Baby Cries All Night

RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By K8LYN (Guest Post) (06/22/2008) Brenda- Reading your post, I would have thought you were me and your son was my daughter. She has very similar behaviors. I could ramble on about all the adivce that we've gotten (some has worked, some doesn't, and nothing was magic), instead I thought I would assure you that you are not alone. We try to do the best we can, and although it would be fantastic if my daughter we sleep in her crib for 8 hours without making a peep, it's not her nature. It might not be your son's. With that said, some day you will get sleep again. At some point your son will grow out of this stage and into the next. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By kane (Guest Post) (04/06/2008) I have read your post and feel very sorry for you and all the parents here. Well, after several research, here is what I recommend: babies sleep in mid afternoon to around 11: pm and then when you are ready to go to sleep, they keep you up all night. You should consider waking the baby up starting around 9 pm and keep him awake till 12 am. Try to keep the baby awake as long as you can. If they baby cries, don't feed too much until you are ready to got to sleep. The last feeding should take longer. By that time, all the baby wants to do is sleep. This works very well with lots of mothers that had followed this advice. The hardest thing is keeping the baby awake around 9-12pm at night. For babies 1 yr older, try keeping them busy, make them do some work. The goal is to get them tired before bedtime. Try this and you will notice some difference, get your sleep back. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By kane (Guest Post) (04/06/2008) I have read your post and feel very sorry for you and all the parents here. well, after several research, here is what I reccomend: babies sleep in mid afternoon to around 11: pm and then when you are ready to go to sleep, they keep you up all night. You should consider waking the baby up starting around 9pm and keep him awake till 12am. Try to keep the baby awake as long as you can. If they baby cries, don't feed to much until you are ready to got to sleep. The last feeding should take longer. By that time, all the baby wants to do is sleep. This works very well with lots of mothers that had followed this advice. The hardest thing is keeping the baby awake around 9-12pm at night. For babies 1 yr older, try keeping them busy, make them do some work. The goal is to get them tired before bedtime. Try this and you will notice some difference, get your sleep back. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries Post By Tiffany (Guest Post) (01/28/2008) So my 2 month old cries for a few hours each night before he falls asleep only to wake up in one or two hours. I have to usually nurse him to sleep. When I tried to let him cry he just wouln't fall asleep and it hurts me to hear him cry. I have to start work again in 2 week and being a single mom don't know how I will get by on 3 hours sleep tops. I need help. =-( Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Kaaren (Guest Post) (01/16/2008) My two children use to wake up off and all night. My Youngest is now 11 and was still having trouble sleeping. Then I was introduced to Shaklee and got her some Chewable Cal Mag Plus and she is sleeping like she has never slept before. Wish I would have know about this before. We have since joined the business to tell others who are struggling. www.shaklee.net/pontiousfarm Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Lucky Dad (Guest Post) (08/01/2007) Our son will be 1yr old tomorrow. Yeah! We have a similar situation. He doesn't fall asleep on his own. He must be breastfed, and/or placed in a "swing chair." We still swaddle him (with very lightweight/open-weaved cloth), as he doesn't do well without it. (Sometimes impossible to put him down without swaddling.) He sleeps with us (between the wall and his mother). He suckles and feeds all night. He recently (last 2 months) started grunting/calling out loudly (looking for breast) before waking. It wakes me, my wife, and himself (even if the breast comes fast). He was also biting her, but my wife says he has backed off recently. My wife's culture is to sleep together. No cribs or seperate rooms. I am disposed to agree for our family. Our apartment is 1 br. Our bedroom is small and the bed is queen sized (we have become crowded on it). I have been agonizing over the possible investment of a king sized bed (using most of the bedroom), or a seperate bed for baby (and keeping queen bed). We can only choose one or the other. I don't wish for him to be in another room yet (nor do we have one). Cribs look and feel like prisons to me. I know they make my wife sad. (Her feelings are very important to all of us, especially baby.) Other babies beds are of interest, but don't "feel" good/right to me. Our son is a really good, very happy boy. He smiles and laughs most of the time. When he cries he can scream so loudly it sounds like he is suffering some abuse. Our very experienced midwife agrees he is on the loudest end of the range of volume (but also says he is very good and sweet). We have discussed weaning him at night. Problem is many neighbors will suffer. Soundproofing is impossible due to our tropical climate, building styles (single-wall), and proximity. Conversations about this have turned sour. Although she expressed willingness to anything earlier, my wife now becomes angry (is tired of discussing it-she can abide the situation) and I am not creating resolution. I have talked about it so much, I am beginning to doubt myself. Our son's 1st birthday is sadly and regrettably tempered by very hard feelings towards me. I have two-fold concern. None of us (baby, mom, & dad) are getting good rest. That impacts our physical, mental, and emotional health. I also have the strong feeling that there is something wrong and this situation is "not right." I work with and use my intuition regularly. When I don't think too much (clearly I have here), it seems always correct and leads to some positive (often unexpected) outcome. I know it appears I am angry I cannot sleep with my wife & son and get good rest. I admit I am a little angry and very frustrated by this. However, my deeper (honest) concern is that I would be negligent (for many reasons) if I didn't pursue this. The ideas expressed about allergies and chiropractic work are intruiging. His screaming could be pain-driven, but why almost exclusively when sleeping? I wonder if anyone has any other ideas. I truly wish for everyone in this situation to be happy and healthy. I love my family very much. Thank you to everyone and anyone for your time and concern. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By (Guest Post) (06/27/2007) hello... i heard that if you wouldn't mind him suckling on your breast all night to let him do that i have to do that with my six month old sometimes and also what that will do is up your breast milk supply just let him suckle on each side for thirty mins or so and if he falls asleep try either outing your pinky finger or a pacy in his mouth that is what i do and one more thing my oldest boys names is zavier Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By katie (Guest Post) (05/13/2007) Hi i had the same trouble with my first child - I nursed him to sleep until he was a year old. I ended up picking a day when my husband and myself were both free for the evening and the next day and I bathed him and put him to bed without nursing him I left him to scream for 5 mins then picked him up told him i loved him and then put him back in I then left him for ten mins and did the same. I continued upping the time I left him by five minutes and he was asleep within the hour and slept all night. I never had a problem after that even in the daytime I could just put him into his bed when he was awake and he would go to sleep no probs. I also stopped breastfeeding him at the same time so i couldn't fall back into the trap of nursing him to sleep. I must admit was was very hard and heartwrenching for that hour of the night but well worth it he was a much happier baby afterwards and I was a much happier mother. Hope this helps Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Brenda from Canada (Guest Post) (02/25/2007) All is well at about 1.5 yrs old he started sleeping through the night. I let him cry it out at nap times for a few days. Then he was going down fine for naps. Oh yeah I found him a soother that he really likes. Then I stopped jumping up to get him every time he cried at night and most of the time he fell back to sleep. Now he sleeps through the night more often then not. Now I'm no longer a zombie. Thanks so much for all your help. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Peter (Guest Post) (02/24/2007) Just Leave a sip bottle of water in the crib. Our boy wakes up two or 3 times in the night, takes a sip of water , and goes back to sleep. No problem. He is perfectly fine, rested and charming. Pity how few parents realize this simple solution. They leave water out for the dog and cat, but leave none out for the child. Hmph! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by camo_angels (668) | (05/23/2006) Profile | Contact Brenda, this is getting serious, have you spoke to your pediatrician in detail? You need to ask him about allergy panels (don't believe that crud about babies can't do the tests) and a full bloodwork/urine/EVERYTHING to be sure he is digesting properly. Gas can keep them up, and it may be something you eat or milk in general, and it is hard because nursing may be the only way to get relief (especially with ear troubles) And if your ped isn't willing to go fully with testing, and a holistic approach, keep researching docs until you find one! I'll be praying for you! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Brenda (canada) (Guest Post) (05/23/2006) Well, here is an update. Xavier is now 13 months. He still is not sleeping through the night. Some times he wakes up a lot other nights just 3x or so. He's still nursing and I wonder if that is part of the problem. He still comes to bed with me after the first time he wakes up. I'm soooooo tired, I can't do what I know needs to be done and sit up with him then put him to bed when he falls back to sleep. I would like to quite nursing but he's very persistant. It's not like I can just throw it away like a bottle. I can't handle him crying and pulling at my shirt so I give in. My others all quit on their own by 9 months. What to do what to do. When will I ever feel normal again?. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By mom 0f 3 (Guest Post) (05/23/2006) I have to say that as you know every child is different. My 1st slept through the night at 2 weeks , 2nd 2 months, 3rd 10 1/2 months. My youngest is now 12 1/2 months and I can lay him in his crib and turn on his music and he goes to sleep with no fussing. I truly think that sometimes no matter what you do all things happen in due time. I really sympathize because by this age it's beyond tiring and frustrating. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by camo_angels (668) | (05/11/2006) Profile | Contact brizaks mommy (sorry if I misspelled!) YOU ARE RIGHT ON! I have been doing a lot more nutritional/neurological research....and I agree with the chiropractor! Allergies are big reason alot of kids can't sleep at night: reactions can look like hyperactivity or other "behavioral Problems" case in point: my 4 year old son was throwing tantrums and reacting sensitive to little changes like switching projects, and had a hard time settling in for bed. He was also lazy in the morning, very grumpy and then wanted to watch tv and never go outside. I stopped using ammonia and chlorine products for cleaning and that night he went to bed without a fuss. The next day he was calm and when I told him to do something to start a new project, he followed through or did a normal protest, not a big dramatic production like before. Children also react to dyes and other chemicals. There are lots of testimonies of babies taking teething gels/medicines and vitamin supplements with dye in them, and not sleeping through the night. I am now a distributor of Shaklee products: all natural, NO DYES OR ARTIFICIAL PRESERVATIVES/SWEETNERS (number 1 allergy causes) and make WONDERFUL organic cleaners with no fumes. You can check them out at www.shaklee.com, and email me at healthy_home101@hotmail.com or please look up a Shaklee distributor in your area. Do it for your family's health! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By carla (Guest Post) (05/11/2006) I have the same problem with my son who is 10 months old its refreshing to know I'm not the only one going through this I was begining to think it was just me and I was a horrible parent. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by Mama in Hawaii (1) | (04/09/2006) Contact My heart was breaking when I read your message. Please consider putting your baby on a schedule. I received a book written by Gina Ford called "The New Contented Little Baby Book" from Amazon.com and it works like a charm. My first child was able to sleep through the night after his 10:30PM feed and wake up at 7AM since he was 10 weeks old. My second child is only 5 weeks old and wakes up only once since she was one week old. This book helped us out tremedously. My in-laws said it's cruel to put a baby on a routine but it works!! Babies love consistancy. Please consider reading the book. Use it as a guideline!! Good luck! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by brizaksmommy (5) | (04/07/2006) Profile | Contact Ok, I'm going to open a can of worms here. I have taken both my sons to the chiropractor since day 2 after birth. Both had spots in their neck that were out due to birth. How does 40#'s per square inch sound to you? That's the force on their necks during delivery (especially if your water has already broken). These spots being out can cause headaches that they can't obviously tell you about. They quit crying when held because you bring comfort even if you don't bring pain relief. Also, like some of the other posts, my son had a dairy allergy and then a systemic yeast infection at three months that we didn't know he had until he started breaking out. Forget going to M.D.s here. You will have to search for answers outside the box so to speak. I learned a lot from the local health food store and did a lot of trial and error. Homeopathic remedies ultimately helped along with high doses of probiotics. Today he is allergy free. And I still take my sons to chiropractor as needed. They are 3 (4 in July) and 5 and both know when to tell me when their backs hurt. I never doubt them and they've always been right. A good chiropractor can direct you in the right direction. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Mandi (Guest Post) (04/07/2006) You had mentioned that you tried feeding your son more solid foods before going to bed to make him more full I don't know what your feeding him but if he will take it give them a big bowl of oatmeal cereal really fills them up and I have found they sleeep a lot longer like this also try putting a humidifier in his room it's good for babies allergies aswell as the noise is very soothing to them. Have you tried baby lullabye music in his room that repeatedly goes all night?? Might work just a few suggestions. Good Luck! let me know if it work mlfota AT yahoo.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Jasmin (Guest Post) (04/07/2006) Hi. I too have an infant, born on X'mas Day 2005. I credit this website and the books written by a darling lady named Tracy Hogg for helping teach me to soothe my baby. The website is http://www.babywhisperer.com/smf/ (run by volunteers). Tracy Hogg wrote 3 amazingly insightful Baby Whisperer books which you can get at a bookstore or on the internet. Unfortunately Tracy passed away last year from cancer, but her advice in the books are spot on. So good luck to you and your baby. John-John's Happy Mummy Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Karen (Guest Post) (04/05/2006) Wow he sounds like my second baby ! His problems persisted for 2 1/2 years. You are right to try to tackle it soon. I would try rocking him in my arms, tell him over and over gently no 'nana' or whatever you or he call nursing. He is almost old enough to understand now. I know it is so heart wrenching. Discomfort from teething can go on and on too. Not to scare you, as your son sounds just fine, but our darling little boy ended up being diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder, sleep problems are common with them. Just a thought to look beyond the medical to behavioural and developmental if there are any other issues there that might point that way. All the best to yourself and to any other mum's suffering from lack of sleep right now. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by TonyaG (104) | (03/19/2006) Profile | Contact Brenda - sounds like you have already gotten a ton of advice and some very good advice at that. I don't have children, but I do have two nephews. My oldest nephew was one of those kids that people just wish for. He slept all night from the get go. Then there was his little brother. Bless little brother's heart. They are as opposite as daylight and dark. I stayed with them one night a week for a while and had no trouble getting little brother to sleep. (Made his parents mad too.) What I did is run him around like crazy before bedtime. (He was probably about 2 or so now that I think about it.) I would let him get cooled clothes out of the dryer and bring them to me. He was little and could only carry a couple of things at a time so he walked a lot of steps. Then I would give him his bath and turn out all but one light in the house. I would then sit down with him and sing to him and talk to him in soft little baby talks. He would knock out like a little trooper. I'd pick him up and carry him away to bed. I did the same thing every single time I watched them and everytime he would crash right out. I guess what I am trying to say is there is something to be said for routine. I know even for myself, I try to keep a routine in the evenings because I too have sleep problems. I hope this helps a little. Above all, remember, he will only be little once. He doesn't know what is going on in the world, although he does seem to have learned how to get your attention. :>) It is all a learning experience. You learn about him and he is learning about you, his family and life in general. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by camo_angels (668) | (03/16/2006) Profile | Contact Concerned - Actually, that statement was directed to the "I 'm a bad mom comment" That was orginally posted last night, and disappeared, along with a comment for letting a child have his bottle of milk all night......so maybe it was taken out? I think you were right on to voice your concern for the child's well being. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By (Guest Post) (03/16/2006) OK. I want to apologize for my post last night. I have been having a rotten week, although it's no excuse. You all are right, it was very immature of me. I have decided I need to spend way less time on the internet, and much more with my son. I'm very sorry for acting like a (insert whatever fits here!) Brenda, I do truly wish you and your family the best. I hope you find what works for you and your little man. Once again I'm sorry, Bubbasmom Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by camo_angels (668) | (03/15/2006) Profile | Contact Sometimes medical research can be very enlightening, even if we have anecdotes of different outcomes. I think a child's health and safety, and a mother getting proper advice is more important than our own egos. The pediatrician and the mother would be the experts in this child's case, given they both can observe behaviors and come to a decision what is best for the child. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By concerned (Guest Post) (03/15/2006) There's a big difference between doing something that may or may not worsen behavioural problems and something that can kill your child. e.g. some doctors say to let them cry it out (to create independence), some say respond whenever they need you (to create security), but no matter which method you choose you're not putting your child's life at risk. Children every year die from being given Benedryl to make them sleep. I don't know what happens when this happens and a parent administers it, but there have been cases of babysitters and daycare workers giving kids Benedryl to make them sleep better and then the child died and now the caregivers are being sued and even going to jail. I agree that not all these doctors giving advice necessarily know what they're talking about when it comes to dealing with difficult child behaviours, but they do know how to read information that tells them that a drug can cause severe side effects and even death. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Trix (Guest Post) (03/15/2006) I was thinking if your son is missing you would it help to put a shirt you've worn in the crib/bed? Your son would then have something to cuddle that smells like you. You could either give it to him as a blankie or put it on a teddy bear or whatever he likes to sleep with. Just thought it might help him feel a little closer to you when you're not there. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Brenda (canada) (Guest Post) (03/15/2006) Another up date. All though drugging your child is tempting. I don't take anything other then regular tylenol and ibuprophen after a c-section. So no worries I'm not about to do that for my sleep let alone the babies sleep. Well, we are still plugging through, some days harder than the next. I am starting to give a bottle in his crib. I know that many ppl think that is wrong and I wasn't going to do that with Xavier. I started really thinking about what could be so different with him then with the other 3 and I realized I NEAVER gave him a bottle in bed ever. This is because of all the warnings of tooth decay. So I thought some more about it. My oldest is 12 his teeth are fine as well as the 10 and 5 year olds. Really what is the diff, between nursing ALL night long or sucking on the bottle. So now I'm trying to give him a bottle with breast milk with the hope he'll smell me and take it. The fact is he really just wants to be close to me and he isn't hungry. Got to love him!!!! He is set in his ways and does not want the bottle. I'm not liking the idea of nursing forever so hopefully this works. My sister is coming to town to stay with me next week and is going to try to help me by her feeding him instead of me. This should work cause she's one of those ppl that can take a baby, any baby and put them to sleep with no problem. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By benedryl worries (Guest Post) (03/15/2006) Dr. William Sears, a pediatrician and author of books on infant sleep, said it is an "old school" practice to use cold and allergy medications to sedate babies, but even using a small amount of drugs is dangerous. Young babies need to awake easily to protect themselves from dangers like choking when they spit up. The sedative interferes with that natural waking mechanism, Sears said. Sharon Dabrow, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of South Florida, said some pediatricians do advise parents to use appropriate doses of Benadryl to sedate children who are at least 12 months old. Dabrow doesn't recommend it. "Our society is so wrapped up around medications being a fix for anything," she said. "To be using it (Benadryl) on a 3-month-old is just horrible." New York pediatrician Dr. Laura Popper tells The Early Show infants should never be given medication to make them sleep. She says, The only person who should be administering anything should be in an operating room and it should be an anesthesiologist. There are no sleep medications for babies. From the makers of Benadryl (note this is for babies who get the Benedryl from breastmilk - the effects are much greater if given directly!): Infants are especially sensitive to the effects of antihistamines, and serious side effects could occur in a breast-feeding baby. Benadryl is not recommended if you are breast-feeding. Do not take Benadryl without first talking to your doctor if you are nursing a baby. Report Spam or Abuse Don't drug your baby! Post By concerned (Guest Post) (03/15/2006) Sedating your baby with drugs is not only lazy parenting, but can also be dangerous and it might not even work. From Lane France, pediatrician "sedating medications such as Benadryl don't always have the calming effect you want  some babies get really revved up. Even testing the drug before your trip isn't foolproof  the same medication can make your baby sleepy one day and hyperactive the next. Occasionally, the reaction can be far more serious. I know of one baby who stopped breathing after being sedated on a plane flight, and the pilot had to make an emergency landing to get him to the hospital. The baby was fine, but his parents were horrified." Why put your child at risk when there are other methods to deal with the problem? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by Vicka (94) | (03/14/2006) Profile | Contact Check with your pediatrician to rule out anything physical. Create a bedtime routine and stick to it. Same time every night. Some suggestions: Warm bath, warm milk in a sippy cup (this does work) and bedtime snack, read to him, soft music in his room, night light, stuffed animals, glow-in-the-dark stars or even a loud ticking clock. Brainstorm with his grandparents and other parents. And try anything and everything- maybe even, and I may take flack for this, Benedryl to get him started. Talk to Dr. about it first. Also, you might want to look around his room after dark and see if there are reflections that bug him. Try covering the windows, or moving his crib. This was a problem for one of my kids. There are some good books on this topic out there too. Hang in there. They want to sleep all the time as teenagers. LOL Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Brenda (canada) (Guest Post) (03/14/2006) Well, still walking around like a zoombie. This is going to take some time. If only I could talk to him and make him understand that I need my sleep. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Baylee (Guest Post) (03/12/2006) My first baby was only 2 to 3 weeks old and started sleeping all night through. My friends said you don't know how lucky you are. I Didn't. My second baby, I wondered if I would ever have a full nights sleep again..I never nursed but I would feed him pablum very loose and then his bottle. I would put him into his bedroom, his crib with a mobile tuck him in and sing to him. I would pray over him. Then I would leave the room and go to bed. Then the crying started. An old retired Doctor told me, Just let him cry for awhile. Babies lungs are growing when they cry. It certainly won't hurt him. Before a week goes by he will be sleeping through the night. I thought that was the most heartless idea I ever heard. A few nights later at our wits end. I laid him down, went through our routine and thenI left the room and stayed out. BUT Finally that was the best advice I ever heard. By the 4th night he was ready for sleep and he slept through the whole night. What a blessing for the whole family. Every night after that he was ready to be left alone in his own little bed and his own little room, and he peacefully slept. By the way the oldest just turned 30, and my 2nd is now 28 They grew up normal and happy. I give my advice as the same, and take the time to pray over your new baby. They are a gift from God and are truly precious. They grow up so fast and you will wonder what happened to those little ones one day when you see a little child, and remember your's are all grown up. Where did the time go? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Brenda (canada) (Guest Post) (03/12/2006) Well, another up date. yesterday I took Xavier to the doc about his ears. I had got thinking about the posibilities of an ear infection as one of you said could be the problem. He does play with his ears alot. I thought it was a new discovery. Doc checked him said he's fine and that nothing should provent him sleeping through the night. Though he did say some baby's are just light sleepers. He said to try re-setting his sleep pattern. How ever he might just be "that way" until he grows out of it. Last night we tried to have him fall asleep on his own. He cried and cried. We took each went in to comfort him. He layed there eyes wide open freked out. So I ended up siting beside the crib until he fell asleep hopefully tonight will be better. Take care. Brenda and Xavier Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Steph (Guest Post) (03/11/2006) I recommend checking out Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn. There is a website by that name which features a parent forum. You can talk to other parents there. Your son can only communicate by crying and it is possible that you are not picking up what he is trying to say. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Trix (Guest Post) (03/11/2006) At his age he doesn't need any food or milk at night, so this is all about him not being independent enough to fall asleep on his own. You're not doing your son any favours by making him so dependent on you. He's got to learn that he's competent enough to get himself to sleep. You've taught him that he needs you to get to sleep, when in fact he doesn't; you need to be with him because you can't handle his crying. It's not fair to make him so dependent just because you feel guilty about doing this to him for so long. Instead neither one of you gets a good night's sleep and you keep draggin it on. You don't have to leave him alone wailing by himself, you can gradually wean him by first giving up the nursing at night but staying with him until he sleeps, then only staying for a while and even leaving him with a toy or something to occupy himself until he's ready to fall asleep, etc. It may seem like forever (he may be quite stubborn at first since this has been going on so long) but you've got to remind yourself that this is what is best for HIM as well as for the rest of the family and even if it takes an hour or two the first night he WILL eventually go to sleep and within a couple of days he'll be able to put himself to sleep peacefully for the rest of his life. Isn't a few difficult days worth having him happy for the rest of his childhood? Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Amy (Guest Post) (03/11/2006) Hi, We went through something similar with our youngest son, who is now 10. After we moved from our home to an apartment when he was six months old, our son began waking every hour to two hours, although two hours was a relief for us. Prior to this, he slept from 8:00p to 8:00a., and he was completely nursing still. He also had a tiny rash that the Drs. just kept saying was nothing. I knew they were wrong and suspected an allergy, although they denied it. After going back to visit my folks five months later, the rash went away. When we went home, it came back. We then left to visit my husband's mom, and the rash got better. By now, he was on a cup during the day, and we switched to a cup at night at my MIL's house. He also refused a bottle. Anyhow, my husband ripped up the carpet at the apartment, and when we went back, the baby was fine. The baby could have an allegy, especially if you or your husband, or any other family has allergies. We just found out two years ago, the extent of our son's allergies. They are so numerous that I don't know how he has been able to survive. Since finding all of this out, though, he has been such a pleasant person to be with, whereas before, he was very tempermental. It was so extreme at times, that we had even sought counselling for him, which never helped. Thankfully, he was never put on any meds. Now we don't use chemicals when he is home, and we watch what he eats. Takes getting used to, be it is so worth it. Good Luck!! Amy Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by sunhat (53) | (03/11/2006) Contact I HIGHLY RECOMMEND a book called Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth. He is an MD whose speciality is pediatric sleep. It explains pediatric sleep and how it develops from newborns through the teen years, and how you can promote it or unwittingly undermine it. Unfortunately, it's not really organized in a way that makes it useful as a quick-answer reference, but it's invaluable for giving you a good overview of what this sleep thing is all about. It really helped me cut through all the old-wive's-tales nonsense that floats around everywhere about how to get your child to sleep. Good luck! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Brenda (canada) (Guest Post) (03/11/2006) Thanks so much for your feed back. keep it coming and I'll keep you all up dated. My husband and I are both going to read these and come up with a plan together. Me walking around like a zoombie all day has to end. For now I've started on the day time naps. Befor nap time I give him a bottle of milk when I feel he's starting to get tiered I cuddle him ( he IS totally a cuddler he comes and sits on my feet when I'm cooking, cleaning ect....) So any way. I kiss him, love on him ect... then put him in his bed with teddy and a toy link he loves to chew on. Then say it's nap time. The first day he cried and cried I talked on the phone to a supportive friend and about every 5 min. I went and told him I love him and layed him back down. ( So hard to do I'm crying now thinking about it.) Finaly about 25 min later he fell asleep folded in half. I fix him so he was more comfy and he slept like a log. Next day (yesterday) Same thing he played for about 15 min. then cried about 5 min. and went to sleep. Today same thing. So hopfully thats it for nap time. Now bed time. and ALL NIGHT. that night time thing is going to be hard. Please pray for persiverance and wisdom. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by Trudy Powell (46) | (03/11/2006) Contact Although it's a comfort to him (and to you) to "help" him by nursing and holding him, it's really not doing him (or your family) any good at this point. A baby that age is pefectly capable of sleeping through the night (given there are no underlying medical issues as mentioned previously). If medical issues are ruled out, you will have to go the "tough love" route and let him cry, no picking up, tenderly telling him to "go night night" or "time to go to sleep" and then gently leaving the room. Begin extending the time between trips to his room for comfort. After a few nights, he should know what to expect. His sleep is what's best for him (and you). You're the adult and know that. You can get physically sick if you continue for too long with no deep sleep of your own. You use the phrases in your post "I always give in" and "it rips my heart out". Parents can make the mistake of letting the child make the rules, but you need to take charge and let him know what his schedule is. Some may say that this doesn't seem loving or caring, but sometimes loving and caring means making these difficult changes. Just as you wouldn't let one of your older childreb stay up all night or participate in something unhealthy for them or the family, this baby needs to know this is not what happens at your house because you make the rules and know what's best. He will be much more content if he is getting better sleep himself, and you will feel better as well. He should be old enough to be eating some table foods and getting more calories that way, especially since he has teeth. Instead of letting him snack his way through the day and night, give him larger regular meals, spaced apart at an appropriate intervals (not every hour). All my kids slept through the night (10 hours) by the time they were 11 weeks old. When I tell them now (they are ages 8, 7, and 5) that I had to let them cry a little so they would learn to sooth themselves, they smile to hear the stories. We are an extremely close, loving family, and they still like their beds and are good at going to bed and going right to sleep. They were not damaged nor do they feel unloved because I had to help teach them something they needed to know. Start the process at a time your husband has a couple of days off, in case your son cries a lot the first couple of nights. You may not get much sleep for a week or so as you go through the process, but then again, you're not getting much sleep now either. All my kids enjoyed holding a cloth diaper as they went to sleep, so you might put one up next to his cheek and see if he likes it. Best to you. Post an update later to let us know how you're doing. Trudy Powell Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Jeneene (Guest Post) (03/11/2006) Here's what worked with my sons...I would go into their room and talk softly and comfort them from outside the crib, but wouldn't pick them up. I let them know that I was there, wanted to help them, but they saw that crying wouldn't get the breast or the rocking chair, so it wasn't really worth it. This also only took a few days, but I feel it was more humane than letting a baby cry. I read once that babies need 'a womb with a view' for about 9 months, in other words, to be able to be held and nursed most of the time. Your baby is just past that age. You and the baby both will feel better if you handle this gently. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Jen in Utah (Guest Post) (03/11/2006) I had a similar problem and found out much too late that our little one had what is known as 'silent' ear infections. They don't get a fever and so you don't realize they have it. I was doing the same thing thinking it was a food problem but that was exaserbating the problem becuse i was nursing and feeding her so much that it was then giving her a stomach ache. She also would not take a pacifier but would nurse and nurse. I think the sucking some how hepled the ear feel better. It took me changing doctors to find out that it was her ears and once we got tubes in her ears she was fine. We still had to train her a little to stay in her ouwn bed and whatnot but then it was with much less crying and pain. Good luck! I know how trying this problem can be on the nerves, family and marriage! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by meoowmom (1238) | (03/10/2006) Profile | Contact Have you spoken to a doctor perhaps the baby has colic. I realize your husband needs proper sleep but a baby is a gift and reality and I noticed you said "I" have a baby and not "we". Babies can also pick up tension and stress so if you are tense being awake each hour I would be also, that can further cause crying. I would seek help from a doctor maybe calling and talking to the nurse, as this pattern does not seem healthy for you, baby and family. Good luck let us know how it goes. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) My first 2 children are a little over 11 months apart. When the oldest was 9 months old and not sleeping thru the night, I knew I had to figure out something or I'd never get any sleep. So - we moved the crib to the dining room and let him cry - a solid hour the first night, abut 20 minutes the second night, maybe 5 minutes the third night and after that, he slept thru the night - no problems. It was awful to lay there and let him cry and not do anything to soothe him but we had to do it. Three nights was all it took - a long 3 nights, mind you, but worth every waking minute!! You have to do the tough love thing, I guess. At least we did. It will only get worse if you don't nip it in the bud NOW. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Nancy (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) I agree with Mary Lou. My little girl had colic for several weeks during which she slept on my chest or in her car seat. As soon as that cleared up, she had MONTHS of ear infections until finally at 9 mos. we had tubes put in. So basically I had to teach her how to sleep in a crib altogether, much less through the night. I also used the 3 night sleep method. It took about 3 hrs. a night. This is not for day naps! I would be outside her room and when she cried I would go in and just quietly lay her back down over and over stretching out the time. As little stimulation as possible, lights, talking, etc. You have to teach your child a new way to sleep without depending on you. Both of you will be happier in the long run. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by TC in MO (67) | (03/10/2006) Contact Please trust your instincts. If letting him cry it out seems wrong to you, then maybe that isn't the right thing for you and him. Get on one of the attachment parenting groups they discuss this topic endlessly and you will recieve a lot of support Blessings to you all TC in MO Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by peachynptc (39) | (03/10/2006) Profile | Contact My husband put his foot down with my last child. He did the same thing. My husband had to literally hold me in the bed so I wouldn't "rescue" my son from crying. It took 45 minutes the first night but was quicker the next few nights. It was hard but after I found out he was healthy, I realized he was just spoiled. Cuddle with him all you want during the day but they have to learn at night, kind of like puppies have to learn. You would have to let a puppy cry at night until he learned it's time to sleep at night, right. Good Luck Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By sandy (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) i dont have children so i cant sympathise on that note. but i do think he needs a doctors appointment. maybe your milk isnt letting down as much and he really needs more nutrition. he probably also senses your tenseness. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By eve (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) when my son was like that i put cereal in his bottle he would go right to sleep Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Mary Lou Baker (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) It sounds like he is dependent on you to help him sleep and he'll need to learn how to sleep on his own, like the rest of us did. It's a tough process to teach him how to sleep on his own, but there are a lot of things kids don't like to do that they have to do (take baths, eat vegetables, etc.). I highly recommend the Healthy Sleep, Happy Child (I think that's what it's called) book. Most books I've read have said that after 3 nights of sleep training, they learn. You might want to try the modified approach of letting him cry for 15 min. and then soothe and then the next time 30 min. It's a lot of work in the beginning, but so worth it for you and him. We did this with my son when he was 5 or 6 months, and sometimes had to repeat it every so often, but overall he's been a good sleeper since then, and he's a happy child (and we're happy, too!) Most people that I've talked with have had to do this. Good luck! Remember that what you're doing is good for him-babies need lots of uninterrupted sleep. Also, my son likes to have music going at night and his teddy bears. I think it's a lot to expect a child to not have anything to soothe them at night. ML Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) Our third was an "all night nurser". i tried much of what you have and a few more of the "solid" food ideas. The best thing that worked was to choose a couple nights when we weren't working the next day. We put her between us in bed and snuggled her but didn't let her nurse. When she wanted to nurse I lay with my back to her and Dad snuggled her while she screamed bloody murder. The first night was hard (rip my heart out :) The second night was better. Their third night she slept right through. We tried leaving her in her bed to scream but like your little guy she then became afraid of being abandoned. In bed with us she felt safe and secure even though the new restrictions were not to her liking. Once she was past the screaming part, she slept a few nights with her sister and then alone just fine. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By halloweenfreak (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) we started having that problem when my son was about 5 months old. i would feed him and put him to bed and just as i was falling asleep, he was crying again. when i asked his dr. what was wrong, he told me he had gotten into a bad habit and we had to find some way to cure it. this went on for a month before i found a way to get some sleep, i put him in bed with us. thats all he wanted, was to touch us during the night. i would keep bottles in a cooler by the bed and when he would wake up (which was only a few times a night now) i would give him a bottle in bed and he would fall right back to sleep. (warm milk made him sick) down side to this was hes 4 and i JUST NOW got him in his own bed because he still needed to touch us when he slept. but as someone else pointed out, he might not be getting enough to eat. my son was put on baby cereal when he was 2 weeks old because he wasn't getting enough to eat. (my 4 year old is now almost 4 feet tall and 48lbs. no wonder he was hungry all the time!) another thing that helped him was a vibrating baby bouncer. put him to sleep everytime. (but i dont remember what the age limit to those are) i hope something works out for you. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Marie Krause (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) Have you tried keeping him up during the day so he is good and sleepy later. I agree too with feeding him a solid meal late in the evening. Most babies at 10 months (or used to be when I was a young mother) took only one short nap after lunch,,,,not longer than two hours and the rest of the day, try to keep him awake,,,if he attempts to fall asleep, keep him occupied. It's worth a little extra time playing with him for a few days during the day, to get him to sleep nights and the rest of the family is probably suffering for the loss of sleep too. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by camo_angels (668) | (03/10/2006) Profile | Contact As i read through again, he sounds like a cuddler! Give him a teddy bear (he may pick his own) and wear it under your shirt for awhile to get your scent. If you are worried about suffocation, you can move it away when he falls asleep. My older son had an elephant and he would suck on the trunk! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post by camo_angels (668) | (03/10/2006) Profile | Contact Oh boy just went through that! My second was like that, I nursed him to 9 months because of seizures, but his teeth came in late (first two at 9 months) and started biting. I tried bottles, and he threw them. But I gave him a sippy cup by Nuby with the silicone top, so he could suck like a nipple and he was fine. Not nursing was especially hard because we didn't know what he wanted. I basically weaned him cold turkey and he was fine as long as he had that sippy cup and drank with big brother. He ate three meals a day and snacks, plus 24 oz of formula/breast milk. He slept through the night fine with orajel. THe problem with nursing them late at night is that they start to expect that, and so do their stomachs. They need the mommy milk, but are starting to depend more on solids. I am willing to bet his teeth bother him more than his stomach, especially if he is growing like he should. Try giving him baby/jr tylenol at night, if it is safe for him, and save your breasts! Babies know best when they need something different, as am sure the others let you know! My husband works graveyards and I wholeheartedly sympathize with your situation. If the doctor says he is okay growth and nutrition wise, DO NOT nurse him any more at night! It'll hurt for a night or two, but worth it when everyone can sleep! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Baby Cries All Night Post By Arlene (Guest Post) (03/10/2006) I really think your milk is not staving off his hunger, and, of course, babies quickly learn what works. I read recently about late solid feedings. i.e. feed him solids around 7, then bottle, he'll probably fall asleep, then get him up at around 10:30 or 11:00, feed him again and another bottle, don't wake him just feed him. We cured our crier with an automatic baby swing. Could it be teething that is keeping him up? The nursing all night idea just doesn't work, obviously. I would also add the formula that you are using to his cereal so he gets used to the taste. He could be having gas problems, so I would avoid cow milk, except possibly fat free lactaid milk. Cow milk for cow babies! I would be careful about fruits and green vegetables, and no sugar! When you put him to bed don't stay in the room. He does need to cry it out and learn to fall asleep. No music, no stimuli. How come we can sleep with someone, but babies have to be alone? Report Spam or Abuse