My dilemma is that our 14 week old baby girl is all of a sudden up every 2-3 hours at night. Up until now she was sleeping 6-8 hours straight. The last two nights I have let her cry herself back to sleep the first time she woke up then fed her at about 4am. My dh thinks she is too young and that I am confusing her. I think if she could sleep 6-8 hours straight at a month old, then she is surely capable of it now. Also when she cries, it's not her frantic hungry cry. I call it her fake cry, because you can tell it's forced. I feel like it's just a phase and if I do what she wants it will become a habit for her and she will expect it. I don't know if it matters but I breastfeed and she weighs 14lbs! Any advice would be great!
No, I agree w/ Angela S, to many factors this early on can be the cause for a once good sleeper to be waking up, hunger most likely. Babies this young are incapacble of manipulating there parents, so although you think her cry is "fake" the initial reason she started isn't. Most books and Dr don't let babies CIO until at least 12 months old. Sorry I know that isn't what you wanted to hear.
My son is almost three months old and has started doing the same thing. For the last five nights he has been waking up every 1.5 to 2 hours. They go through a growth spurt around this age, so I assumed that is what it is... I don't agree with "crying it out" at this age. Crying is the only way they can communicate, so whether she is just being ornery or really needs something, she is trying to tell you!!!
She is too young. She may be going through a growth spurt or something. She is still learning to trust and it's not a good Idea to let her cry it out yet. My daughter slept through the night until she was 4mo., now shw akes at 3 and goes back to bed. This too shall pass, but you need to attend to her when she calls.
Hi J., My 5 month old 10+ pound baby is sleeping through the night most nights. She is breastfed as well, so your baby surely should be fine. I'm reading a book called "Solve your child's sleep problems" by Ferber. I picked it up at my local library, it might give you some reassurance and better sleep!
Blessings,
M. A
I'm going to agree with ML. It's probably a growth spurt where she needs extra food. Also, did she just start rolling over? Babies often wake up at night when they are learning new skills. I think 3 months is too young to cry it out, especially if she's really hungry. If she's really not hungry, you should at least go soothe her for a bit to reassure you that you are/will be there when she really needs you and then let her cry.
she's not too young. We had the same probably with my daughter at 9 weeks and I was already back at work and EXHAUSTED, so we let her cry it out then. Took her about 3 nights to get out of her little night waking habit. Good luck!
Hugs! It must be hard to go from 6-8 straight hours of sleep to waking up every few hours. I agree with the PPs that it is probably a growth spurt. Also, sleep habits can change over time. A great sleeper can morph in to a bad sleeper and vice versa. I would just take it day by day and respond to your baby's needs. I agree with Darci (and your DH) in that a 3 month old baby is too young to be left to CIO. I strongly believe that no baby under 12 months should be left to CIO. Please don't take this as judgement or anything, it is just my opinion. They cry to communicate their needs and we encourage their trust by responding to their cries.
Can you ask your DH to help with some of the night wakings until things smooth out? Also, try taking a look at the No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. She offers great advice for solving sleep problems without CIO.
Good luck. I know it is hard! My LO didn't sleep through the night until she was a year old!
She is to young to let her cry it out. I am very surprised that as a bf babie she was sleeping 6-8 hrs at a month. She is probably going through a growing spurt and needs that feeding at night. Maybe she is teething? I am sure with 5 children this is very tiring getting up at night, but I don't believe that at 3 months she has the cognative ability to manipulate you.
You cannot expect a 3 mos old to sleep all night! If she did it at a month, you WERE VERY lucky. She cannot go that long without feeding either as she may be going through a growth spurt. Some kids sleep through the night sooner then others, but mostly at that age they need to be acknowledged if they cry, changed, feed and loved in the middle of the night. I didn't even consider crying it out until my kids were close to 10 mos to 1 year of age.
You can wait about five minutes before responding but if she starts getting more upset, go to her.
My son had slept for four hours at a time at night until about the same time and I became so sleep deprived, it takes me a long time to go back to sleep, that I did end up letting him cry it out. I only did it the first time that he did it at night until he got used to it and then started doing it until about 5 am so that he slept through most at the night at least. He now is almost two and he still wakes up at 5 sometimes but then there are many mornings that he doesn't get up until almost 9 when he's ready to be up for the day.
It worked really well for me but you need to do what you feel is best for you and your baby, both of you not just your baby because if your too worn out from a long night to take care of her the next day then getting up every time doesn't help either one of you.
Good luck, I know this isn't easy.
No, I think that crying it out is for older babies--about 7 months and up. Before that, they are just too young, and they still really need you when they cry. She might be going through a growth spurt or something and may be hungry, or she may be scared or need comfort. I know it is frustrating, but hang in there!
she could be going through a growth spirt and is more hungry now. they happen at 3,6,and 9 months just a thought
