7 Month Old Still Not Sleeping Much

Updated on May 04, 2010
D.B. asks from Orange, CA
12 answers

I am a grandmother of a 7 month old Mom and Baby live with me. Is it normal for them to only sleep at 2 hour intervels and cat nap during the day she rubs her eyes a lot but just won't stay asleep. She is breastfeeding and also eating cereal, fruits and vegtables, she won't take a bottle, she does nurse every 2 to 4 hours along with eating 6 meals a day. At 7 months she is 15 pounds 26 inches long basically a happy baby but won't sleep much. Doctoe says she is very heathy, happy baby just petite. Any suggestions???

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.G.

answers from Los Angeles on

Hi! I work with Shaklee Corporation. I know other Shaklee parents who started to add soy protein to the formula or cereal for more balanced nutrition. Their kids tended to sleep better, seem more satisfied after eating, and typically were less prone to sickness. Avoid GMO soy (genetically modified soy). Shaklee's products and ingredients are all quality tested, to be safe and non-gmo. Over 50 years in business, no Shaklee product or ingredient has ever been removed from the market!

Here's my link for one of the protein products. It can be used in baking, too! Feel free to contact me!
http://sharon4health.myshaklee.com/us/en/products.php?sku...

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

V.L.

answers from Washington DC on

My baby did the same thing until about 7 months...we tried everything! I also was breastfeeding which made it exhausting for me! Here's what finally worked for me: 2-3-4 sleep schedule
7am Wake up, nurse, play, solid food
9am Nap (should eventually be 1 1/2 hours in length, mine would only sleep for 30-45 min for a long time, then one day he started sleeping exactly 1 1/2 hours)
10:30am Wake, nurse, play
12:00pm Solid food, nurse again if hungry
1:30pm Nap #2 (again, should be 1 1/2 hours)
3pm Wake, nurse, play
6pm Solid food
6:30pm nurse
7pm Bedtime

This worked really well for me. I have a 9 month old who still follows this schedule and he is like clockwork now...took about a month to get the hang of it (we started at 6 months). I would also work on putting her down awake so she learns to fall asleep on her own. At 7 months, you can let her cry a little so she can self soothe. If she is rubbing her eyes during the day she is definitely a sleepy baby in desperate need of a steady sleep schedule! Keep breastfeeding (no need to encourage a bottle, sorry for your sleep-deprived daughter), everyone told me starting solids would make my baby sleep better but it didn't do a thing.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.J.

answers from Sacramento on

She's 7 Months old, she should easily go 4 hours w/o eating, & even longer in the night. We put them in the crib when their relaxed & sleepy, but not when their asleep. Don't know if you/she believe in the letting them cry for a bit, but what we do with our babys/toddlers, (we do foster care) rockabye/snuggle time for 15 or so Min to get them relaxed, then place them in the crib when their drowsy, (try to put them in crib at same times everyday) so they kind of develop a since of schedule. We leave the room for 20 Min, let them cry, usually they go to sleep, if after 20 or so Min their still crying, (Not just fussing/talking, but full on crying,) we go back & try rocking them until their relaxed & drowsy, then back in the crib before their actually asleep. Some people don't agree with the CIO method, so whatever methods you try, try to keep her on schedule. Were def. not a strict on schedule on demand type family, but I do notice if we try to put the kids down at the same nap/bed times, it's easier. Wish you success!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I am a mom of 2 a now 7 1/2 year old and a 4 year old (the time goes fast) i remember having to wake every 2-3 hours to nurse and during the day i remember my kiddos sleeping 2-3 naps 3 times a day (when they were little) your grand daughters is a normal healthy baby count your lucky stars, normaly when kidoos rub their eyes could just mean they are ready for a nap (notice her/him) getting cranky or winey that is a good sign of a nap. Also it could mean (he/she) is allergic to something in the house, if the her/his eyes are all red. I see you live in Orange, near me there is a wonderful allergist Dr Yoshi in Costa Mesa, if that is needed.
T.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.F.

answers from Santa Barbara on

Both of our sons only slept for 30 minutes or so 2 times a day. We discovered that they both had reflux and that if they slept on an incline, they would sleep much longer. Another thing that helped was to not nurse them to sleep. I would nurse, then hold them upright for about 20 minutes (that's evidently how long it takes the stomach to empty). This usually resulted in a better sleep. I am not for the cry it out method. I think that when we cry in life we are asking for help. Even if it's as simple as "please help me get to sleep", isn't it great that you can show this person that people are there for one another? All the best of luck to you, your daughter and granddaughter.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from Boise on

It sounds like mom is doing on demand feeding and letting the baby wake and sleep as she wants. As long as that is what she wants to do, it is normal, and will probably continue. The meals seem a bit much, but if the doc isn't worried, I wouldn't be worried either.

It sounds like you are more of a schedule person (as am I), but it is up to mom to make those changes.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from Los Angeles on

That sounds really developmentally normal to me. Have you read this about sleeping through the night?

http://www.kellymom.com/parenting/sleep/sleep.html

Sleeping through the night is a developmental milestone just like walking or talking. You can no more "train" a baby to talk than you can to sleep! :) Additionally, that age in particular is one of incredible discovery and curiosity. She's just so interested in the world around her!

Just remember, as soon as you figure out her pattern, she'll probably change it on you!

Take care, and good for your daughter for keeping up the nursing!

L.1.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

It is normal if you let it be like one Mom stated. Babies thrive on a schedule. It is so much easier to keep the little one happy when they know what is going to happen next. It takes time, but until around 1yo 2 naps a day is pretty common. Mine didn't sleep through the night yet either but usually woke around 2x a night, depended on the time and how tired I was on if I nursed or not. To wean him of the midnight feedings, I just kept putting him back down w/ out nursing until later; eventually he slept through. BUT that was at 12mos! haha, it's up to Mom and how much she can handle really. On another note, 6 meals seems like a lot to me. He has always done, breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner...nursed pretty much on demand still but just depends. If she isnt on finger foods, I would mix in cereal to the puree to thicken it up and get some DEA in it... just an option.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from Las Vegas on

I'm assuming the doctor's checked her ears for infection? That would be my first guess. It is harder to get babies to sleep when they are over tired, though, from my experience.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.A.

answers from Honolulu on

First of all, are you a busy grandma. Second, it's normal for they can catch up but, babies especially need lots of resting compare to adults in order to grow. She is petite because she lacks the rest and constantly stressing her brains which also leads to lack of concentration yet wired up. What you need to do is slow your pace and try watching television with her at 7pm until she falls asleep. Kids tend to follow what there parent do. You are the cause so work on it.

good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.D.

answers from Los Angeles on

At this age u can do CIO (cry it out) i waited til my son was 9 months but then i regretted not doing it sooner..are u familiar with this? there are books like Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child..the first night i did it it took 28 minutes for my son to stop crying and fall asleep..the 2nd night it took 5 minutes..then he started sleeping thru the night..and everyone was much happier..i waited to do that with naps a month later..
it seems mean and its tough..u just want to run in and console them..but you're really doing them a dis-service..my son started sleeping really well..then he started to wake too early..like 4am..so i had to do CIO in the mornings..now he's 4..and he sleeps with me..he used to be a light sleeper and now he's a deep sleeper and sleeps in pretty late..but those 1st 3 years were tough! have her CIO..she doesn't have to do it hardcore at first..like 10 minutes the 1st night then go in..i can't remember the book..there's another book that explains it..i'm sure someone else will suggest it..good luck

xo

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.N.

answers from Las Vegas on

I have a friend with a 7 month old, and her daughter sleeps pretty much the same way. Some babies have difficulties sleeping, I know mine did, he only recently got into a good sleep and nap routine a couple of months ago (he is 20 months old). Since she is rubbing her eyes a lot, but not staying asleep, maybe she is uncomfortable (wet diaper, rough outfit, cold or hot). I know that my son would only sleep in his crib for a little while (no longer than 30 minutes) during the day forever, but then I started putting him down on my bed, and he slept for much longer naps. He also slept better when I slept with him (when he was younger), so I would take a nap with him. When we put some padding in his crib once he got older, he started to sleep a lot better, his bed was just too hard and uncomfortable. Not a solution for you yet since she is still pretty young, but it could be an issue as well. Since she is happy, she is probably getting enough sleep (she will be fussy if she isn't getting enough), you just want to get it to be for longer periods.

When you say she is eating 6 meals a day, do you mean breastmilk, or solids? She should not be eating more than one or two solid meals a day (really small meals, like a tablespoon or two of something). Maybe she isn't getting enough breastmilk because she is filling up on solids, which have a much a lower calorie count in comparison to breastmilk. Also, if she is crawling and very active, she might need more breastmilk, which is why she eats every 2 to 4 hours. My son nursed as often at that age, and probably up to 10 months old. Every baby is different, she might also be trying to go to sleep by nursing, so using the breast for comfort and not just milk, which can be fine.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions