Tired

Updated on March 20, 2007
A.B. asks from Waterloo, IA
5 answers

My son is eight months old. He started sleeping through the night when he was four months old. He slept twelve hours, 7p to 7a every night. About a month ago, he started waking up at 6am. Then 5am. Now he wakes up every night at 4am, sometimes 3:30. Most of the time, he takes a bottle and goes back to bed. But sometimes he's wide awake and ready to stay up. He doesn't show any signs of teething or illness. He's getting plenty to eat during the day and gaining weight well, so he shouldn't be too hungry to make it through the night. He's not napping much during the day, so he's not getting too much sleep. We could try putting him to bed later, but he's never been a good napper, so he's so exhausted by bedtime, it would be very difficult to keep him up another hour or two. We've tried letting him cry it out, but he's a very stubborn little boy, and will scream for over an hour. I don't know what to do. I know eventually he'll start sleeping through the night again, but how long is it going to take? Is there anything I can do to help him sleep better?

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K.P.

answers from Phoenix on

Unfortunately, it happens! The same thing happened with my son - however, we remained consistent with what we were doing - with a bedtime routine and all of a sudden he snapped out of it. He goes to bed now at 8:30pm and doesn't wake up until around 9am and takes a nap about 1pm until 3:30 or 4pm. He is also he a great mood most of the time. However, I understand your frustration - I remember my husband and I getting up for hours at a time and he wanted to play and drink bottles - it was ridicilous. However, we chalked it up to growing pains, because nothing was wrong. Good luck - just be patient.

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M.O.

answers from Albuquerque on

Hi A.. I too, definitely recommend sticking to a routine of sorts. I think schedules are just too hard to maintain because life happens every day, and it's hard to plan for everything that occurs. But, when I stuck to a routine with my son everything started falling into place. I highly recommend "The Baby Whisperer" book! I read it, and it changed my life. LOL! Good luck!
- M.

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T.B.

answers from Phoenix on

hi,

i have had troubles with non sleepy children or ones that want to just WAKE UP! lol

but.. i can suggest.. maybe a warm bath before bed time.. that might sooth him.. and making sure he has a fresh clean bottom nothing to hot or not warm enough on him while he is sleeping.. maybe checking the bed to see if there is something that could be bothering him...

other than that.. it might just be him.. and he might just be sleeping and then something startles him and he wakes up...

I have a 6 month old and he like to wake up numberous times in the morning also but usually he will ge back to sleep after getting the bottle in his mouth.. at one point when he was just a few months old.. he would wake up and 7 every morning.. and go to bed at like 11 pm or 12 midnight.. this was before he would officially sleep through the night...

Good luck.. and hopefully that is something that can work...

T.

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D.

answers from Albuquerque on

Be consistent in your attempt to put him back in his crib or leave him in his crib. Don't make the mistake I made at that age by bringing him to your bed. My now 19 month old will not sleep in her crib nor does she want anything to do with a toddler bed. Had I been consistent with her routine, I know she would be sleeping in her own bed. I know it's hard when they cry for an hour straight but eventually they will give up and realize that you are not going to give in. Good luck!

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M.P.

answers from Phoenix on

Hi A. -

Try shifting his schedule just by 15 mins or so every few days...bedtime at 7:15 for 3-4 days, then 7:30, etc. Don't try doing it all at once. It should catch up to him and help him sleep later within a few weeks. Good luck! M.

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