SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT...WHEN?

[sleepymama]

Am I the only new mum who is sick of being asked if my DS sleeps through the night yet? Mine is 15 weeks old and for the last 6 weeks has been sleeping from 8pm - 3/4 am . His milk intake has been upped a few time but still he wants his milk at this time in the morning. I thought I was doing quite well as he's going some time 8/9 hours between bottles but other mums are telling me their lo's sleep through. Any ideas on when his sleep schedule will increase and how can I help him to sleep through???

[desperatehousewife]

wouldn't expect a child to sleep through at this age to be honest. Mine slept through at 5 months. Just from waking him at 10.30pm for a feed for a while and then eventually cutting this out when he was able to sleep for longer.

God, don't worry about it though - they all manage it at some point. But each at their own rate. Try not to compare yourself too much to the other mums!

[snafu]

First rule of new motherhood - never believe women who tell you their children are sleeping through

Ok, OK, some might be but I bet they're not all doing it. You probably don't want to hear this but I don't think 8+ hours is bad going at 15 weeks. I'd have been in heaven if ds had done that.

Haven't really got any advice, I'm afraid. I was still giving ds a middle-of-the-night b'feed at 10 months

[kid]

My DD slept through the night at 2.5 years!

I was a bit luckier with DS, he slept through the night at 13 months.

By through the night, I mean around 9pm til 7am.

[bakedpotato]

if you want to engineer things so that he has his big 8-hr sleep stint at a time that might suit you, you could try feeding him before you go to bed at 10-11pm... quietly getting him up dim lights, no talking quick feed, then straight back to bed

[franch]

Definitions of 'sleeping through the night' vary wildly - BEWARE of such claims!!! In the early months sleeping through the night is considered to be 6 straight hours. Your DS is doing really well. Don't put pressure on yourself to achieve these silly goals. Believe me, I know how hard that is, but read Elizabeth Pantley's 'No Cry Sleep Solution' for some commonsense, real-life reassurance.

[franch]

bp's tip is a good one too. But don't despair if it doesn't make your DS 'sleep through'. If you're coping OK with the way things are, relax - he obviously needs his night feed and probably will for a while yet.

[Gobbledigook]

I'd def still be doing a 10.30-11pm feed atm and that may well cut out that 3-4am wake.

As BP said, we used to creep in, sit in the dark and do it so the baby didn't even wake but always drained the bottle! When they got to only taking 2oz we just dropped it and they went through.

I'm afraid mine all slept through the night by 15 weeks but I do know that's more the exception than the rule. What your ds does sounds about right, but as I say, I wouldn't have dropped that 11pm ish feed yet if he's waking in the night.

[Nathanmum]

Ok, mine is 15 months & still doesn't sleep through....

[Papillon]

mine ahs is just sleeping through at 17 months.

15 weeks .. there belly needs a meal int he night. I think even routine babies like Gina Fords still get a bottle/bf in the night

[aloha]

I think your ds is doing really, really well. Mine was up every hour at this age - he was APPALLING though! It is competitive though, this sleeping through thing. try to take no notice. Lie if it makes you feel better...I bet some of them are

[QueenEagle]

My ds is 15wks and was sleeping thru the night at about 9 wks so I was one of those proudly telling everyone how good he was at sleeping thru.

During the last week he has decided he wants to wake up twice a night for a feed again just to wipe that smug smile off my face!

[LIZS]

Ignore them. Agree with franch, it so depends on the definition of sleeping through - 7/8 hours is a really good stretch , just not exactly coinciding with your idea of nighttime, but he will learn. Feel content about it and those who make such claims usually get bitten on the bum eventually

[Loochyloo]

Agree with all on definition of "sleeping through" and your ds sound like he's doing really well.
I also have to give a thumbs up to the late night feed- Would feed mine at about 10.30 / 11 then he seemed to last (mostly) til the morning. And amazingly he would eat whilst asleep! I found that I prefered to stay up late rather than be woken up at 2 a.m. (not saying oc that am NOT still woken at 2 a.m., but it is getting more infrequent and usually doesn't involve a feed)
Then as if by magic he dropped those late nights feeds as well when he started on solids

[geordiegirl1]

Hi,

I'm the proud mum to a 4 month old girl, I have just recently started to wean from solely breast feeding to bottle (in preparation for going back to work .

She is still waking during the night to feed (sometimes only 2/3 hours after her last feed). I feel this is just to comfort suck more than to feed, any suggestion for getting into a routine and ending my disturbed nights sleep

[sleepymama]

Thanks for all the replies. I would try the late night feed but with his disasterous day time naps(another thread) I am often in bed by 9.30pm myself so feeding him at 11 ish would be just as hard. I just wondered if starting him on baby rice would make any dfference and help him go through the night? Just seen my sister in law who kindly informed me tht both her lo's were sleeping through from 2 weeks (she said they slept from 8pm to 6am at this age!!!!)

[Nixz]

i would also apreciate some advice on this one (sorry to jump on soneone elses bandwagon!) My daughter is 4!!! She has neber slept through and im up 3or 4 times a night to huge dramas, for the past 12 months she has started to creep into bed with me earlier and earlier but i think this has to stop. Im a single mum working and doing a degree so i feel like i have to do ANYTHING now to get her to sleep!

[MunchedTooManyMarsLady]

when indeed! If earlier than 13 months could someone please tell the DTs.

[cornflake]

My son didn't sleep longer than 5 hours until about 6 months old when I'd got him on 3 solid feeds per day. He's nearly 8 months now and we still get at least once per week where he wakes usually because he's a bit cold, teeth or illness can set it back again. I stuck out controlled crying and plain water for 2 nights to get the night feeds dropped. I only did this after he'd slept 9 hour stretches several times so thaat I knew he could go that long if he'd eaten well during the day. I think the main thing is if you can get a good stretch of sleep in even if he wakes for a bit in the middle of the night; then you'll be less tired. I thought my son was never going to stop the small hours waking! I get 8pm ish till 7am ish most nights now. So he's made up for it a bit!!

[charleepeters]

my ds has cracked the art of sleeping through (touch wood!) this last week hes 7 months but my sisters dd didnt sleep through untill 18months all you can do is try different things but all babies are different he might be like my ds and sleep better around 6 months when he starts solids but ds did it by himself when i had finally given up trying things! hes only young give him time and he will do it when hes ready. good luck x

[jud2905]

my ds1 was a nightmare and only slept through as I returned to work (good job). was determined not to make same mistake with ds2 and bought Gina fords 'the new contented baby book' recommended by a GP friend who had perfect children who slept through from 6 weeks! Have to say routine she establishes and feeding pattern was brill and ds2 slept through by 10 weeks. My sister also tried with her second and got ds sleeping through much quicker. Worth a look and good luck !

[SueHarg]

My youngest is 2yrs and 5 mths and still doesnt sleep through the night, we have tried everything, even the Health Visitor gave up on us and said he'll do it when hes ready!! Please someone tell me when that will be!! I work full time and have another little lad aged 8 and I'm just sooo tired now!! Any helpful suggestions would be welcome!!! I have tried every website going and tried all their suggestions but nothing, he's just sooo stubborn!!! My eldest was so easy, and slept through quite early on, ok so we had a little phase of broken nights but it only lasted about 6mths!!!

[CheekyGirl]

My ds is also 15 weeks, sleepymama, and is also a disasterous daytime napper. He still acts like a newborn and wakes every 3 hours for a full on feed. On a good night he settles in between these feeds. On a bad night, I'll be up settling him every half an hour. I would give ANYTHING to have my ds sleep like yours!!!!!

[sleepymama]

Hi cheekygirl - ds now 17 weeks and wish I'dnever complained of his sleep schedule. He's had v. bad diarrhoea for passed 4 days (with no indication that it is subsiding) and is up every hour almost!!!! Come back 3/4am wakings all is forgiven.....
I'm sure it will all improve. It has to!!!!!!