10 Month Old Not Sleeping Through Night.

Updated on April 24, 2010
T.A. asks from Lake Oswego, OR
14 answers

My 10 month old has never really slept through the night, recently he wakes up 5 sometimes 6 times at always wants a bottle. I havent really tried the "cry it out"because when I do he cries for hours upon hours. I have another son, and they sleep in the same room, and hes a light sleeper..So I guess does any one have any tips that I can try..

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.T.

answers from Portland on

let him sleep with you. All kids are different & he may just need the comfort of you by him at night like many babies do. And no, I would never try the cry it out method either.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.K.

answers from Stationed Overseas on

I hate the CIO method I think it's ridiculous to think a child is learning how to put themselves to sleep but suffering. I suggest instead of the bottle you comfort him by holding him, rocking and talking softly to him. The bottle is just a comfort at night he probably doesn't need the extra food at this age. However, if he is eating several times a night I suggest dropping one feeding at a time so it's not a sudden cold turkey. Let him know that you are there and console him. Make sure he has something to cuddle with like a blankie or stuffed animal, if he uses a pacifier give him one instead of the bottle. And be firm, do the same routine each time you go in when he wakes up eventually he will console himself and put himself back to sleep.

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

I personally don't agree with the CIO method for my own reasons.

We have 2 kids - one's a great sleeper, the other not so good. I believe most of it is biological - different kids, different sleep habits. We have been consistent with both to bring them into our bed as needed when they awoke because we're both working parents and were driving 150-200 miles/day in their infancies.

Our daughter spent the entire first year in bed with us while I was going through chemo, and she's our great sleeper.

From reading your post, my thought is there is something else going on that the bottle is providing a soothing mechanism for - perhaps teething, ear infection, etc.?

4 moms found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

I.G.

answers from Seattle on

I never did CIO with my daughter and she turned out to be a great sleeper. I nursed her once a night until she was 14 months old and after that she stopped waking at night.
I know a lot of kids in my family and circle of friends, some do CIO, some don't, but NONE of the children regularly slept through the night before they were around a year old... so I do believe it is developmental.

I don't think that your child needs to feed 5-6 times a night at this age, what I always did, was to just hold my daughter and rock her back to sleep when she woke up.
That also helped us in the transition, when we dropped the last midnight feeding.
I always offered (and still do) water at night as well. I know I sometimes wake up thirsty, and all it takes is a sip of water to go back to bed.
I would say hang in there and whatever you choose to do, just stay consistent.
Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.W.

answers from Seattle on

Trying feeding him some cereal before you put him down for bed at night in addition to his bottle or your nursing him. He could be going through a growth spurt and is really hungry. Look at the temperature of his room, try not swaddling him or covering him with as many blankets OR try using more blankets or a blanket sleeper.
Unfortunately, all 3 of my kids slept through the night from age 3 weeks, they went down for the night at 11 (their last nursing) and woke up at 6 so I could nurse before I left for work, down until 8 when Dad woke up, as he worked 4pm to midnite. I demand fed at night and he demand fed expressed milk during the day. Naps in the morning and the afternoon.

Hope this helps. Take good care. I hope you all find sweet dreams soon!!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Seattle on

We are (unfortunately) going through the same thing right now...daughter is 14 months...she has slept through the night at several different periods of her live, but frequent travel and colds messed it up! My son shares a room with her (he is 4.5) and while he will sleep through anything, her screaming wakes me up (we are on a different level of the house) and I don't want her to wake my son up...We have done sleep training by having my husband sleep in my son's bed, my son sleep with me for a week (currently doing it right now) so that my daughter doesn't expect to get fed to comfort from me...which she clearly wants (but does not need in the middle of the night!) It has taken about a week of this in the past for her to get the message...You might try this approach!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.B.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter was the same way. i consulted my dr. and he said "cry it out" method is the only way she'll stop because at this point they now you're at their demand. Once he realizes you are NOT coming, each night he will cry less. I remember how hard it was, believe me it's heartbreaking to hear, and not fun to have to listen to either, but it does work. I know you have the issue of the other son, and I don't know what to tell you there.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Portland on

I agree with the advice that Nancy B. gave below. I have an 8-month old and he has been sleeping through the night (even through two teeth) since around 5-6 months. Prior to that he was waking once a night for a feeding. I had a lot of problems with him waking up more frequently around 3 months and so read the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth which is based solidly on sleep research findings in babies and children. It involves some CIO techniques, but I think it's a great reference to help you understand healthy sleep in babies/children and why they wake up, as well as solutions to sleep problems. I know lots of moms who swear by this book as well. Your baby is still at a reasonable age for incorporating these methods successfully, but don't wait any longer. I used some of the CIO, but found through trial and error that with my son, he will often cry for up to 15 minutes before falling asleep on his own. This is sometimes baby's way of burning off excess energy before falling asleep at night (according to our Gymboree instructor who has owned operated her Gymboree play gym for 20 years, so lots of experience). If my son cries much longer than 15 minutes, it means he needs something. Your baby should not need a middle of the night feeding at his age. He is doing this for comfort and probably because he has gotten used to it. My son has only woken up once and cried for more than 5 minutes since he was 6 months and when I have to go in, I first try to just comfort him by giving him his paci and stroking his hair or rubbing his back. If that doesn't work, pick him up and rock him a little with the paci. Once he is calm, I can set him back down in the crib and he might fuss initially, but then goes to sleep on his own. It is important as Nancy said, to provide very little stimulation and be consistent. Seriously, read the book. Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.J.

answers from Kansas City on

Could he be teething? Infant Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) helped my kids get through the night.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.C.

answers from Anchorage on

This is what worked for me with both of my boys, and how I had them both sleeping through the night at 1 month old. I always put them to bed at the same time every night (8 pm for us), and put them in thier crib awake. If they fussed I would set a timer for 5 minutes, if they were still fussing after 5 was up I would go in and comfort, without picking them up or feeding them. Just rub their back or tummy and talk or sing softly. Once they were calm I would leave, and if they started to fuss I would put another 5 on the timer. Since I started before 1 month it came very natural to them, and I never had to go in more than once, in fact I only had to go in once a handful of times. since your baby is a little older it may take a few days for him to figure out how to self sooth. This method also works well at night. Our Doctor told us that night feedings are not necessary after the first 10 days of life, and that the only reason babies eat at night is because we train them to. When my boys would wake at night I would wait 5 minutes to go in, and I almost never had to go in, they would self sooth and go right back to sleep.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.B.

answers from Toledo on

You can do a modified version of "cry it out". Come in when he cries, lay him down without engaging him, pat him on the back, and shhh him quietly. When he settles down, leave. if he starts up again (and he will), do the same all over. He just has to learn that he's not going to get anything out of it. Start on a Friday so you have a few days to get him used to the idea before you have to get up for work and school. Also, don't give him anything but water if you continue the bottle. Since he's never really had good sleep habits, this will take some time and patience on your part, but don't give up. It will only work if you do it EVERY SINGLE TIME. Good luck.

E.F.

answers from Casper on

If and when you try the cio method, you could put your older child in another room to sleep, or on the couch or put a tent up for him to sleep in until the baby gets better habits. Fans work great for drowning out noise for your older child. Or if you have a room or closet that can fit a pack and play in it, you could put the baby in there just to sleep until he gets good and going back to sleep with out your aiding him. I would just put a sippy of water in with him when you put him in bed That way you know he has access to water if he is truly thirsty and there is no need for you to go in there.
You can do this!
Good luck
E.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.S.

answers from Portland on

I feel for you! My daughter is 6 months old and used to wake up all the time at night. She was on a 3 hour schedule round the clock until recently. I moved her bassinet right by the fish tank so that she has constant sound that doesn't change, but is soothing at the same time. (I have to sleep with a fan on myself). I also use blanket sleepers or sleepsacks because I noticed that she would wake up because she had kicked all the covers off. I snuggle her to sleep and since she's on her side I lay her down in the same position and use a stuffed toy as a substitute for me so she still has something to snuggle. I also feed her fruit and cereal about an hour before bed and then a final bottle when she goes down. This seems to work really well, and she sleeps anywhere from 8-10 hours a night since we started doing all of this. I would move the baby away if possible for a little while so that he doesn't wake up his brother. The other thing I would suggest is lighting. Does he have enough? Too much? I hope this helps...Good Luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.L.

answers from Seattle on

He's probably not ready to sleep through the night yet. Could you move him into your room so your older boy doesn't get woken? Could you preemptively wake him and offer a bottle before he wakes asking for it?

If you're not wanting to CIO, Elizabeth Pantley's "No Cry Sleep Solution" might have some suggestions. Also, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child but I don't remember who that's by.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions