Sleeping through the night

[stu]

My daughter is almost 6 months old now. She is the perfect baby, until it comes time for her to go to sleep. I can remember one time that she has slept mostly through the night (about 6 hours).

Recently she's only been sleeping for about 2 hours at a time. This can be really frustrating. We know that if we put her into the bed with us, she'll sleep just fine, but we're trying not to do that.

Long story short, what we figured out last night is this.
She has a favorite pillow (some ratty old feather pillow) that smells like me since it was my pillow for years. Well, we've been laying her on that pillow for about a month now. So now, the pillow smells more like her than it does us. So after a frustrating crying session last night (that always ends as soon as she is picked up) Gloria decided to switch out her pillow with one of ours on the bed. This seemed to work as she went back to her schedule of only waking up one or two times throughout the night, instead of every 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Just a tip.

[MrsGhandi]

So the poor kid gets to smell your drool and head sweat?

[stu]

Yeah, she likes it I guess.

[HONDA GHANDI]

Picking up a crying baby breeds that type of behavior. It is obviously the parents first instinct too. Im wondering how to combat this behavior as well. Guess we will see. my neice has no problem going to bed when she is put down. Her brother however is a constant battle for my sister.

[Conrad]

My wife still brings the kiddo to bed... Its easier for everyone...

My oldest slept with us till about 1... then we put her in her own bed in our room.. then around 1.5 moved her to her own room..

[Conrad]

Picking up a crying baby breeds that type of behavior. It is obviously the parents first instinct too. Im wondering how to combat this behavior as well. Guess we will see. my neice has no problem going to bed when she is put down. Her brother however is a constant battle for my sister.

I guess I disagree with this a bit... at least with my kids... they only cry when they need "something" and for an infant that just might be attention. My 3yo now she has grown pretty good at not crying unless she is hurt. We tell her that we dont like whiney voices when she wants something and to ask nicely..

Bed time is pretty easy unless she is way overtired... but she usually does the one MOOOOOOOOOM, DAAAAAAAD we check on her and she wants a drink or go potty, then goes back to bed quietly.

[meat-market]

Karmyn just wants either her stuffed barney or elmo, and her hello kitty blanket, than she is fine.. and sleeps normally from 7-9pm till 8 am..

she has been the best sleeper since day 1 ..

now potty training, thats a whole new can of worms..

[HONDA GHANDI]

Conrad, I totally get that an infant "needs" something when they are crying. And I am by no means an expert on the matter. My opinion will probably be totally different in a year. On the other hand, (an extreme case) Barb's sister breast feeds and has the kids sleep in the parents bed until they are 2 years old or so. That seems a bit rediculous to me as well.

[Conrad]

Conrad, I totally get that an infant "needs" something when they are crying. And I am by no means an expert on the matter. My opinion will probably be totally different in a year. On the other hand, (an extreme case) Barb's sister breast feeds and has the kids sleep in the parents bed until they are 2 years old or so. That seems a bit rediculous to me as well.

Trust me I thought the same thing in your situation... ie before kids...

Breast Feeding the kids is awesome...

Proven to give the kid a better digestion system through development. ie they will be more in shape not a fatty.

And its the quickest way for momma to lose weight. It burns almost 3500 calories a day, just breast feeding.

[Conrad]

The whole sleeping in your bed till 2.... I think thats about the max....

The first year its especially easier for everyone because momma can feed kid from bed without getting up..

When they wake up a couple of times a night walking to another room sux ass.

[jackmode9316]

The whole sleeping in your bed till 2.... I think thats about the max....

The first year its especially easier for everyone because momma can feed kid from bed without getting up..

When they wake up a couple of times a night walking to another room sux ass.

When does the waking up stop though? Better yet, what do you do to get them to stop? Do you just maintain consistency with NOT letting them sleep in your bed?

[Conrad]

When does the waking up stop though? Better yet, what do you do to get them to stop? Do you just maintain consistency with NOT letting them sleep in your bed?

Baby steps...

1st sleep in bed till you feel otherwise... frankly mom is going to make the decision because you arent getting up with them unless you use formula..

2nd move to another bed... maybe same room even next to your bed and then slowly move it farther and then out. Sometimes its ok to revert a bit... sick kid.. or what not. But its been pretty smooth.


This worked for us but frankly my kids have been heaven compared to some I have seen and I dont know if thats due to the way we do stuff or just the kids.. Some kids are just caulicy (ms) and nothing is going to work.

[jackmode9316]

Right on! Good advice. Thank you much.
He is 2 and just gets up constantly out of his bed at night and wakes his mother up. She then has to go put him back to bed, before she can go to sleep. Sometimes she has to lay with him before he falls asleep.

[stu]

That's why it was especially frustrating last night Conrad. Unless my daughter is hungry, has a wet diaper, or is extremely bored, she's quiet and just hangs out. So when she cries for attention at night, it seems like it comes out of left field.

I think the issue last night was a combination of a wet diaper (that I didn't think to change before putting her down) and wanting to feel secure that we were around.

We also noticed that when she naps during the day, while people are around, or we are pushing her around in a stroller or something, she sleeps all the way through her nap. I think this is because she can hear us, and our daily activity, so she knows we're around. Where as at night, we are trying to sleep as well, so everything is dark and quiet. I think she might feel a little bit abandoned.

[HONDA GHANDI]

Maybe one of those white noise clocks for baby? I am the same way, and always have been since a kid. I have a hard time sleeping in total silence. I usually have a fan or something running to help. I can sleep in a moving car better than my own bed sometimes.

[Conrad]

The conversion to their own room was pretty hard... The biggest thing that helps is consistancy...

We told her you get three books to read before you go to sleep. And yes white noise of some sort definitely helps.. We got her a fish aquarium with 2 goldfish..

We stayed a bit with her... its all stages...

[jackmode9316]

The conversion to their own room was pretty hard... The biggest thing that helps is consistancy...

We told her you get three books to read before you go to sleep. And yes white noise of some sort definitely helps.. We got her a fish aquarium with 2 goldfish..

We stayed a bit with her... its all stages...
MUCHO GRACIAS

[Evil_SpeedRacer]

This comes from Mrs. SpeedRacer:

Sometimes babies at around five to seven months will go through a phase where they are feeling a little insecure. This feeling of insecurity can increase and you will notice it more if there is tension in the home. Usually, if there is in fact tension, then the baby will not sleep during the day and will be consistently fussy. Night time insecurities are normal at this age. The smell of mom and dad will make the baby feel more secure. Also, a good night light and sometimes soft, mellow music - usually classical music will also make them feel calm. You could also try giving the baby a warm bath at the same time every night before bedtime. A schedule will make her feel more secure as well. This is a good age to get them on a schedule - babies, just like children and adults need some form of consistency in life. A baby is no different. If she is on a good schedule, then she will feel more secure because she knows what to expect.