Getting 6 Mo. Old Back to Sleep in Middle of Night

Updated on February 21, 2008
A.B. asks from Castella, CA
4 answers

My 6 month old son usually wakes up once or twice in the middle of the night for a feeding. My problem is that it usually takes me 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get him to fall back asleep. I change his diaper, feed him and then put him back in his crib. I do not turn on any lights or talk to him. I would just let him cry it out, but his crib is in our room while we remodel his room and my husband works long hours and has to get up early in the morning, so as soon as my son starts to cry, I am over there. He does use a pacifier and a lot of the time it has fallen out of his mouth and he can't get it back in. I am getting out of bed over 30 times just to keep him quiet until he falls back asleep. Any suggestions would be grateful.

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J.C.

answers from San Francisco on

Oh A....I feel your pain. I was still getting up one to three times a night to "find" a paci for my 15 mo old. till this past month.

Did his crying and increase in restlessness start about the same time as the remodel? When you move a baby’s bed, even moving the crib from one side of the room to the other it can disturb their sleep for a few nights till they get use to waking up and seeing a different view.

I am sure you have tried just giving back that paci…if he won’t take it try having a spare one tucked in your bra, and give him that one instead. He may not take the original one because it is cold…ewwe…Make sure everything else is the same in his crib that was there when his bed was in him own room. You can also try staying next to him and rubbing his back till he falls asleep. Talk to him softly too and tell him it’s okay to go back to sleep and repeat nigh-nigh-time so he knows it is still bed time. He may think since you are there still in the room that it is time to get up and play. I also found that an aquarium helped too. http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Ocean-Wonders-Aquarium... It seemed to calm her crying and relax her as well as take her focus off of me and where she was. My three year old still uses hers. It’s nice and soothing for dad too <grin>. Of course my husband actually started sleeping through the screaming and crying after a few nights. This is a partnership and you should not feel stressed out because the baby is changing or like you are not living up to your end of the "deal"! He may have to move to the couch for a few nights till things are settled or back to normal. You all need to get your rest no matter where you work...inside or outside the home.

Let me know how it goes! Good luck.

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A.H.

answers from San Francisco on

I'm an old-fashioned mom. My grandmother, mother, and myself have done the same and this technique is full-proof. A few spoons of cereal in a warm bottle fills the tummy and gives them the sensation like an adult would have after Thanksgiving Dinner. He'll sleep til the cows come home. I PROMISE! Good Luck!

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G.M.

answers from San Francisco on

I used to 'dream feed' my child so he wouldn't wake up in the middle of the night hungry. If he did, I'd change his diaper, and do the pick up put down method. Good ideas from Tracy Hogg's book the Baby Whisperer. My son started sleeping through the night at 2 months-- 5 hours. gradually increasing his night time sleeping to now 12 hours. He is 11 months old.

Good Luck!

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S.N.

answers from Fresno on

Unless he really needs to be changed, try to feed him as fast as possible and in the dark.If he never really wakes up, then getting him to sleep is alot easier (at leaste that's what works for my 8 month old). I realize that all babies are different, but maybe getting him somethig to eat a.s.a.p and putting him back down a.s.a.p will work for you!!! Good luck

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