Bedtime Issues

My youngest would go through a can and a half a day of formula. I added a little baby cereal to his nightly bottle. That worked perfectly. You have to realize some babies eat way more than other babies.

I have to totally disagree with your other responses. At 4 months, it is not necessary to put cereal in the milk. Also, it has been proven that sleep habits (waking and sleeping schedules) have nothing to do with how hungry a baby is. Case in point, a baby that is in intensive care receiving food through a tube has the same sleep pattern as does a baby that is breast or bottle fed. I highly recommend that you get the book, "healthy sleep habits, happy child. " By Dr. Marc Weissbluth. Every parent should read it.
My guess is that your daughter's sleep schedule is way off, probably taking naps at the wrong time or going to bed at the wrong time for natural circadian rhythms. She may be overtired and that is why she is having a hard time falling asleep. Babies know how much they need to eat, but they need to learn how to sleep properly. Good luck!
R.
PS. Be thankful that she's not crying for 2 hours when you put her down!!

When my son did a similar thing I upped his feedings and did the same routine every night....which was not letting him nap 2-3 hrs before bedtime....turning the lights down low when it was close for him to go to sleep. Fed him, gave him a bath (every night since he was 3 mnths old) then put him in his crib wide awake so he would learn how to get himself to sleep. I also went out and bought a little bird mobile from fisher price that attaches to the side of the crib. It stays on for 8 mins and it has music and low lights and it also plays a show on the ceiling when the lights are out. It has helped Jack tremendiously.....give it a try. Wear her out before bed by playing....then get her on a routine and stick to it. Good luck....

I have a 4 month old too.. I think that sometimes their sleeping habits just change every now and then.

If she's not upset, I would just leave her in her crib until she fell asleep.

My baby usually has a bottle and then stays awake for 1 1/2-2 hours and then goes to bed. (It's easier on their tummies to keep them up a little longer after you feed them anyhow).

Maybe just put an unbreakable mirror or other crib toy in her crib and let her play quietly in there until she falls asleep.

You could try letting her eat a 8oz. bottle but it may just be her sleep habits have changed. My neighbors child hasn't taken more than a 1hr. nap in an entire day since about 3mos. old. It doesn't matter what she does the baby just isn't sleepy and just won't nap it's just that way that baby is.. Of course the baby gets a good night sleep at night so they're not worried it's just really hard to get anything done during the day. The baby is now 11mos. old and still will only take a one hour nap the entire day.

I know that every baby is different and I had to learn that in many ways with my son when it came to advice. I had a 9 pound baby so right off the bat he was a hungry little boy. My girlfriend told me that she was feeding her son cereal and since its a great filler, I added an ounce of it in his bedtime bottle. Once I did that, it filled him for the night and he slept through it. Obviously she will need to get use to the digestive part of it since it is a solid, but that only takes a day or too. My son is almost 7 mo. and I still put cereal in his milk. Good luck!

feed her a little more at bedtime.. i had to do that with my son.. hes a big boy. and needed more to sleep. he till does..lol.. hes 4 and at 52 pounds.. so try to feed her more..
she will let you know if she dont want more.. some people aint to fond of putting ceral in the bottles but you could try that to.. good luck

First of all you are so blessed. My son didn't sleep through the night till he was one year and even now at 14 months he sleeps 6-7 hours and is ready to go. How lucky are you?!!! But my pediatrician told me that at night you should let the child drink half of her formula or breast milk, then give her some infant rice cereal then finish the bottle/breast milk. It did help my son minimally but I have friends who said it really helped. I hope this helps you a little.

I have a 9 month old little boy and at about 4-5 months I noticed that he was not sleeping as long and his naps were shorter. A bigger bottle might help. I also try not to let him nap in the early evening hours so that he is ready when it is time for bed. Some add cereal to bottles. I tryed it but with the bottles we use it would not come out of the nipple and I barly put any in. If you haven't started cereal yet maybe try that.

I think you are right. I have a 4 month old as well (DOB 5/6/06) and she hasnt shown those signs. But at about this age, they start to crave more food, I think she is ready to start solids. I would add some cereal to her formula at night and even start spoon feeding cereal to her one meal a day. But other than that, I wouldnt worry about it. It is great practice for her to learn to put herself to sleep. Good luck at the Doctor!

Hi K.,
I have a 6 mo old baby girl and she sleeps well from 8pm until 6:30am. She has been doing this since about 12 weeks old now. We read and implemented this book called "Becoming Babywise"...I forget the author and I know it's a little controversial but it really worked for us. We have a very happy and healthy little girl and I believe a lot is to do with implementing that schedule in the book.

Good luck!