Not sleeping enough--- help!

We have a 4mons old baby girl. The doctor said she should be sleeping though the night by now at least 8 hours and 1-2 hours naps during the day.

Our problem is, she wakes up at least 2-3 times a night- crying excessively. At one time, she wants to eat at 2 or 3am. I think part of it is, she got used to sleeping next to us on her first 3 months- since she was colicky- that was the only way she could sleep.

Any ideas that can help us? Pointers on what we should do at night to keep her routine? Any suggestions will help. Thanks a bunch!

Message edited 8/13/2006 11:14:43 AM.

Re: Not sleeping enough--- help!

My daughter woke up to eat until she was about 6-7 months old. I don't think it's fair for doctors to generalize that every baby should be doing the same thing at a certain age. That's like saying every baby should crawl at x months and walk at x months which doesn't happen. I think babies grow differently and have different metabolisms which makes some take longer to sleep through the night as far as hunger goes.

Does she take a pacifier? Maybe that would help although at her age IMO if she is actually eating a full bottle or nursing session when she wakes up she is actually hungry not just looking for comfort. My daughter started taking the pacifier instead of eating which made me know she wasn't hungry and once she learned to find it on her own while she was sleeping she slept through the night.

Some people suggest a dream feed where you basically feed your baby in their sleep before you go to bed in the hopes that they sleep through the night.

What about swaddling? Do you think since she in her crib now maybe she needs to comfort of being tightly swaddeled?

Hope you find something that works for you.

Re: Not sleeping enough--- help!

Tell this doctor I'd love to buy his/her magic solution. My daughter still wakes up every night and she is 16 months old.

Don't be so hard on yourself. What you did in the first four months was exactly the right thing to do for your baby. Some babies are just better sleepers than others.

The Weissbbluth book Healthy Sleep Habits has great suggestions and will give you more realistic expectations.