Change of Sleep Patterns at 7 Months...

Updated on February 19, 2011
L.S. asks from Brooklyn, NY
4 answers

Ok, I know I have NO right to complain, but my DD has been a GREAT sleeper for several months now. Even as a newborn she was very good as long as she was being held. For the first 3-4 months I could not put my daughter down. At all. I wore here everywhere and she slept on me at night. She was a very good sleeper even then. Once she was finally in her crib she would go down anywhere between 7:30-9pm and sleep until we WOKE her at 7am for a bottle and then she would then go right back to sleep until anywhere between 9-11am. She very rarely changed things up. Usually only by waking up during growth spurts to eat or sometimes when teething.

This whole week she has been waking up anywhere between 3-5am to eat, then again at around 8am. Today she was up at 4:30, then again at 8 and stayed up to play unti about 10. She's still sleeping (11:45). I'm so confused by this new behavior. I know babies change their schedules and I expect it, but this new 5am thing is just crazy! Any advice? My husband and I had a great routine with her in the morning and now we're both exhausted and confused. What kind of sleep training can be done for this? It's not about letting her "cry it out" because she's hungry. She'll drain a full 8oz bottle at 5am, so I know it's hunger waking her.

She just woke up. Thank you all for any advice you can give! I'm sure this is just a phase, but i'm going crazy!!!!! lol

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So What Happened?

Thanks guys! I know it's just a phase but so many people talk about sleep training and honestly, I have the book, but I never even opened it. The thought of her coming home at 5am is so scary!!!!! I'm so glad I have quite a few years before that happens.

I expected her schedule to change, but after her sleeping so many hours for so long I never expected it to change for the worse! I do need to start getting to bed earlier but it's so hard because my husband gets home from work pretty late. I like having some us time to unwind and relax. I'm hoping next week is a little better. TGIF!!!!

Melissa, I appreciate the advice, but that schedule just doesn't work for my daughter. She lets me know when she wants to nap. If I try to put her down when she's not tired she just screams her head off. Not worth it.

Her schedule is changing, this I expect. Also, I realized today that she is definitely getting another tooth. I tried giving her Tylenol, but it didn't help much. I'm going to be looking for some teething tablets or whatever they are.

Aunt Mary D, I let her lead too. I tried very hard to get her onto a schedule that I felt would work and she fought me tooth and nail and created her own. So we've adapted! :) And we do keep the lights off in the middle of the night and she will go right back to sleep, so it works! Thanks for all the advice!! And honestly, I think the old school methods work the best! You can't just program a baby. They know what they need and they have their own way of telling us. <3

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

She needs to feed.
Normal.

Also, if she is emptying a full 8 oz. bottle, then she will probably drink more.

She is STILL 'sleeping through the night' ... because for a Baby, sleeping through the night, means sleeping for at least 5 hours straight. Which IS what she is doing.

Sleep, is NEVER static in a baby nor finite.
I do not know, of any person, who STILL sleeps the same way they did as a baby.

My kids as babies, woke a TON more than yours as babies. Since birth.

To me, your baby is sleeping good.

I never sleep 'trained' my kids.
Babies sleep and wake and cry.
It just is.
My kids, are now, good sleepers and nappers, naturally.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.D.

answers from New York on

Dear L., You are so blessed to have this little girl. Yes babies will change their sleep habits. At this age she may start teething and this will wake her up. She is hungry because she will go through a growth spurt. As an older mom I know nothing about sleep training, just following the baby's lead. I was nursing so when baby woke up he/she was brought into bed with me and we both slept. Hopefully this pattern will change for the better. If she wakes in the night, do not turn on lights. Let her see the difference between day and night. I hope this helps. The other moms will have more modern advice. Most important, love your baby. Grandma Mary(mom of 5)

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

The "5 a.m. thing", along with a 1 a.m. thing was approximately my baby's schedule from birth until 13 months. Then she dropped the night feedings herself and slept straight through. You might need to go to bed earlier, so that you get enough sleep. This is a phase, and there will be several more!

Just wait until they are 17 and show up at home at 5:00 a.m., I've been through that "phase", too!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.A.

answers from New York on

You really need to wake her at seven. 1st nap at 9am. Second nap around two bedtime at 7:30. Google sleep schedule and it will tell you the same thing

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