Our 7 (Almost 8) mo. old previously slept 8 PM to 8 AM with little interruption. Within the past month, I have stopped breastfeeding. He never settled into a great bottle/solid schedule and then he started teething. He began waking up at night, refusing to eat, refusing to nap and becoming very cranky during the day. His bottom two teeth came in last week, but he's still not eating like I would like him to and waking up at 3:30 AM like clockwork. Sometimes he doesn't want his bedtime bottle and only takes half, whereas before he would take the entire thing in a blink. We've tried motrin and teething tablets - but neither seem to work now that his teeth are here. We end up giving him a bottle to get him back to sleep, but now that is making me concerned that he's not "tanking up" at night before bed because he's getting a middle-of-the-night bottle. Any suggestions???
I love Tracy Hogg, she has the book called The Baby Whisperer. I think you may have to start from scratch and come up with a system and stick to it that teaches him how to sleep for real long term relief.
Blessings,
Amanda
If you think the reason for his original wakings (teething) has past and now he's just gotten into it as a habit and because of the bottle, then you should work to stop it. Make sure you've ruled out other causes though like ear infection, room too cold or too hot, etc. If it's just habit you've got to go back to "getting to sleep through the night 101" I didn't successfully sleep through the night until my youngest was 8 mths old so you're ahead of me in that point. Anyway, stop giving the bottle when he wakes, go in comfort him, try not to pick him up, rub his back etc. Gradually decrease the time you stay in there. You've reinforced the waking habit by offering the bottle now you need to reinforce the going back to sleep/staying asleep habit by not.
My daughter did this when she was sick and we'd feed her a little to help keep her fever down & hydrated. To get out of that routine, we started giving her watered down juice; she went back to sleeping through the night after two nights of getting juice instead of formula.
I'm so sorry for what you are going through. My son only had a few nights liuke that then I resorted to giving him apples and cin oatmeal or a pc of cheese at night. I also stoped the bottle before his teeth came in. He still has is "Passy" and that helps with the sleeping. I read and watched the video " the happiest baby on the Block" and "Babywise". One rule I have always followed is once he is in bed I just rub his back until he falls asleep ( unless he is sick or really upset). Both books tell you the best thing you can teach a child is how to sleep. Good luch it will pass.
Hi D.,
It sounds like you're in the middle of an avalanche effect. The teething could have made the bottle uncomfortable, which caused him to take less before bed, causing him to wake up in the middle of the night, along with the teething discomfort bringing him out of sleep more easily. Feeding him in the middle of the night could have caused him to reset his hunger schedule.Getting a feeding in the middle of the night could cause him to be less inclined to take his feeding during the day, which would interrupt his napping. Of course, his discomfort or dislike could also be caused by incompatability with the formula you're using. Not napping would explain the crankiness in the middle of the day. I would address any possible formula problems first by trying a different kind or brand during the daytime feedings to see if he takes them more readily. Once I found the best fit, I would tank him up before bed, even giving cereal then, too. Once I knew he was well fed then, I would take away that middle of the night feeding. It typically takes 3 or 4 days/events to establish a pattern, so be prepared for him to cry a little for 3 or 4 nights until his body gets used to that pattern. I used a pacifier before the babies got upset (waking themselves up further), but kept them in the crib so they would slip back to sleep. Even the habit of sucking can be part of that routine. Once he gets used to sleeping through the night again, he will most likely take more formula during his day feedings, and settle into his nap(s) more easily. Again, be prepared for a bit of crying (I allowed 15 minutes) for 3 or 4 days before that daytime schedule is reestablished. That should restore his contentment and happy disposition. Hope this helps.
I would blame the majority of the sleep interruption on teeth. Not only is he getting used to these new hard things in his mouth constantly, he's got more on the way. Even though they're not showing yet, they're still getting ready to come in and can cause discomfort. This is just a phase with the first few teeth that come in. As soon as he's more used to the sensation, he'll sleep much better.
I have an 8 month old daughter that is doing the same thing... I am not sure what the deal is, but I can completely understand what you are going thru. Even though they say NOT to feed them - I always nurse her because we have got to SLEEP! Hang in there - time will fly and he will soon be sleeping thru the night again - at least we both hope that! L.
I remember mine doing that about that age because of her teeth. I guess it feels to him like it would to you if you were to wake up with a splitting head ache... it hurts enough to wake you up, hard to go back to sleep, you don't feel like eating when your head is hurting really bad and then you eventually feel hungry yet you don't want to eat so that adds to it. He may hurt so bad he feels a little nauseus and that makes him cranky along with not getting enough sleep. You know how you feel when you feel that way... you aren't so excited to be a part of anything then either..... that is the way that the babies are feeling also. It affects some babies worse than others. As far as my suggestion. We did just exactly what you said you did. There were just a few months in there that I had to just suck it up and do whatever I had to do to sooth her. After the teeth pop up, it usually gets better till the next ones start coming in and then it is like a ditto of what you just went through. Just be as patient as you can be. Keep doing all that you can do for him: gel,teething tabs, tylenol, finger massage, cuddling, walking/pacing... it will be over faster than you imagined and he will love you for being kind and helpful and understanding with him.
It is just one of those "mamma" things that don't last a life time... Thank Goodness.
I guess if there is one thing that is comforting is that everyone else has gone through it and survived. Support is a wonderful thing.
Good luck.
