Help with Nightime Routine

Co-sleeping is great if it works for everyone, but if it doesn't, then you have to transition him to his own crib. I know you say it is the only way that you get any sleep, and that in his crib he wakes up more, but it is a matter of training, so expect a few more sleepless nights. Are you sure he is nursing because he is hungry, or does he just want comfort? Find antoher way to comfort him, gently rubbing his back, tummy, soft sounds. Use the lowest light possible, take him out only to change him, then put him right back. Yes, he will fuss, but then he will find his own way to comfort himself back to sleep. I wonder if he is now teething, that keeps them up more than anything else. You could try some tylenol to see if that helps. Please put your health first, because you are the center of your family, and can only sacrifice so much before the whole family suffers. Hang in there.

babies do this.. he might be starting teethe or crawl or some other big developmental step..

they will sleep fine for a while then they will change their pattern and it will be crazy..

I slept with my kids until they were 6 months old.. then they moved down the hall to the crib in their own room and I slept better they still got up once or twice a night as is normal for breast fed babies... my son got up at 5 or 6 am for a nursing snack until he was well over a year..

so I suggest getting the baby out of yuour bed and maybe he will either not wake up or he will wake up and put himself back to sleep and you wont hear his little noises..

Hi K.,
I can tell you that you are not alone. My baby just turned 1 and she is still nursing in the middle of the night. My first daughter nursed until she was about 14 months old and she would nurse in the middle of the night as well. Different moms told me that they were not eating enought during the day, so I changed that as well ~ did not work. I feed my daughter cereal between 9 and 9:30 and she still is up around midnight to nurse + 2 additional feedings in the middle of the night. Some one suggested feeding the baby formula at bed time. I have a few friends that tried this and it worked.

I know it is difficult running on little sleep. I do not lay with my baby to feed due to a fear of smothering her, so I always sit up for feedings. This may be a way to get the baby out of your bed. The baby is going to get used to sleeping with you and you will have a difficult time getting him out of your bed.

Cereal really doens't help them sleep better at night. But at 5 mos he probably can use the extra food.

I would put him to sleep in his crib. If he wakes to nurse...nurse him and put him back to sleep. He should be able to make it through the night without eating now. He is probably used to the comfort that the nursing provides.