Awake at Night-7month Old

Try soothing him without picking him up. Rub his tummy or back and shhhhhh's him. The more you distrupt him the harder it will be for him to learn to do this on his own. But leave him in the crib. My daughter does this too. All I have to do is go in, replace the binky turn her music back on and leave the room. I play soothing music in my kids rooms while they sleep, if they wake it helps them get back to sleep very quickly. Lullabies and classical. It helps set the mood for sleep. So I'd start doing that maybe, this way when he hears the music he will know where he is. And he can start to learn to sooth himself, which is your goal.

Hi T.,

I agree with the other 2 moms who responded. Try not to pick him up. I know it's hard not to! Have you tried a nightlight and a sound machine? We've gone through the same issues, and it works itself out eventually. The nightlight and sound machine really helped out, though.

Good luck!

Hi T.,

The same thing happenned to me at around 7-8 months with one of my boys (have twins). It was a rough time - I understand. If he has a clean bill of health (no ear infection, flu, etc) then I would just go in and pat his back, tell him it is okay and leave the room. For me, I couldn't even do that because if he saw me it made him ten times worse and he started sceaming out of control. It would break my heart but eventually by me not going in his crying got less and less each nnight. Unfortunately we went through this for about a month. I also keep anight light on for him and a sound machine that plays light lullabies (as well as a white noise in the background).

Also, it could be teething. I used to give some motrin or tylenol and teething tablets when necessary.

Good Luck

Dear T.,
I don't think going in and picking him up is a bad thing!! He's a tiny baby and is doubling in size, tripling in skills, probably starting to crawl and maybe even talk, and he's barely finished gestating (9 months in the womb, 9 months out). Often they practice what they learned in the middle of the night. Could be dreams, could be he's just "too excited to sleep". When he wakes up, try bringing him into bed with you. That way for the rest of the night, you can reach out to him when he fidgets and maybe he'll go right back to sleep. Your instincts say he doesn't know where he is? Put him next to you until he feels safe, and this phase will be over before you know it! PS - my DD - 5 months - has always shared our bed, and I'm so thankful to be able to reach over and try to pop a binkie in her mouth or just put a reassuring arm on her if she thrashes about. Good luck!!

T.,

My daughter was doing something similar also. It took her 2 months to sleep good at night. The she started waking up throughout the night. Then at 4 months old, she started teething and she had a hard time sleeping through the night. Only up until a few weeks ago, she started sleeping through the night. Her first tooth broke through so when that happenned I think she got some relief. Then we had a week of bad nights, and her other tooth broke through. He could be getting his teeth. I also never pick my daughter up in the middle of the night if she is fussing. She has a favorite blankie, and a pacifier, so I give her that if she wakes. Its hard just to let them cry, I know. My husband and I tried that for a few nights and i didn't work for us. And sometimes they just wake up, and its hard for them to put themselves back to sleep. Don't worry, you are not alone. Try some baby oragel at night too, ggod luck!!

Dear T.,

The first thing I would do is have him checked out by your pediatrician. Since you said he is recovering from a cold he may have an ear or throat infection. Sometimes a cold can settle in their ear and the discomfort comes when they are trying to sleep. If there is fluid or congestion it will press on the ear drum when they are lying down. I know this from my daughter she would be up every hour and yet during the day she would be happy and smiling. if the doctor gives him a clean bill of health then I would let him cry it out. Go to him when he wakes up try not to pick him up, maybe rub his back and let him try to fall asleep on his own. If you keep picking him up every hour that is what he will be looking for. Waking up every hour is alot this is why
I think you should have the doctor check him out before you do anything. If he were sick I think you would feel terrible if you made him cry it out. Good luck!!