5 1/2 Month Old Used to Sleep Well at Night Now up Every 2 Hours
Updated on
February 09, 2010
A.A.
asks from
San Diego, CA
6
answers
My 5 1/2 month old girl has never been a great napper during the day but at night I could count on getting at least 6-7 hours straight out of her, nurse her once and then back to sleep for another 3-4 hours. 3 nights ago I put her to sleep at 7:40 and she slept until 5am. I was so happy for all of us!! The next 2 nights I put her to bed at the same time and after 4 hours she wakes crying and is up every 2 hours for the rest of the night. I can't even put her back in her bed b/c she just cries. She shares a room with our 3 year old son so I can't leave her in there to cry and see if she'll put herself to sleep or she'll wake him up. Any ideas, suggestions?
I read the book The Sleep Sense Program and decided I needed to get my 5 1/2 month old napping in her crib during the day so she'd sleep better at night. So far so good. I always thought I needed to pick her up as soon as she started crying in the middle of the night but instead I let her cry and she put herself back to sleep. The past 4 nights have been great and she's put herself to sleep for every nap too. (although her naps are only 1 hour long each- I don't know how to make her sleep longer) I never thought it would happen. When she does cry she does not wake my 3 year old at all and when he wakes up in the morning and she's still sleeping, he doesn't wake her. He knows she's there and knows to be quiet, it's actually really cute. Thanks for all the suggestions....
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A.M.
answers from
Seattle
on
She is likely going through a growth spurt and needs to wake to eat, I am amazed she goes as long as she has with out eating, mine always nursed most of the night, thankfully we both just slept through it since I have to use my time wisely since I work full time ( with baby in tow) it is hard to nurse alot in the day for long periods of time.
I find that they wake and nurse more frequently near the 6 month mark ( where you are) the 9 month mark near the 12 month mark and again at 15, 18, 21 and 24....they also seem to have a mini growth spurt between each of those.
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M.B.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
Hi A.,
I have a great on-line book that I could forward to you. This book changed my family's life and I hope it could help yours. My email is ____@____.com
M.
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S.H.
answers from
Honolulu
on
At about 6 months, they hit another growth-spurt. Which means their intake needs increases and they typically feed more/more often and get hungry.
or teething.
Or, at this age as well, it is typically a time in which they begin to hit milestones, and change a lot developmentally in their cognitive and motor skills. They may be starting to sit up, or roll over as well etc. Whenever this happens, it can tweak their sleep. It's a phase. Developmental based.
Are you still feeding on demand? This is still recommended for a baby's 1st year. So that their growth-spurt intake needs are keeping up with them.
all the best,
Susan
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C.M.
answers from
St. Louis
on
A.-
My heart goes out to you because i am in a similiar situation. Until about a week ago, I could count on my son to sleep from 7pm-12 or later. He'd still get up a few times between 12-6 am, but I knew those 5 hours he'd sleep.
About a week ago, he started waking up two to three hours after going to bed and is still doing this. He is not a great napper either so I know he's very tired.
He has had runny/stuffy nose along with his hands in his mouth nonstop for at least two weeks. He's been running a slight fever so unfortunately, I do not think there is anything I can do about his waking at the moment (according to ped). As long as he's eating/drinking well, they want me to have him wait it out.
I'd suggest ruling out sick - fever, runny nose, etc. If that seems to be the culprit, give Tylenol every 4-6 hours. Run a humidifier (which is what we are doing)
My son will not stay in his bed after he wakes up either. Even if he falls back asleep and is OUT, he'll wake up when I put him down. He still sleeps in our room but will soon transition to a crib in his sister's room but I'd rather not move him to her room while he's still waking a lot at night.
Could it be teething? Other than Tylenol, there is no remedy for this and until the tooth/teeth break through, she may be waking up. Give Orajel or Hylands Teething Tablets.
I also think around this time babies start to realize what is going on more around them and want to be engaged and included so sometimes when my son wakes up, it seems like he just wants to 'talk' to us and see us!
My husband works nights so when my son wakes up and I can't get him back to sleep (tried the binky, medication, diaper change, feeding him), he'll take him for me and bring him back in once he's asleep. But normally even then I have to pull him into bed with me if he wakes up and we sleep like that for the rest of the night.
Good luck! Just know that you are not in this alone! And this too shall pass!
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T.A.
answers from
Los Angeles
on
She's probably teething or having a growth spurt.
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S.H.
answers from
Hartford
on
I had this same exact experience with my son. I actually liked it because I was having to get up at night to pump because my supply dropped during the day when he didn't nurse at night. The good news is that right around this time (5.5 months), he stopped needing to be burped. Every time he wakes up, I just put him to breast and let him dream feed. He takes longer to nurse because he is half asleep; however, he never really wakes up, so with the occassional help of a pacifier, I just lie him back down to sleep after he stops eating. Sometimes he doesn't even want to nurse, he just falls right back asleep the second I pull him into my lap. The only catch is...you have to catch him before he wakes himself up by crying - hence the benefit of co-sleeping or at least having the crib near your bed.
