georgejungle Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 So our 5 month old isn't much of a napper. She is a BFed baby only. Won't take a bottle either, we've tried & Tried, only wants Wife. She doesn't nap much during the day and when she does, it has to be in either My or Wife's arms. If we lay her down, she'll wake right up ...usually fussy. Has anyone experienced this? She doesn't sleep thru the night much either. Up every 1-2 hours. I wonder if her sleep will get better as she gets older.
GorillaTheater Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 Five months is arguably young for this advise, but here goes: In my experience, babies dislike being left to their own devices at nap time, and naturally like to be held. But since they need to learn how to take a nap, and fall asleep, on their own, and since you guys just need a break now and then to catch your breath, the best thing to do is to just lie them down. The hard part is letting them cry, but trust me when I say that it won't hurt them and that the crying will last for shorter and shorter periods pretty swiftly. Decide how long you'll let them cry before you call it quits and get them back up, though I wouldn't go for less than a half hour. But I'm a dad, what the hell do I know.
nittygritty Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 Baby rice cereal mixed with breast milk would help her sleep better and satisfy her appetite. Here is an ehow article about how to feed a baby rice cereal with a baby spoon: http://www.ehow.com/how_4531759_feed-baby-rice-cereal.html I used an "infa feeder" (less than $10) to feed baby rice cereal to mine when they were only 2 or 3 months old.
Art_Critic Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 We use a Brookstone Tranquil Moments White Noise Sound Machine for Baby in his room for his naps and nighttime sleep. Besides the reflux he had he had trouble sleeping thru the night till the noise machine went in... Go to brookstone . com and search for Tranquil Moments White Noise Sound Machine You can also turn a radio or tv to a Non-Channel and produce a similar white noise.
Art_Critic Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 Baby rice cereal mixed with breast milk would help her sleep better and satisfy her appetite. Here is an ehow article about how to feed a baby rice cereal with a baby spoon: http://www.ehow.com/how_4531759_feed-baby-rice-cereal.html I used an "infa feeder" (less than $10) to feed baby rice cereal to mine when they were only 2 or 3 months old. Yeah.. that too !!
nittygritty Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 Yeah.. that too !! I was going to ask you if your little one was on rice cereal yet. The recommendations have changed quite a bit since mine were babies.
Author georgejungle Posted February 20, 2009 Author Posted February 20, 2009 we've started her on rice cereal 3 weeks ago, but it's very lite. Our Doc said not to use too much, so she's still getting the hang of it. We're gradually increasing the cereal to milk ratio.
quankanne Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 you're going to have to bite the bullet and let her cry herself to sleep ... by this point, you and your wife prolly know the different cries your daughter makes, and my guess is that when you ignore her, she's more than likely pissed off. Not hurting, not poopy-bottomed, not hungry, just MAD (practicing for menopause, lol). she will tire herself out, and eventually figure out a way to calm herself. One nephew was a thumb-sucker, another would calm down if you rubbed his back – or his eyebrows, if we wanted him to fall asleep more quickly – and a few of the other nieces/nephews just needed their blankies or babies near them. Of course, it may take a bit of time to condition them to respond to those stimuli. my MiL said that with her oldest, she'd have the radio playing low, just different music every day, and it got to the point where her daughter refused to fall asleep unless there was music on! I think I read somewhere that when you start training your babies to cry themselves to sleep, you give them 5-10 minutes to get "adjusted," then unobtrusively check on them every 10 minutes or so. If she's still screaming after half an hour, *then* you go over to her and physically check on her to see if she's got a wet diaper or hungry ... then start the process all over again once you've calmed her down. in the meanwhile, you and wifey be sure to rest up – your baby will let you know if she pissed off or really in need of something
nittygritty Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 I couldn't let mine cry themselves to sleep. Make sure it's not something physical like teething, an earache, an upset tummy or fever. You can try lightly rubbing her arm or back when you lay her down. There are also all different kinds of baby gear products. Pacifiers for breastfed babies, the "white noise" products that Art Critic recommended, vibrating infant seat carriers, cradle swings, etc. Since all babies are different, just figure out what products and techniques will help her learn how to sleep while not being held. She sounds like a smart baby that has figured out that she prefers to have mom or dad hold her while she's sleeping.
donnamaybe Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 When my boy was little, just a ride in the carseat a few times around the block did the trick. When he was a tad older, I used to sing him "You are My Sunshine" until he fell asleep.
quankanne Posted February 20, 2009 Posted February 20, 2009 I've heard a lot of parents swear by the "going for a drive" technique ... I think it's the sense of vibration that does it. another one I've read about, but not have heard anyone actually come out and say it is to put the baby in his carrier, then set it on top of a running dryer. That's supposed to calm him, too ... AND help you get a leg up on laundry
LovieDove24 Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 Well I have an 8 month old daughter so let me tell ya, I understand what you're going through. I am experiencing a similar problem, except my daughter USED to sleep wonderfully through the night. Because of being sick from daycare all the time, her sleep schedule got completely out of whack. It truly seems that the more I run in every couple hours, the worse it gets. I say do what feels comfortable to you and your wife. If you are ok with leaving her cry for 10 to 15 minutes in hopes that she comforts her back to sleep herself, then by all means do it. If you feel like using a pacifier as a substitute to hold her over between feedings then by all means do that. Whatever you do, keep in mind there is no biological demand for a 5 month old infant to need a feeding every 1-2 hours. Their stomachs are definitley large enough at this point to hold enough food to keep them for at LEAST 4 hours at a time.
Trialbyfire Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 If you can hold a note, try humming the same lullabies in the same order, in a loop, for every single bedtime/naptime. While it might bore you silly, it's a form of trigger for the baby to realize it's time to sleep. It even worked when I babysat my nephews and I, instead of the parents, hummed the lullabies. You could watch them start getting drowsy after the first few bars. Uncanny stuff. Oh and flannelette sheets help. If you're cradling them, then trying to put them into bed, cold sheets can shock them awake again.
blind_otter Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 I am strongly and passionately opposed to letting babies "cry it out". IMO it is cruel - you would NEVER think to do this to, say, an elderly person - just close the door to their room and listen to them cry for you until they fall asleep. That would be considered elder abuse in some places. I sincerely believe that babies, especially that age, cry for a reason. They are naturally STILL in the process of developing a strong attachment to their caregiver. I have some studies I can cite - I will do so if you PM me. In any event, it has been important to me to put my son to sleep. I know he will get bigger much too soon and I will treasure these moments I spend with him. At that time, I had struggles with my son sleeping for naps as well - I observed that it was a developmental issue. He was learning to crawl at that point, and he wanted to be up so he could practice. As soon as he learned to crawl, his sleep became much better within a day or two. It was like magic. He was also pretty fussy at that time, I attributed it to frustration. But I would just nurse him to sleep in my bed (we put the mattress and bedsprings on the floor and put bedrails up on the sides). When he pulled off naturally, I would sneak out. Sometimes he would nurse for up to an hour, other times only 10-15 minutes. I normally just let him nurse as much as he wants. Now he will take up to 2 hours naps all by himself. But he never gets "put down" to fall asleep. Also, nowadays he will sometimes play around on the floor and just pass out on his own - no crying it out necessary. The STTN (sleep through the night) thing - we all know that medically, STTN means sleeping for 5 hours straight without waking. To be honest with you, my son doesn't really do that but he never fully wakes up crying. He just moves around in his sleep and turns his head looking to nurse. I always feel/hear him and just pop him on, nurse side lying in a soporific state, and fall back asleep. Finally, I think that the idea that babies will sleep longer when they eat solid foods is a huge myth. So do all the other moms I know/associate with. I waited until the AAP recommendation to start solids around 6 months, and his sleep did not improve.
LovieDove24 Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 At that time, I had struggles with my son sleeping for naps as well - I observed that it was a developmental issue. He was learning to crawl at that point, and he wanted to be up so he could practice. As soon as he learned to crawl, his sleep became much better within a day or two. It was like magic. He was also pretty fussy at that time, I attributed it to frustration.. Wow your baby learned to crawl around five months? Thats about 3 months ahead of the curve! Anyways, you never mentioned if you were using a pacifier or not. If you are, I HIGHLY suggest you use it as a substitute right after babys sleepy from BF'ing. Lay your baby in the swing when he/she is still sleepy, if your baby gets fussy pop that pacifier in and hopefully that will help.
blind_otter Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 Wow your baby learned to crawl around five months? Thats about 3 months ahead of the curve! No, right around 6 months he was crawling. But for the entire month prior to that he was swimming around on his belly and was constantly pissed off that he couldn't get anywhere. Now he's 7 months old and pulling to standing up by himself and yesterday he let go for a few seconds. When he realized he wasn't holding on to anything he freaked out and sat down on his butt and cried, though.
sb129 Posted February 21, 2009 Posted February 21, 2009 No, right around 6 months he was crawling. But for the entire month prior to that he was swimming around on his belly and was constantly pissed off that he couldn't get anywhere. Now he's 7 months old and pulling to standing up by himself and yesterday he let go for a few seconds. When he realized he wasn't holding on to anything he freaked out and sat down on his butt and cried, though. Awww.... thats really cute.
SierraRose Posted March 13, 2009 Posted March 13, 2009 I totally agree with the Tranquil Sounds White Noise machine. My son is 8 and he still uses the machine, only now he likes the rain! When my son was 3 1/2 months, he started fussing..waking up more, etc. Now, according to the "books" solids weren't to be introduced until 6 months, well sometimes a mom has to go on instincts. I gave him rice cereal, OMG was he happy! A few weeks later I mixed peaches with it. His sleeping pattern was wonderful. He was a happy baby again! Your lil one may just not be satisfied with just the breast milk. Let the baby fall asleep on it's own, in the crib. The baby will cry and be fusy for about a week, but ought to fall into a regular sleeping pattern relatively quickly. I used to let my son cry for about 5-10 minutes, then check on him. I wouldn't pick him up, just talk to him, maybe rub his arm, or back. Comfort and let the baby know u are there and leave. Repeat, until baby falls asleep--which should be no longer than 30 minutes or so. Always remeber, a child will not die from crying! However, if the baby is is hysterics for a prolonged period, then YES pick him up! Little man doesn't want to feel abandoned! When he is calmer, then put him down again. I also used a swing...he would go out like a light! Definately try to get the baby on a bottle. It is possible the issue could be the bottle's nipple-much different than mom! I bought a whole slew, and let him decide which one he wanted. Some things are just trial and error! Good luck!
blind_otter Posted March 13, 2009 Posted March 13, 2009 Definately try to get the baby on a bottle. This is the worst thing to do if you are trying to continue your breastfeeding relationship. Supplementing with formula and not giving the breast suckling stimulation leads to lowered milk supply, which can lead to early weaning. I've seen it happen over and over again. Not only at la leche league meetings, but in my mom's group as well. Bottles are necessary if mom is away, of course, but if mom is available, you should always have baby nursing and getting milk from the tap. If it is absolutely necessary to supplement breast milk, you should use the type of device that attaches a tube to the top of the nipple so that the breast will get stimulation from suckling and will produce more milk. The truth is some babies are high needs - see all the Dr. Sears baby books. Some babies never take a bottle. Once they reach 6 months you can start giving them a cup - but never more than 3 oz of juice/water a day - there is such a thing as juice abuse where you fill baby up with empty calories when they need nutritionally dense breast milk at that age. My son is 8 months old and has been having sips of water from a cup since he was 6 months and he is fine. I give him his own unbreakable cup and he can even hold the cup and take sips on his own, with my guidance and supervision, of course. I only offer him water when he is eating solids, though. The AAP recommends that you wait until 6 months to start solids. Intuition is all well and good, but I prefer science. Also, IMO sleep is a developmental issue, not related to solid food intake. My son's sleep did not improve when he started solids.
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