O.k. Mama's! I've just about had it! :)
Our youngest just turned 8 months old on Monday and for the last two days has decided that 5 am is a good time to wake up for the day! Granted, by 6, he is back down for a two hour nap or so, but I am desperate for some sleep!
He gets cereal, fruit, meat, and veggies in addition to being breastfed. Last night he was up almost every hour and by 2 am I brought him to bed with me, just so I could get "some" sleep! I know why he was awake so often last night as he didn't really nurse very well at all yesterday so he was making it up last night.
My biggest concern is how do any of you mama's out there get your little one to sleep longer-- I'd be happy if it was just an extra hour at this point! :)
His older brother didn't do this, but my husband said that his oldest brother was similar when he was little.
Mama wants some sleep!
Thanks!
Rebecca- to answer your questions - He is breastfed and that is how he falls asleep. Very rarely have I ever gotten him to go to bed drowsy, but awake. It has happened though! He ususally has two naps- one in the morning for about 1-2 hours and the same in the afternoon. He has been going to bed around 8- 8:30 each night. I know something is up when he doesn't nap very much during the day- say only 30 minutes at a time.
It's just been the last two mornings where he is just ready to be up for the day at 5. He's not fussing or anything, more than likely just babbling and playing with his toes etc! :)
How do you get your son to sleep?
How many hours a day nap?
What time does he fall asleep at night?
R. M. - Parenting Consultant & Children's Sleep Specilaist
www.rebeccamichi.com
dont be discouraged nor should you think that you have to change who you are as a mom to "solve" this problem
that elizabeth pantley book no cry sleep solution is a good one. contact a local library or even la leche league to see if you can borrow a copy.
otherwise, its likely a growth spurt. other things it could be are a developmental sleep interruption (crawling, turning over, standing, walking; for some reason this disturbs sleep temporarily) or teething. just keep up the great work being a mama, and trust me, it will be something different in a very short time! one thing is for sure though; sleep is something that you will never sincerely get again, not the way you did before you were pregnant! even when they are grown you will be awake at night wondering about their safety, whether they have food, etc. LOL. so in part, its something to get used to, and to try to work with as best you can.
thanks for breastfeeding! you are doing the very best you can do for your child! way to go!! :):) its just fine you nurse him to sleep; its so beautiful! :) i love it!
I know I had trouble with my little one to in order to get her on a normal sleeping schedule. I can't really remember what I did at 8 months, but this book really helped. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Check out the Barnes and Noble link below. If you click on the "look inside" button you can actually read the book online. This book can also be found at your local library.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/books/product.aspx?ean=9...;
I hope this helps.
L.
Mine was like that. I found if I fed her some milk with some rice cereal before bed she slept longer. Also I learned after trial and error that she wakes up with the sun. If I did not lower her blinds and close the curtains at first peak of the sun showing his face would be my child waking me up saying mommy its morning time.
I have tried all the things the books say, and gotten advice on here, and the way I figure it my kid is just going to be himself. He is 9 months old, and last week, 2 nights in a row, he slept ALL NIGHT! The third night, he was up every 2 hours. For a long time he woke up at 4:30 to come into bed with me, then he woke up earlier and earlier and refused to sleep in his crib until I did Ferber. That has helped a LOT, but it was not like everyone says where it takes 3 days of misery and then he slept through the night. Some nights he's awesome, other nights he cries and cries. My advice is let him cry it out a bit in the middle of night, provided he is not hungry and has a clean diaper. If he's up at 5, just get up and know he'll be back in bed a bit later. It's not worth letting him cry at 5 if he's just going to cry all the way until 6 and then get up anyway! If he sleeps in your bed and doesn't bug you, do it if it gets you some sleep. :) My son pulls my hair when he's next to me which is why I stopped co-sleeping (receding hairline!) I do recommend Ferber though for the 2 hour interval awakenings - he will figure out out to go to sleep in his crib without you being there - just find a funny book to read a few minutes at a time while you are waiting for the crying to stop. ;)
I completely second the recommendation of "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." Seriously. Best book ever. Your son is going to bed way too late at night. He also needs to sleep until 6am--or at least stay in his crib so that he can train his body to sleep until then.
Good luck!
