Sleepless Nights - Hollywood,FL

You poor thing you sound totally overwhelmed and I can totally relate. When my daughter was b/t 5/6 months I had the same problem and I was miserable. My sister-in-law (mother of 3) came to town and said breastfeed her at night out in living room or wherever with all the noise still is so she does not fall asleep while on the breast and then put her down in the crib while awake. And yes, this is the extremely hard part let her cry, but go in every 5mins, to let him know you are still there. Gradually increase the intervals of time b/t going in. Actually, better if you let Daddy do that part. Also, it's great if you have just 1 item that the baby associates with sleep and only give it to him in the crib to help sooth him to sleep. Good luck!!!

Wow! You just described my son ~ I can relate. My son will only take breastmilk ~ no formula, nothing in a bottle! He will take juice from a sippy cup only and eats only big people food ~ no baby foods since he was 6 months old. He stopped taking a pacifier when he was about 5 or 6 months old AND by the age of 5 1/2 months old he had 4 teeth!! The best advise that a friend gave me was "don't be afraid to yell if and when he bites down". I can only remember 3 times that he bit down, tears filled my eyes and I yelled out in pain ~ he doesn't do that anymore. Thanks to orajel & hyland's teething tablets. He now has 8 teeth and is 10 months old and yes, I still breastfeed him.

Our peds doctor suggested given him pediasure instead of milk ~ maybe that would help you. In the beginning, I was able to give him soy formula (have you tried soy formula yet?) with no problem for about 3 months; alternating every couple of feedings. When I started to switch him to milk-based formula he started to reject it.

Another suggestion, put a wet wash cloth in a baggy & place in the fridge till it gets cold. This helps with the pain and swelling; water-filled chew toys chilled and occasionally cold pacifiers help.

I understand if you get frustrated, I DID. When my son was first born and for several months, I breastfeed him every 45 mins/per hour for about 5 to 15 mins. Then had to hold him in an upright position for another 20 mins or so due to his acid reflux. All I can say is my house and everything else waiting until he was on a better schedule. I does get better.

Just be patient,

J. W.
Mom of three (Ages 9, 4 1/2 & 10 mos)

Your son sounds just like my younger daughter (now 10 months) She didn't start sleeping all the way through the night until about 8 months. Until then I always nursed her to get her back to sleep. She also would never take a bottle, we went to a sippy cup for her during the day for juice at about 7 months. She has a little blanket that she always sleeps with as well. At six months she would wake up once or twice almost every night and I would nurse her back to sleep. I just let her take the lead. Now, she she sleeps 11-12 hours without waking at night. She has also weaned herself down to 3 times during the day. Being my second child it was so much less stressful. My advice is to just let your son take the lead. The one big difference is my girl doesn't have any teeth yet, so I don't know how that effects you. If you can try to enjoy the time that you nurse and they are calm and comfortable in your arms, because soon he will be a 2 year old and that's when the "fun" starts.

Maybe your husband can be the one to calm him and put him to sleep if he wakes up. That way your baby won't "smell you" or know that your breast is an option. I'm sure your husband isn't sleeping soundly through all of his wakings so he may as well help so that you all can sleep soundly. Your son may soon catch on that if he wakes up Mommy won't be the one to rescue him.

Funny, when I held my son when I breast fed him he would always look for my/his breast and I loved that feeling of his neediness. But enough with the flashbacks, back to the point. Its like my son with his pacifier. Won't fall asleep without it. I guess that was his security after breastfeeding. I read that pacifiers are actually good for babies and makes them feel secure. You are just not suppose to continue it after a certain time. Honestly, I thought it wasn't a good thing but when I read this article online, It surprised me. Do the research. Honestly, a mom has to be well rested and so does hubby in order to perform well and be the best mommy she can be. Maybe you should try it.

Like another poster, I highly recommend "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer"--- read it all, but right now you need the chapter on Accidental Parenting to undo your mistakes of letting him fall asleep by nursing in the first place. You need to break him of needing your breast as a crutch to fall asleep. It's bad for him and for you. He will be healthier (with more restful sleep as well as less belly aches because he will learn to eat only when he is hungry) and you will be happier with a better night's sleep (and when momma is happy, everybody is happy!!)

Oh even when my son was sleeping through the night--teething would always wake him..
So, first recommendation from me, if you are not already, is giving him some baby Motrin before you put him down--he's old enough and it lasts longer than baby Tylenol.
Second, would be to get him off the breast at night--he doesn't need the BM for nourishment at this age--and can sleep through the night. He will also nurse better during the day and sleep better at night and during naps if you stop nursing him at night. I know, not an easy task and it probably seems daunting.
I don't think there is a one day solution to your problem, nor can one snippet of advice "fix" it, so I'm going to recommend that you get a book that was so valuable to me and many other moms I know:
http://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Baby-Whisperer-Connect-Comm...
The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg
Read it-it's all about how to get your baby to sleep not just through the night but also take good naps during the day's about knowing when to comfort your child and how to teach them how to comfort themselves...Breastfeeding or not....it really works. I used it and every mom that I know that has used it has a child that takes regular naps and sleeps through the night (I'm talking 11-12 hours). Some of us where BFers, some bottle, some both, my friend's child truly had colic--all babies now sleep 11-12 hour nights. (My son is now 2). 6 months is not too late to start either.
of course, he won't be sleeping this long immediately, but if you follow her plan he will start sleeping longer and you will see true progress in just a few days...
Just think, he will be less crankier and so will you if you are both able to sleep through the night...
Good luck!

hello, I had the exact same problem with my 1st baby.. it really is difficult, but the only thing I found that worked was actually letting her cry a little bit.
I was totally against that option, but my husband and I were exchanging our sanity to spare my daughter a few tears that she would be sure to forget.. and when you looked at it that way, it wasn't really that big of a deal to let her cry a little.
And by all means, I don't believe in abandoning the baby in his crib and shutting the door, but get into a good bedtime routine (bath, book, nurse, rock and lay down) the baby should be drowsy but awake when you lay him down, so he gets used to the routine and understands why he's in his crib when he wakes up.
then you lay him down and when he cries, just pat his back or rub his belly, or hold his hand, whatever.. and I've found that singing helps A LOT!!!
anyway, and the trick is that once you lay him down, you don't pick him up again. after a few days they start to understand with the routine that after the nursing and rocking comes sleepy time, and before you know it you'll just lay him down and he'll roll on his side and go to sleep.
the first few days are REALLY tough, believe me, you are not alone, listening to your baby cry is horrible, especially when it's your first baby, and your instincts tell you to pick him up, but there comes a time when we have to place limits on how much of our lives we allow the baby to control!!
I hope this advice has helped you. good luck!!

I know it's "controversial" but co-sleeping saved my sanity. I've been sleeping with Bella pretty much from the second she was born. She slept in her little crib in the hospital (in my room) but more often than not, fell asleep on my chest. When I got home, I didn't have the strength (C-section) to keep getting up and down with her. Her father and I lived apart the first four months (not our choice, lease regulations) so I was pretty much the only one around to take care of her. I'm able to sleep through 99% of the night, only waking once or twice to nurse her when she squirms close and gets hungry. She refuses a bottle of anything, and won't even think of a sippy cup. She's had her bottom teeth for 2 months, and her top one's are coming in. She's almost 7 months old.
If it makes you feel any better, the first teeth to come in are the worst.
And please don't think about "should be weaning him" as a set deadline. The AAP suggests breast feeding through their first birthday, turning 1 doesn't suddenly force them off the breast.
Good luck.

I soooo suggest co-sleeping, it saved my sanity! Breastfeeding was a lifesaver, I learned how to lay down and nurse, then both of us never had to wake all the way up to fed. Good luck, it does get easier.

I breastfed my little boy till he was about 7 months, just after he got his teeth and was 'trying them out' on me.....I know all parenting guides tell you not to put the baby in bed w/ you but after doing it with my other 2 kids, you KNOW when the baby is there! Anyhow, my breast was his pacifier through the night...it might sound strange, but if you can just lie on your side and offer the little one a drink through the night, you both can go right back to sleep. It was fool proof for me! And when you start giving him a bottle let me suggest the Advent it is so much like a breast, they really do not see a difference, it makes the transition a little easier