and have to do something different.

I've heard some women swear the rice cereal thing works, but I won't recommend it as an automatic. My MIL gave it to my husband when he was a month old just to get him to sleep, and I'm still a little ticked at her for her doing that. (Although in fairness, dH has zero allergies.) Stay on formula/breast milk alone as long as is right for you and your baby, and if the baby is old enough, consider something more nutritious then rice cereal.



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 4:42:32 PM)

quote:

But he needed solids a lot earlier then most die hard BF supporters would suggest, before 5 months actually, and I was delaying solids as much as I could stand. I got a lot of flak for feeding him solids here at CW when he was 4 months old, but it was either that or we were switching to formula. Solids actually saved our BFing relationship. By 10 months he was nursing around 8 times a day and having 4-5 solids meals a day of pureed food.

just wanted to say. I am a "die hard bfer", but I completely believe in CHILD LED solids...if he needed that then it was child led. Our first was like that (of course back then they said you could start solids at 4mo)...he was on baby food by 3mo. It didn't help him sleep longer, but it did help him not have to nurse every other hour for 45 minutes each time. (the LC thought I was insane when I said how long and often he nursed, but after seeing him eat she finally believed me that he was EATING that long)



SurpassingPeace -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 6:11:16 PM)

I too am an avid bfer and started solids at 6 months because dd was extremely enthusiastic for them. I was prepared to wait until 8-9-10 months or whenever she appeared to want them. I have offered some finger foods like cut up cheerios and some rice puffs but she has NO interest other than feeding them to the dogs. Which is very happy for all involved!

I feed her a little fruit and oatmeal right before bed and it does not make a difference on how many times she will get up. I can almost always trace why she is getting up more, growth spurt, teething, runny nose, or our new friend seperation anxiety. On the positive side, I read that seperation anxiety means your baby is well bonded! There is at least that silver lining. I just repeat over and over again, "It is just for a season, it is just for a season." Of course, I am not sure how much my advice is worth since due to a teething/runny nose/ seperation anxiety combo I am going on 9 hours of sleep in the past 72 hours. [:D]

Karen



peculiar_lady2 -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 6:42:50 PM)

quote:

On the positive side, I read that seperation anxiety means your baby is well bonded!

LOL...I like that...positive outlook!!!!



Sideways -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 6:44:35 PM)

I'm sorry you're having a tough time of it, Karen. And I agree from my own experience that solids didn't seem to help Nathan. But past 4 months, I don't have a serious issue with a mom at least wanting to try it out and see if it helps.

Sometimes I think certain things like lack of sleep/how long or how often a mom has to breast feed becomes like a competition. Like someone is a better mom for getting less sleep or holding off on solids longer then someone else.

I'm not saying this to pick on anyone here, it's just a feeling I get.

So, if a mom is really getting to the point where she needs more sleep, depending on the age of the child, I honestly think it's her business and not a sign of how good a mom she is, if she wants hubby to feed a nighttime bottle, or to try solids or controlled crying, or whatever she thinks will be right for her family.

'Cause it's not all about the baby, and a happy mommy makes for a better family all around.



SurpassingPeace -> RE: Sleeping through the night? (8/27/2008 7:17:09 PM)

Peculiar_lady2- I find looking on the bright side really does help.

Sideways- thank you for the sympathy. I really appreciate that. I am very much in agreement that happy mommy=happy baby. I have the most awesome, wonderful, terrific, (did I mention incredible?) dh. He takes his share of night duties. He will rock her for hours so I can sleep. Unfortunately, dd does not take a bottle so worst case scenario if I am exhausted, I will nurse then he will rock. Then he gets up for work the next morning without a complaint. Seriously, I do not know if I would have kept my sanity without him.

I think we all doing the best we can to raise our children. What works for me, won't work for someone else. I do understand feeling like I am at the end of my rope. I told dh that two nights ago the thought of running away and sleeping in the backyard did flit through my mind. I cannot blame a mother in a similar situation to find a solution that keeps her sane.
Karen



Page: [1] 2   next >   >>



Forum Software © ASPPlayground.NET Advanced Edition 2.5 ANSI