continued worries.

chryssi.chatel

My DD is now 20 weeks old.  She's the light of my husband, and my life and couldnt imagine life without her.  but there are things that concern me.  1) she will not laugh.  other babies her age are giving big belly laughs, and have been for months.  the most we can get out of her is a big smile.  Secondly, she still wont sleep through the night.  Doctor has told us to give solids at night and ignore her if she wakes up.  Not only does the food not hold her over, ignoring her is not an option (she screams for hours, will not sleep).  i've tried giving her formula, swaddling, keeping her up and still nothing.  any ideas?

minervacullen

Most babies don't sleep through the night. That's just the way it is.

sbevmc09

I don't see anything of concern here at all.  From what you've said your baby seems totally normal. 

I'm guessing laughing will happen here soon.

It's totally normal for a baby not to STTN even after a year.  Every baby is different.  Just because they *can* STTN at a certain point doesn't mean that they will.  I would absolutely ignore your doctor's advice to ignore the crying.  I mean, I guess you can.  Eventually they'll learn to stop trying to get your attention, but that's not advice I would give.  Waking up overnight is completely normal for quite a while longer.

lindsey913

sbevmc09:

I don't see anything of concern here at all.  From what you've said your baby seems totally normal. 

I'm guessing laughing will happen here soon.

It's totally normal for a baby not to STTN even after a year.  Every baby is different.  Just because they *can* STTN at a certain point doesn't mean that they will.  I would absolutely ignore your doctor's advice to ignore the crying.  I mean, I guess you can.  Eventually they'll learn to stop trying to get your attention, but that's not advice I would give.  Waking up overnight is completely normal for quite a while longer.

Absolutely all of this!

BabyHope2013

I just wanted to throw out there that my son is about 17 weeks old and that he just recently started laughing---and it is more of a chuckle than a true belly laugh. And he still isn't sleeping through the night either. The longest stretch he will give us is about 5.5 hours. Not sure how long you have had her on solids, or what you are feeding her---but it could be new for her and maybe her belly hurts a little from it. Lastly, not that I am assuming you are, but I am not planning on doing any CIO until my son is at least 6 months and my pediatrician agrees. I feel like until then they are too young in my opinion and that if he is crying that he obviously needs me for some reason.

If you are really concerned you could always talk with your pediatrician, but remember that all kids develop at different ages.

SunshineShades

DD is 20 weeks and doesn't really laugh. Not big belly laughs. She has more of a happy scream. Oh and we are no where near sleeping through the night.

[Deleted User]

The user and all related content has been deleted.

cmhicklin

I don't have advice to add, but the minute you start comparing your LO to others, you will start going crazy.

ForeverEverAfter

Don't worry about the laughing, it will come soon. And ignore your Drs crazy advice!! It's perfectly normal for a baby that age to wake in the night, and ignoring LOs cries for help will only cause both of you distress. Its quite likely that a BF baby needs food MOTN. If you want to sleep train that's your choice, but don't just ignore the baby all of the sudden because some Dr said so.

BLPL101

My DD is 19 weeks and smiles, but doesn't laugh. I'm concerned too.

BrittanyDoesDerby

DD only really laughs when she is tickled, other than that she just squeals when she thinks something is funny. 

As for STTN, babies STTN when they are ready. It is not uncommon for babies to still wake up a few times at night at this stage, and even later. 

ETA: Solids are not proven to make LO's STTN, so that is some advice that I would not follow. Also, if you don't want to make your baby cry, don't make your baby CIO. Do what feels natural to you and your baby. 

kateraid

Get a new doctor and enjoy your baby!