Toddler 4 Month Old Not Sleeping

I recommend the book Happy Child Healthy Sleep Habits. It has a lot of good advice and different strategies. I personally used the Cry It Out method.. and let him cry for 20 minute increments. It took only 3 nights... he now sleeps very well.
He also takes great naps. I also have an older daughter who has always fought sleep since the time she was a baby .. so I think some kids are sleepers and some are not but I definitely recommend the book.

I read an article on this in American Baby magazine the other day. It says that if you respond to the crying, but keep your interactions brief (15 seconds), then your baby will know you are there, but nighttime is for sleeping. It suggests that when your baby wakes up that you pat the baby on the back, but don't pick him up and bring him to bed with you.
I hope this helps!

S.,
Congratulations on the birth of your son! What an exciting time in your life!
I understand how you're feeling - I was there not too long ago. My twins just turned 1 and I had a horrible time getting a hold of their naps.
My first question to you is: How are his naps during the day? How many naps does he take and for how long? His naps during the day will affect how well he sleeps at night. The more rest he gets during the day, the better he'll sleep at night. I went through a TERRIBLE time with one of my twins. She would not sleep and when she did, it was for 20 minutes. I figured out (eventually) that she was TOO tired and was not able to relax and fall asleep.
I suggest getting one of two books: Baby wise and/or The Baby Whisperer. They both saved my life and helped me get some sleep so I could be a better mom to them during the day.
Please feel free to send me a message if you have any more specific questions. I'm more than happy to help! I feel for ya, sista! ;o)

My little girl started sleeping through the night at 11 weeks. When I say sleeping through the night I mean without waking up to eat. The first few nights she would wake still only for me to put the paci back in her mouth. She was still sleeping in our room in the pack-n-play. I eventually had to let her CIO. When she was 9 mths old I let her CIO, also, to get her to learn to self-sooth to sleep. I wanted her to be able to fall asleep on her own since she had the paci. Oh, and when you go in at night is the room bright? Make it where it's not. I use the airwick night lights. There the plug-ins that have the light. It's not as bright as the cute night lights. When I would go in to put her paci in her mouth I wouldn't smile at all or talk. I thought if she thought this time of night was boring she wouldn't care to get up eventually.

Congratulations on your baby boy! I know exactly how you feel. My husband sleeps through everything so it was all up to me to figure it out. After our first child was 3 months old it was time to go back to work...when I had a J.O.B. (Journey Of the Broke, hee hee.) My nurse suggested the book "On Becoming Baby Wise". I loved it! After just 3 days of using his techniques my little girl was sleeping through the night. I used the same technique for our second and third daughter. I would recommend this book to everyone!

About finding a good opportunity. I am so blessed that I found a career that I can work from home and have the flexibility to work around and with my children since I delivered our second baby. I have been with Mary Kay for 6 years now, a Director for 4 years and loving every minute of it! If you have a consultant I suggest you call her right now and ask to hear about the opportunity. If not, give me a call and I can help you. Being a Director I am a mentor and business coach and would love to share this with you...and no...It’s not just about lipsticks :-)

Blessings on your day and I hope to hear from you soon.
K. ###-###-#### www.marykay.com/kwartell

I don't think 4 months is too young to let him cry it out a little, although I wouldn't let him get hysterical. By about three months they are able to sleep for longer periods and don't need to eat as much - it seems he has already shown you that he can sleep for long periods. If you feel comfortable let him fuss and cry for 10 minutes and then go in his room, but don't pick him up. Reassure him and see how that works (it can often make it worse!!) and then leave again. Keep going in every 10 mins or so. It will take a few days but they do get it.
However, all kids are different. I have two boys and it worked for one and not the other - number 3 is on the way so we'll just have to see how that works out.
Good luck - I hope you start to get more sleep.
K.

That is abour the age I started my son crying it out. I would give him about 10 minutes, then go in a pat his back till he calms down (don't pick him up!), then leave and give him 15 minutes, then 20. It only took him about a week or so to sleep through the night. Sometimes he would wake up early, but most of the time he would sleep from 9pm till 6am after about 4.5 months.
Good luck.

I also have a four month old and I am nursing him so he wakes up more than a bottlefeed baby to eat. I was havng the same problem, he'd eat and then want to play. I started waking him up at around 7pm and playing with him until he is tuckered out. I don't know if that will work for you. If there is a certain time when he sleeps a large spam, like 8 hours; I would wake him and trying and get that time turned around so he does that at night instead. I'm not into the Cry It Out method either. I work from home so I need to sleep at night so I can work during the day. How this helps!

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Ok hang gint here every mom goes through this and every mom has a husband who wont help at night! We all get it, I feel for you cause I knwo you must be exhausted. Go to the book store and there is a paper back book, cheap and an easy one day read, called sleeping through the night by soome DR. not sure of his name but it will help you. I hate the cry it out thing too it goes against everything you are as a new mom! This will help it is the go in there pick up the baby tell him its ok then put him down, it may be like every five minutes but then the second time say nothing just pick him up then put him back down, you can be up all night with this but its one night that is it he will get it. It worked with both of my boys and they did fine, you have to stick to it and not give in no matter how tired you are. Good luck.