Help me get my 7mo to sleep the night. She wakes 1-2 times and needs a bottle to go back to sleep

Victoria - posted on 07/15/2011

I would guess that she is hungry because she is used to eating at that time. If you feed her an ounce less every night, and eventually wean her off of that feed, that could work. Worked for me! They will shift the calories to the morning, so you won't be starving her.

Shelley - posted on 07/15/2011

She is hungry. It is normal at that age. I agree with feeding her bottle before she wakes properly, and maybe make one of the bottles water, and she will likely stop waking for that one in no time. My little one is now 17 months and wakes at 12 every night not to drink, but to lie on me (for the rest of the evening!). I have been working from when she was 5 months, so I know how it feels (at that stage she was waking twice or more too). But I also know (as I have an eight year old that never slept for the first two years!) that once it passes it won't matter, and you get through it somehow. It doesn't last forever. But anyways, after that seemingly lame statement, try replacing one of the bottles with water. It worked for me, then after some time you can deal with the one feed at night too. Good luck

Tyrae - posted on 07/11/2011

She might just be hungry. Have a couple premade bottles in the fridge if she doesn't mind them cold, and then just grab one when she wakes up. It will lower down the time for you to be prepping in the middle of the night. Some babies just need to eat at night. My daughter is 7.5 months and she just started not waking at night to eat in the last couple weeks. I do need to nurse her though after about 7-8 hours of her sleeping though, so she still doesn't go the full 10-12 hours that most say are "normal'. Sometimes babies just need to be fed. If you have a man at home get him to wake up once during the night and share the night feedings between you. It's only fair :)

Rachel - posted on 07/09/2011

I would not suggest CIO I tried it with both of my children at one point or another and they will both cry till they throw up and that only takes like 5 minutes. so when they cry I go to them and fuigure out what the reason it. they could be hungry not all babies can make it through the night without eating. my 17month old was and still is very under weight so when she would wake up i would feed her i was just glad she would take her bottle we used to go for days without her taking more than 2-3 a day. She is now 17months old and is still underweight and does not eat so if she wakes up at night even now she gets a cuppie with formula in it. she needs to fill her little belly and can not make it all night with a hungry belly. good luck sorry your little one is not sleeping. Also both of my kids were different I have a 4 year old who slept through the night since he was born and we are still waiting on my little girl to sleep through the night.

Linda - posted on 07/09/2011

Rebecca, two references i have found helpful, google 'dana obleman', a sleep psychologist, very normal and helpful advice on her site. Second, a book called 'save our sleep', it sets out routines and offers an abundance of parenting info, i used both with my first child successfully.

Laura Zoey - posted on 07/09/2011

At 7 months they still might literally be hungry
Or she could just need some mommy attention!
We are social creatures who hate solitary confinement.
Cribs are confined areas, and when you leave the room they are alone.
So, yeah if my son is alone in his room and he wakes and wants me to comfort him I see it as a need.
He has emotional needs as well as physical needs.
Feelings matter!

Michele - posted on 07/08/2011

My third was not a great sleeper. I asked my pediatrician about it and he told me to get the book "Healthy sleep habits, Happy child". I bought the book and followed the program with him and my next two kids and it works great! They are all good sleepers. Basically, you kind of schedule their naps and make sure to get them on a routine so they do not get overtired and you have to let them learn to sleep through the night. I would highly recommend getting that book and following it. It worked for me!

Stifler's - posted on 07/07/2011

You could do lots of things. a) Feed her more during the day. b) Put her down later at night c) Feed her water when she wakes d) Not get up when she cries except to give her a dummy.

Don't let me influence you.
BUT

I did all of the above (suggested by people) and my 17 month old STILL wakes in the night sometimes.

Jenni - posted on 07/07/2011

Well I guess we'll just have to respectfully agree to disagree. :)
I followed my baby's cues, I tended to their needs whenever they woke in the night. All 3 of my children slept the typical 5-6 hours between 6-8 weeks. All 3 slept 10-12 hours at around 8-9 months.

I won't suggest or encourage CIO but everyone is free to parent by what they believe is right.

Cheridy - posted on 07/07/2011

I'm not saying everything they do is to manipulate, I was just saying everything we do as parents needs to be in a role of a parent not solely to be in response to what the kids do.
I let our sweet guy cry a little more as he got older and he learned night time was when we learned to fall back asleep. Being hungry is different, if you have a baby that's hungry (and that is debatable sometimes...) you feed a baby but I didn't follow the demand feeding philosophy and we taught our son to sleep through the night by having him follow a feeding schedule and teaching his body what schedule to follow. And thus he slept through the night at 8-9 weeks old. Does that mean 12 hours? Definitely not. That means 5-6 hours and grew from there.
He didn't and still doesn't wake up for food or drinks because he can have that when he's awake. If he were really hungry I would absolutely feed him. If I fed him an hour ago, I know his metabolism and I know he's not hungry so...
Anyhow, all I'm saying is be a smart person and know your decisions are good and it's ok to be strong sometimes.

Jenni - posted on 07/07/2011

Rebecca, I feel that's completely normal. Babies know how much they need to eat and they will sleep straight through the night when they are ready. They also are all individuals and don't all follow the generalities.



In my own experience, I fed on demand at night and both my children grew out of night wakings by around 8-9 months. I have no issues with my children; 14 months, 3 and 4 year old night waking and haven't in a very, very long time. ;)



So sorry, I don't buy the, they're just trying to manipulate you. They're hungry, not trying to manipulate you. I don't understand how anyone can expect a baby go from having to eat every 2-4 hours to suddenly going 12 hours without a feed. It's a gradual process and a milestone like any other that each individual baby will reach on their own time.

Cheridy - posted on 07/07/2011

i'm not trying to come off to rebecca in a mean spirit, she asked for help and this is my offer at it.
kids at young as 6 weeks are indeed manipulative. you know when something isn't right and in those instances you nurture and love that baby girl.
another way to love your kids is to equip them with skills and tools to become amazing and well adjusted people. not little people who know what it takes to manipulate you, and if you let them....indeed they will.

Cheridy - posted on 07/07/2011

it's especially not effective for people who don't have it in them to try. waking at night is fine, go in, assure her you are there and then let her get back to sleep.
she's waking every night because she is growing accustomed to it.
kids aren't stupid, they know when they can own a situation and will exploit it every time.

Gwen - posted on 07/07/2011

CIO is not successful with all children. 7 mo. old babies are not manipulative. They cry for a reason. Let her alone in there and she could be tired, hungry, in teething pain, gassy or any other number of things.

Cheridy - posted on 07/07/2011

Let her cry it out. Be strong, be brave and she will learn soon enough when it's time to go to bed, it's time. You are telling her she's in charge when you keep going in, giving her drinks and responding. Let her be alone in there and she will get tired.

Constance - posted on 07/07/2011

Every kid is different. My youngest is 6 and I have 8 total. Very seldom do they all sleep through the night. I have 2 that get up at least 2 times a night for a glass of water. If you know when she wll wake up then you can b prepared with her bottle let hr drink and then lay herright back down.

Gwen - posted on 07/07/2011

Is she having a growth spurt? If so, she really could be hungry. Every kid is different. My daughter went through several "waking at night" phases.