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Sleeping

Just want some feed back on what normal sleeping schedules are for similary aged babies. My son is 7 months old and still wakes up 2-3 times to nurse at night. He has been on cereal and veggie/fruit for dinner and breakfast since he was 4 months to try and keep him full. And about a month ago we added cereal at lunch with yogurt. He is still nursing every 3 hours during the day and we supplement two of the feedings with 6 oz of formula, again to try and keep him full. I try at night to wait before I go in but after about 10 minutes I go in and check. He is usually soiled or hungry. I have tried to rock him back to sleep but he keeps fighting for my breast and at 2 am I give in and give it to him. His longest spurt of sleep is from 730/8'ish until 12/130'ish and then he wakes 1 sometimes 2 times more every 3-5 hours until he is ready to start the day at 6am.

Just wantes some ideas on how to make him sleep longer each spurt. I am filling him up as much as I can during the day but am starting to think the nursing at night is a habit and would like to get to 2 5 hour blocks, which would mean one waking at night. Any ideas?

See also: Sleep, feeding, weaning

Written by Nichole

Posted on 07/14/2008

See all posts by Nichole

Answers:

Hi! My son just turned 10 months, so I was just there, where you are now. That does sound like you are feeding him enough but here are my thoughts. You said you feed him cereal for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but you didn't say how much. I don't know if you are measuring (I always have myself) but maybe add another tablespoon to his dinner or another tablespoon to all three meals. I would think by now he would need more solids and less breastmilk/formula. Also, have you started to give him any water? Maybe sometimes he is just thirsty, it is summertime and it is hot, so maybe he just needs a little water. It wouldn't hurt to give him a couple of ounces of water, if he will take it. But the night wakings sound like habit to me. Unfoutunately it is hard to pin-point why he is waking up. Could he be getting teeth? Or maybe it is a growth spurt. I personally would try feeding him more. I know it seems crazy, but my son amazes me at how much he can eat. He seems so small but yet can eat a ton! Maybe just try feeding him more and see if that helps. Also, do you nurse him right before his bedtime? Maybe that will help. Not nurse him to sleep (you don't want him to 'need' that to fall asleep) but just a little snack before bedtime. Hope that helps! Good luck!

posted by Tiffanie on 07/15/2008

I feed him 2-4 table spoons and as much veggie/fruit he can eat, sometimes a container and a half. I will try the water, it is hot. During the night or more during the day? He is teething, growing and crawling so it is def. hard to pinpoint but I beleive it is mostly habit. We give him 6 oz of formula before bed to hopefully stay longer in his belly than breastmilk. Thanks again!

posted by Nichole on 07/16/2008

Read the book "BABY WISE"....it will solve ALL your sleep problems....guaranteed......

posted by Tiffany on 07/17/2008

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