4mo not sleeping more than 4-5hours at a time at night...suggestions?

Mandy - posted on 04/05/2010

thanks i feel heaps better about this. Thought it was just me not realising something vitally important! I've just purchased the no-cry sleep solution on amazon. appreciate all your comments ladies :) Perhaps all these mums that have babies that sleep thru are fewer than i thought!

Sylvia - posted on 04/05/2010

Honey, if your baby's only 4 months old and already sleeping 4-5 hours straight -- you're really, really lucky. I've met very, very few babies who slept that long at such a young age, and I've known a lot of babies.

BTW, I'm pretty sure the medical definition of "sleeping through the night" is something like a 5- to 6-hour stretch. A lot of people think it means sleeping all the way from early evening to morning, but it doesn't -- and many, perhaps most, babies under a year old still need to eat at least once during the night.

(Disclaimer: I know absolutely nada about formula-fed babies, so YMMV.)

I second the recommendation for The No-Cry Sleep Solution. Awesome book, very helpful. The author's name is Elizabeth Pantley :)

Cynthia - posted on 04/05/2010

lights out-leave as few lights as possible . light signals daytime to your baby

hush mommy- try not to talk to your baby or engage with smiles or eye contact at night during middle nire snack, after feeding put baby immediatly back into crib

quick change- change quickly and quietly as possible before feeding mid-nite snack if possible, use warm washcloth instead of a cold wipe (cold can wake baby up)

burpies- if rubbing back brings up burps, then pat in the day & rub at night (more soothing)

wakey wakey- no daytime naps longer than 3hrs, wake thoroughly after daytime naps so baby learns to distinguish between day & night

bundled joy- if baby is nice and snug & comfy bundled up, baby is less likley to wake up

:) hope this helps . . really worked for me ♥

Mandy - posted on 04/05/2010

thanks for that, thats really helpful to know that we are pretty well on track then

Kelley - posted on 04/05/2010

I read a book called THE NO CRY SLEEP SOLUTION after my fourth child was born. She was sleeping for only about 40min at a time. This book was very helpful. It explained a childs sleep pattern from birth to two years. I was very surprised lo learn that a full sleep cycle for a child under a year is five hours. If they sleep more than 5 hours to consider yourself lucky. Although it wasn't what I wanted to hear, it made me understand how a babies sleep pattern works. I was a little less frustrated and had a more realistic goal set for myself and my child. You should check out this book, it has some good tips.

Mandy - posted on 04/05/2010

thanks girls that makes me feel better. seem to hear about the mums whos kids sleep thru at 6 weeks. its 4-5 hours when i first put him down then every couple hours after that time. might just be a bit of wind or something

Eleisha - posted on 04/05/2010

I agree with the others. This is quite normal. I know lots of people say FF babies should sleep longer, but keep in mind that he was quite a low birth weight and a little early. It will get better, I BF and my daughter was up every 2 hours until 5 months, so he is actually doing pretty well.

Dawn - posted on 04/05/2010

Honestly, that's a pretty normal schedule for a 4 month old.....just give it a little time.

Candice - posted on 04/05/2010

my only advice...be happy it's 4 to 5 hours at a time. and have faith, it will get better as he gets older. he's only 4 months...some kids may sleep longer...but most don't at that age.

Mandy - posted on 04/05/2010

i bf for about 9 weeks and has been on formula since

Eleisha - posted on 04/05/2010

Are you BF or FF?

Mandy - posted on 04/05/2010

Has some setbacks was born 3 wks early at 5pounds9 and got whooping cough at 4 weeks. Feeds on demand during day but dont let him go more than 3-4hours. Nap at lunchtime and couple of 20min catnaps thru day but not excessive....Any tips?3