I am not sure what the problem is - too hot? too cold? air con? wants to be near mommy? teething? constipated? starting solids? not napping enough during the day? hungry? or a combo? I think it's a combo, and I think it changes, depending on the night...
I have tried everything, the only thing that works is to throw my hands up in the air, let out a deep sigh, and nurse him on demand.
It's just a phase, right? I mean I know it's just a phase...but, please feel free to leave a comment ...I could really use more than a caffeine boost to get through this!
ps...right now, he is napping quietly all-by-himself! This is a relatively new development! So, I guess, you win some, you lose some?
UPDATE: THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR KIND COMMENTS!
I brought him into bed with me last night to co-sleep. I have tried this before and it was less than successful. However, it was exactly what we both needed last night!
aw what a handsome chunk! Yes, the random {and frequent} changes in sleeping habits can be so frustrating!!
ReplyDeleteTeething? I know this sounds cookoo Socal but try an amber teething necklace (found on amazon). They are all teh rage down here and all the mommies swear by them. Worth a shot. I'm getting one for Ilana and even if it doesn't work, they are pretty. He looks happy and healthy though :) Just gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteIt's a phase! It's definitely a phase!! Halle was doing that for a while, and then before we moved she would sleep maybe 4 or 5 hours (from when we put her to bed), and then would wake up every hour or hour and a half afterwards. Since we moved here she'll sleep until about 6:30. She would never nap in her crib either, but now she is (most of the time). Not napping as well now that I think her top two teeth are coming in. We'll see.
ReplyDeleteJust enjoy that adorable face and remember.... this too shall pass xo
I don't know anything about babies except that yours is freakin' adorable!
ReplyDeleteAnd I just looked at your books list and this confirms to me that I will definitely not read "Heaven is for Real". I've been debating for a while since it seems to do pretty well but I would definitely roll my eyes throughout the entire thing as well.
I totally feel for you. My little guy, who is just over a year old now, still has nights like this from time to time. I figure he's probably just having one of those can't sleep nights and needs his Mom...it's so hard though, I know. Hope he sleeps well for you tonight!!!
ReplyDeleteOMG your son is totally adorable! Perhaps try to tire him up throughout the day and not let him nap much or for long? Sorry I am no help with babies.
ReplyDeleteMajor developments go on while babies are under a year. At 6-9 months they are growing like mad, have teeth coming in, eating and are starting to make cognitive connections (dreaming)....there are a bazillion reasons why this gorgeous boy is giving you the gears, just hang in there. Yay on the napping tho.....relief for a tired lady ;)
ReplyDeleteHe is so cute, Shannon. Happy little baby!! No advice from me though - I'm sure another momma can come through!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, he is the cutest little guy ever! And yes, it's a phase and it will pass. Best advice I ever got was; he won't be needing you every hour when he goes to university (that really hit home with me when it came to diapers ;)).
ReplyDeleteMy daughter was a great sleeper, my son was about 15 months old until he stopped waking up.
Here is my 2 cents worth: I found that my babies just wanted the comfort of nursing in the middle of the night. It's not always easy, but I had my husband get up with them to break them of the middle-of-the-night nursing. They got up and only got a sippy cup of water and daddy. I hid in my bedroom and tried to sleep through the fussing - not an easy thing! It took a few nights (maybe weeks) but they eventually gave up and knew they wouldn't get me! Good luck! - and he sure is a cutie!
ReplyDeleteor a growth spurt? my little ones were over a year old (and weaned) before they slept through the night. hang in there!!
ReplyDeleteTotally a phase - hang in there. Babies are totes on their own schedule and it's awesome that you continue to nurse in the night rather than forcing him to accommodate to our adult schedules (we're up in the day and we sleep all night).
ReplyDeleteComfort nursing serves a purpose, too. Apparently, this type of sucking overall decreases a baby’s heart rate and lets him relax. It seems to have a very positive effect on his whole physical and emotional well-being. Breastfeeding is more than just imparting fluids and nourishment. It’s a way to nurture your child as well.
I actually found nursing in bed, laying down on my side to be quite restful. Your son is super cute!
Ugh Leo started doing that at a year old and I almost cried but he grew out of it fast. I was a feed-on-demander too - basically Leo at every 2 hours until a year :(. I don't think I'm being any help ha!
ReplyDeleteoh ya and how do you get mad - he's freaking adorable!!! :)
ReplyDeleteHe truly is delicious! I'm no help either...my DD did move to her crib at 5.5 months but I still got up and went to her anytime she fussed. She's 16mos now, I nurse her to sleep at night and for naps (on the weekends). But I still go to her if she fusses. She keeps changing the rules though - it used to be 12 am - 3 am and sleep til at least 7:30 but now it's 12 am and WAKING at 5:30!! Awful! So this week I'm setting an alarm and dream-feeding her at 3:30 to get her to sleep in! Am I nuts??!
ReplyDeleteI'd kinda like her to self-wean so I'm in no hurry to stop the BF and I can handle getting up a couple of times in the night for dream feeds, however, I cannot handle early morning wake ups!!!
growth spurt?? you must be exhausted! but he's adorable :) totally adorable!
ReplyDeleteThis little guy is SO adorable. Our older boy was your baby and woke up every other hour during night and I was his food source, his pacifier but he grew out of it gradually. There were nights when I could cry with him especially that I had to go to work in the morning! but our second one (now 5.5 months old) sleeps for 6 hours during night!...again your baby is so cute!
ReplyDeleteI can't offer an advice as we have our own sleep issues over here. However I can offer you empathy. There is a reason babies are so cute. Yours seems particularly cute and happy. Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteIt's a phase - they have sleep regressions approximately at 3/6/12 months or so. It WILL pass.
ReplyDeleteDo you have someone who can supervise while you nap during the day to catch up?
Hang in there - it'll get better.
BTW I love his smile - oblivious and rightfully so to mommy's sleep deprivation!
ReplyDeleteOh dear. I feel your pain. He is so cute and looks so happy!! How could such a gem cause such havoc at night? I had my son down to 1 feed and he started going back up to 2 and waking additional times for a soother. I eventually did the 'cry it out' method. ....but I did it gently. I eliminated the 4am feed first (just nurse for a minute less each night until it's almost gone, and then I let him cry it out....sucks, but it was only 2 bad nights) and then I did the same thing with the 11pm feed....they will naturally start eating more during the day. I did this with both my kids. My daughter was 5 months and my son was 7 months. Good luck...there is nothing worse than feeling like a zombie!
ReplyDeleteHe is so CUTE! I just want to squeeze those cheeks! I'll try to stop by your street sale on Sat! I got a really cute table cloth from one of your neighbours last year! :)
ReplyDeletewhat a cutie!! I have no advice, but his little smile might make up for his currently-bad-sleeping habits :) PS _ were you at Blog Podium?? I saw your name on the list but didn't see you there
ReplyDeleteCan I say baby model? This kid is too cute. Hang in there....it has to be a phase. Just keep telling yourself that and rest up when you get a chance!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mindy! You said it! Frustrating!
ReplyDeleteOk, That is something we definitely have not tried yet! I am skeptical?!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kerry! I know we are all in this together!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
ReplyDeleteYes, that book was a little much...I think it is a very simple way of remembering/learning a lot of scripture...but it wasn't exactly marketed as such...
My three year old has just recently started sleeping through the night...I think in the last month or so...he still has many nights where he wakes at least one time!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I needed to hear this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Janice! You have your own challenges just around the corner! Goodness I have milk in my fridge that will expire after you do ;)
ReplyDeletemy husband is often sleeping in my three year old's room...so that I don't have two screamers to deal with ;)
ReplyDeleteCould be growth spurt! I should add that to the list! I think because he started solids, I just assumed he was getting enough...but there really isn't a lot of calories in a couple tablespoons of mushy food!
ReplyDeletehahahaha that is hilarious!! :-) And scary.
ReplyDeleteThanks J.!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your statement on breastfeeding being more than just fluids and nourishment!
If it is only 5.5 more months, I think I can stick it out! ;) Thanks Steph!
ReplyDeleteThanks! He has pretty much grown out of his chubby phase...he was SUPER chunka chunka before!
ReplyDeleteI know about changing the rules! As soon as you get used to something, it changes...
ReplyDeleteI let my first self wean, it happened on vacation when he was 23 months!
I am thinking growth spurt...especially since he is napping so well!
ReplyDeleteI have cried with him...for sure! I am lucky that I don't have to work in the morning!
ReplyDeleteThanks Maggie! I know we are all in this together!
ReplyDeleteI tried cry it out...it worked with my first... (the first time we let him cry it out, it took 4 mins of crying...I was sooo upset....months of night waking and all it took was 4 mins of crying for him to sleep?)
ReplyDeleteHowever, chunkers refuses to go down without a fight...that's when I figured maybe he is actually hunger. He is a big boy and most of his nutrition comes from me. I don't know if he can get enough during the day (put it this way, he is bigger than my one-year-old niece)
Oh well! Zombie it is!
yeah!
ReplyDeleteLots of baby boy clothing...lots of bowls...some board games...maybe I will post about it!
thanks! I missed blog podium! I spend the morning at a second hand church book sale, then played hooky to go to a school fun fair with the boys!
ReplyDeleteThanks DW! He is a sweet sweet boy! Both of them are!
ReplyDeleteYou can do it!!
ReplyDeletedid you get a play mat from the shower? you know, the baby lies down and punches the animals? We have a monkey island set...I can set it aside with the bounce chair if you need it!!!
What a gorgeous chap! As for advice, it's a toughie. I've got 3 of my own and the key to life is definitely sleep. Whatever is waking him will hopefully pass soon (teething, etc.). Just make sure it doesn't become a habit for him; i.e. no real reason except that he likes to see Mom's smiling face in the middle of the night : )
ReplyDeleteObviously I have no answers to any of your questions, but I had to comment on how CUTE your babe is! Seriously, such a gorgeous boy.
ReplyDeleteI co-slept with my babies. It was just so much easier. I let them decide when they wanted to nurse and how much. I know, it is not for everyone but it worked great for me.
ReplyDeleteHi Shannon - love your blog and your home!! Thanks for sharing. My kids are much older than your gorgeous guy, but I co-slept. Neither of my children used a crib, plus, obviously, nursing on demand. I used a sling until they were each too big for it, rather than too much in a stroller. Take it from me, what you will remember in 15 years is the closeness and not the sleepiness/sleeplessness :-) Much continued good luck. Julia
ReplyDeleteand frankly, everything is a phase :-)
ReplyDeleteAhh! Cutest lil' munchkin ever!
ReplyDeleteLate to arrive but I remember reading this - my little guy was going through the same thing. I chatted with a bunch of other moms and found out that it was a Baby Thing, in my mind that means The Weather. I found mine sleeps best when the house is exactly 23.5 degrees ;) I haven't tried to get him to sleep through the night though, reading all of this advice is making me contemplate it!
ReplyDelete