Sleeping Advice - Ellsworth AFB,SD

It is possible that you daughter may be teething. Have you tried the teething tablets, they are available at walmart and the Base Exchange. They are all homeopathic, so they aren't dangerous. She could also be going through a growth spurt, which I don't think there is much you can do for that, maybe give some motrin or tylenol a lil while before you put her to bed. Another reason for sleeplessness like that is an ear infection, but if this has been going on for a month or longer I doubt it is an ear infection. She would be showing other symptoms.

C.,
We had similar problems with our daughter at 3-4months. Everyone kept telling me having a bedtime routine was important, so I tried A MILLION different things. Now, my daughter goes to sleep between 8-8:30 with little to no problem. She gets a bath everyone other night then I feed her then let her lay on the floor or put her in the swing for about 30 minutes (just to let her relax a bit). Then I will take her to her room and rock her while lullaby music is playing, this way she knows its bedtime. We have now gotten to the point where I can rock her for a few minutes then lay her down while she is still awake but drowsy. Every baby is different so this may not work for you. I remember trying so many things and getting frustrated when and if they didn't work but you have to give her some time to learn the routine. She might be going through a growth spurt which could cause her to be hungry more often. Over time she will get into a much better sleeping pattern. Good luck!

It could be she has an ear infection. Most kids won't sleep easily when they have that. I'd get it checked. Other than that, she may just be going through a phase of wanting to be held. Have you tried swaddling her so she doesn't move and wake herslef up. Maybe she'll be happier on her stomach or side instead of her back. I know the doctors say not too but both of my boys slept better when I put them on their stomach. Good Luck!!!! I hope this helps.

Have you tried giving her a nice lavendar scented bath before bed? That always helped my babies sleep better. Just an idea.

Hey C.
Is your daughter cutting teeth? I know it is early but my daughter started getting her teeth at around 4 1/2 months.
And one thing you might want to try although it is hard, is letting her cry for a few minutes. If you know she isn't running a fever just let her cry for about 10 mins. It sounds like she has just devloped a bad habbit. As mothers we want to run to our babies at the first sound but it is ok to let them cry. I had to let my daughter who is five now cry about 20 mins until she broke the cycle. I know that sounds harsh, it was heart breaking. But Today she goes to bed just fine and she is not damaged for it! Good luck.

Hi C.!
Boy - aren't 4 month old's fun sometimes? NOT! My youngest is 4.5 months old, and I am dealing with the same thing. I am on another parenting-type board, and they refer to this as "the wakeful 4 month old". Both of my boys have gone through this at this age. Honestly, I think that they have just figured out that it's more fun to be awake and be around where the action is. But the thing is that their little bodies can't take all the excitement. I also think that it could be due to teething ... not that they are necessarily in pain, just that it's something new that they are feeling and it's keeping them awake. Growth spurt? Probably that too. See, they have sooooooo much going on right now no wonder they can't settle! One thing that I can say though is that it will pass - trust me. It seems to last forever because you just got to the point where you thought the 4 month old would sleep through the night and all of a sudden (like mine last night) they are up twice a night to eat again! Makes me want to pull my hair out! It doesn't last forever. Try to enjoy it if you possibly can though because soon they won't be babies anymore...they'll be toddlers...then going to school, etc.

I know what it is like to be a military wife and doing it on your own. Not fun! There are things you can try - she is most probably on a growth spurt. Remember they can ONLY grow in their sleep and she could be teething. So what I suggest is a couple of things, tylenol. If you prefer natural like I do, Hylands makes teething tablets and colic tablets. I use the colic tablets for growing pains too. you can get them at Walmart and Target and both of them will order them for you if they are out. They dissolve instantly. Babies cry for a reason so don't let people tell you to let her cry it out. You will figure her out and this will pass and you both will be back to sleep. Love her name :)

C.-
Since she is only 4 months the waking up could be due to almost anything. She could be having a growth spurt, beginning to get teeth, be hungry or thirsty or even be starting to need less sleep. Things change all the time my 16 month old still wakes up at least once a night. She's still not that old and there are always sleep issues with children, I would wait until she is past a year to start worrying about sleep. Also since you are a SAHM with no other kids you need to catch a nap with her. That will make the sleep interuptions easiers.
Brekka