' MOMMY ALERT" !!! Pt3

Hi L.,
Though I don't have a suggestion I just want to comfort you. My oldest didn't sleep through the night until she was 14 months. I had stopped breastfeeding her at 10 months and she stopped getting bottles at night around 12 months. My 2nd, though little, is still up 3 times a night. Some kids just don't sleep through for a while (or ever).

Good luck!
Kristal

A recent study shows that parents are less happy than non-parents. For all the rewards of being a mom, and they are so precious, the demands are many times greater.

Women who realize before the birth that amazing heroism will be required for a very long stretch of time, and are willing and able to accept that baby will their number one priority for however long it takes, are generally happier with the whole experience of parenthood. And while there are always exceptions in both directions, their kids appear to be the ones who are best adjusted, calmest, and most delighted with being in the world.

I wish there were a gentler way to tell you this, but your son will be able to sleep when his little body and nervous systems allow it. Fiddling with feedings, schedules, etc, might help a bit, but his pattern is his pattern until it changes. That could be next month or in two years.

You'll be tired, a lot. So get whatever support you can, maybe hire a sitter once in awhile if you are able, so you can take the occasional catch-up nap. It will make your next year or so easier and more rewarding. But you'll do better overall, and so will your son, if you just accept the fact that most babies do not sleep well for their first two years. Even after they do for awhile, they go through stages where they simply do not.

Ya-a-a-a-awn …

Get up with him! MOST kids do NOT sleep through the night for quite awhile. The ones who do usually do it because they've had to cry it out..... Which studies have shown is not helpful to the child.

Our son didn't sleep through the night till he was 18 months old!

I don't know why is it that we get so worried that our babies don't sleep through the nite just becasue we miss our shut eye.Give him what he needs kiss him goodnite lay him back down

I have three kids...my first (daughter) slept through the night (a full 9 hours) when she was just 4 weeks old. My second (son) slept through the night after about 4 months. My last (son) slept throug the night when he was 10 months old. Funny thing is that my last child is the best sleeper (napwise as well as at night) out of all three of them! It took 10 months, but it was worth it as he's very easy to put down to sleep! Every baby is different - give it time and he'll sleep through. Good luck!! :)

What does "sleep thru the night" mean to you? (I haven't read parts 1 and 2).

What time go put him to bed? Does he go right to sleep? How many naps during the day? How long are the naps? Babies require a certain amount of sleep per day and that will change when they grow thru growth spurts. Some babies take one nap during the day and sleep longer at night, others take 2 or 3 naps a day.

Do you know why he's waking up? Does he need a diaper change? Is he hungry? Has he had enough sleep and now he just wants to play? Once you notice a pattern, you can make the appropriate changes.

Note: If he's eating stage 2 food, no need for cereal in the bottle. If he's hungry, just feed him some cereal.

Hi L., Your son is still young. You are lucky if he sleeps 5 or 6 hours straight. Sleeping 10-12 hours straight comes much later. Grandma Mary

did you know that the definition of through the night for a baby is 5 hrs? babies sleep when they are ready and no amount of food will change it. just enjoy the middle of the night snuggliness now, b/c when he gets older you'll miss it.

My pedi told me to put water in the bottle at night. Don't put cereal in the bottle he will get used to eating in the middle of the night. He needs to get used to not eating during the night. When he wakes up, you can soothe him with the water and he will get used to not eating and eventually sleep through the night. I think I started with 1/2 formula 1/2 water for a few nights then decreased the amt. of formula until it was just a small amount of water. This technique worked very well. Just check with your pediatrician first, Make sure that it is o.k for your baby to have water.

My baby just started sleeping through the night at 11 months, and she isn't consistent with it. She sleeps through about every third night--the other nights she wakes once and wants to nurse.

It depends on what you're comfortable with. I really don't want to do a strict cry it out thing. I let her cry a little to see if she'll settle back to sleep on her own, but I won't let her cry long, and I don't let her cry hard. I can tell now when she is just fussing/whimpering and when she's REALLY crying and won't go back to sleep on her own.

It will come in time--every baby's different. I think mine is on the later side. Good luck whatever you decide.

My twin boys are nearly 13 months and are just now sleeping through the night consistently. I think the only thing you should do is wait. (Also, the cereal in a bottle is NOT recommended by pediatricians and the APA)

My son is almost 19 months and still doesn't sleep through the night. Your son just might not be a great sleeper. Hope you get some rest soon.

Sometimes they don't figure it out on their own. You may need to do it boot camp style. Put him to bed and don't go back in the room until morning. He'll cry a couple times for about four nights but then he'll sleep. It may sound harsh but they wake up to be with you and eat even though they don't need it. It's a habit. If you can do it you'll be much more rested. I've done it with two babies and it does work. Good luck.