6 Month Old Waking Twice During the Night

Hi M.,
I am not sure if you have yet figured it out...hopefully so. Anyhow, just to relate my daughter, who is my third child is now 10 months old and still wakes up to 4 times a night. We have had a couple of good nights, but literally only a couple. She too cries at night and even cries so hard she vomits. We have tried letting her cry and on a few occasions she cries herself to sleep, but ends up collapsing into the corner of the crib. She can easily cry over 4 hours at night and that is after being awake for 10+ hours. I have just come to the conclusion that all kids go through difficult times, whether it is eating, misbehaving or even sleeping. I have two older boys and one was super easy, the other required some work, but I never could have imagined having a child who does not want to sleep. We do our best and try to be patient and work as a team. We will rock her and fall asleep with her, lay down on the floor next to her, put her in her swing while watching Baby Einstein...anyhow, we do what works for us and allows us to keep functioning. In my opinion there is no right or wrong answer...some things will work, while others fail. You have to just do what you are comfortable with and what works best for you. Good Luck and I would love to hear if you ever figure it out -
A.

Yep. When my son would wake after his long period of sleep I would bring him into our bed and nurse him...then he was free to nibble off and on and I barely had to wake up. Around 12 months we did a night weaning thing and then he just stopped waking at all because he knew he wasn't going to get what he wanted. He's 3 1/2 now and sleeps through the night like a champ.

maybe staying up a hour later than normal for a couple of days and adding a little cereal to the last bottle of the night and lavender lotion for calmness always helps. Jennifer

M.,
Here's the deal. If you and your husband aren't comfortable with letting him cry, then don't torture yourself.

Our first son was colicky and cried ALL the time. I had to let him cry at night sometimes, because I couldn't take anymore of the crying. But, there are cries/moans and there are screams where you know he won't settle himself down. As soon as he hit that point, I was in there.

My second son (now six months) has recently started the night waking. Also, due to a cold at first. He was a GREAT sleeper until then. He's been such an "angel" baby and rarely cries (only when he's tired or hungry) and smiles as much as my first son cried! So, I don't have the heart to let him cry too much in the crib at night. I let him fuss and then me or my husband (we trade nights) will go in and soothe him. Sometimes by holding him, sometimes by a bottle of my milk diluted with water. We always put him in his crib semi-awake and content, though.

At six months, if he's screaming to eat, your little guy may be hitting a growth spurt. If he's eating more during the day and seems like you can't feed him enough - feed him at night. The growth spurt will pass and then you can try to find other ways to soothe him if you want.

It really all depends on what you and your husband are willing to do and how long. Personally, I do believe that if you get your son used to eating around the clock, he will do it until you stop it. But, you have to find your comfort zone.

Good luck.

T.

With my oldest, we tried the cry it out method at night but I couldn't stand to hear her cry like that and worried something might happen to her. I would rock her, nurse her or whatever it took to get her to sleep at nap, bedtime or during the night. She eventually grew out of it and learned how to get herself to sleep on her own. Now with my 2nd one I'm doing the same thing....rocking and/or nursing when needed. You could also try giving him more food during the day or a snack right at bedtime to see if that holds him over through the night. There is nothing wrong with rocking your child during the night if that's what you want to do. You only get one chance to hold, cuddle and snuggle this child at this age. I know it's tiring for you and your husband to get up during the night. I hope this helps. I think babies and children should come with instruction manuals. Until they do, we just have to do what our instincts tell us to do. Good luck!!