Sleeping Help Needed

We did the ferber at 4.5 months, and it worked. You have to do something very soon, or this will become the norm, and as they get older it will be more difficult to do any sleep training. Read Ferber again, and stick to it if you go with it. There will be relapse, but you just implement it again, no slacking!!! Babies will push the limits, and it's up to you to stay consistent. I think if your child is nursing at night, and truly nursing, then he is hungry and he is not getting enough during the day mainly because he's getting it at night. You have to gradually wean him from night time nursing, and add the amount to the daytime. Though we did the ferber at 4.5 months, my son was taking a bottle at nights till 7 or 8 months and that did not mess up the sleep because he knew once he had his bottle he had to go back to sleep. It was hard for the first three days, but that's all it took and he's almost 4 now and we are very happy we did it. My niece is 4 months older than my son, and they did not do any sleep training and she still have problems. They tried to do ferber at one, but it was too late for her. If you don't set healthy sleep habits soon, the sleep problems will follow for years to come. Be consistent what ever you pick and though you can be a bit flexible later, now is not the time. He'll get it soon enough. good luck

This wasn't mentioned but is it possible he has acid reflux? Many babies who have this cannot sleep especially in a flat position. Or could it be nasal problems? I would consult you pediatrician and also try to elevate his head a bit at night by placing a towel under the side of the matrress he has his head on. The rasied head position often helps with both nasal passage problems and acid reflux.

First, stop letting him use you as his pacifier. Cuz that is all you really are and he is only using you to fall asleep. Give him a binky. And if you know he's not hungry then you really are only a binky to him. Second, stop letting him fall asleep during feedings. If he starts to fall asleep stop nursing and wake him up. He needs to learn that eating time is eating time, and sleeping time is sleeping time, and that there is a difference. Third, time to sleep train him. The sleep habits you create now will work for his whole life, and the better you get a schedule the better off you'll be. I did this with both my kids and their the best sleepers you'll ever see. I started off by getting into pj's and reading a book. Then we would nurse (lights off or on is up to you). And you want to start off putting him in the crib almost asleep, but not quite. Then, every day you want to put him in the crib while he is more and more awake. So that eventually you are putting him in wide awake. Then for my kids I turn on their music (I play soft classical to help them, it helps set the mood). Then lights out. Sometimes my daughter, now 2, will play for a little bit, but as long as she's in her crib and she's quiet I don't mind. But the point is he needs to learn how to make himself fall asleep. You have to teach him. But follow the same routine every night. I did the same thing for nap times, minus the book and the pj's. But if you establish good sleep habits now, everyone in your house will be happy.

Is he eating any solids now or just nursing? The reason I ask is because if you are sure he is not hungry then he shouldn't be getting up to nurse. It sounds like he is using you as a pacifier and this is the only way he knows how to fall asleep. I would cut out night feedings and do the Ferber method again. I did it with both of my kids and it worked. The thing is you can't go back and forth with feedings because it will only confuse him. I would do it on Friday so you have the weekend to catch up on your sleep during the day. I waited until my kids were 1 and it was much more difficult. Good luck I hope you get some sleep soon.