My four month old has started something new this past week.....fighting sleep for hours then waking up every hour or two!! He use to sleep 10-12 hours during the night. What happened?!?! It is now 1am and he has finally cried himself to sleep, and we have been at it since 9. The bad thing is right now we are living with my in-laws and we are all stuck in one room. How can I get him to go to bed earlier, not fight it for so long and then stay asleep during the night? Im so tired, I cant think straight....
If you have not started him on foods other than milk that may be a big part of the problem. Feed him a good meal and a nice warm bath and some cuddle time before bed. He may have gotten to the point that he is ready for more to eat. Every child is different on this.
1. He could be going through a growth spurt or could have a food allergy. Could also be teething. My daughter went through all the things I mentioned at 4 months old.
It could be many things, but most assuredly something temporary! Is the living situation new because that would mess up a sleep routine? If not, at that age it could be a growth spurt, teething, or separation anxiety. Once you make sure that he is not in pain (teething, hunger, temperature, etc.) there is nothing wrong with letting him cry to sleep. His bouts of crying should get shorter and shorter, and within a day or so he should sleep through the night again. Babies and young children naturally wake up often throughout the night, and if they get used to a sleep aid to fall back asleep, they will cry until they get it. So if you nurse/bottle feed to sleep, be prepared to do that every few hours. Pacifiers, music, white noise, etc. can also be a sleep crutch. The more his environment can stay the same throughout the night, the better he'll sleep. Good luck!
Waking up 2-3 times a night is pretty common even if they have slept for long stretches in the past - this is especially true during growth spurts.
Is he hungry - are you breastfeeding? Could you have a temporary low milk supply? Is he over-tired (I have found that it is harder to put an over-tired/under-napped baby to bed)? Does he startle himself awake? Two things that I have found really helpful are: swaddling and co-sleeping. Swaddling helps my 5.5 month old sleep sounder (he wakes frequently when unswaddled) and co-sleeping allows me to calm him while I lay next to him.
Is your baby feeling the stress of living with your in laws all in one room and is this something new?
Don't worry it will pass. Take a deep breath and just lay down with him if you need to.
Good luck,
DH
sounds like an ear infection or some problem other than just fighting sleep. espically since the little one isnt staying asleep. good luck.
Ear infecion? That is very painful when they put their head down...so they fight sleep. Eventually they pass out, but once they get a little sleep, the pain wakes them up again. Or teething? Does he have any stuffed up nose or cold symptoms If yes, take him to the pedi. If he is just drooling from maybe teeth, try a little Tylenol? Good luck. Not good for anyone to be that tired.
I agree with Melissa. I have a 5 month old daughter and she did the same thing for a month and a half. It was exhausting. Suggestion would possibly be trying extra warm milk. It might help putting him to sleep.
Good Luck
B
