The new nightly battle!

ddembinska · July 2014

My 4 month old has started a new boycott against sleep. It is EVERY night that he does this. Lets out this ear shattering scream, gets himself all sweaty, and sometimes barfs. If you pick him up, he stops. (unless he's way overtired, in which case he keeps going no matter what) I fed him, changed him, made sure he was burped, made sure he was comfortable, and put him down for a nap since he was rubbing his eyes. Then the chaos started. The ear shattering screams and the cherry red face. If you pay attention to him, he stops doing it! So, tonight, I decided to wait it out and let him CIO. he did finally go to sleep about 30 minutes later. This happens every evening now. Starts around 6pm, and goes on until he goes down for the night after his bath at 930. Seems like a constant battle to get this child to sleep now. I didn't enjoy letting him CIO, but I feel like that's the only option at this point. I can't run to his side everytime he makes a peep, since I have a 4 year old as well. They both are always taken care of, but my 4 month old wants to be glued to somebody at all times. Anybodys child go through a phase like this around this age? He has always been very needy, between reflux and wanting attention. His reflux is pretty much non existent now, but he still wants constant attention. But now it's to the point where he has huge fits daily over taking naps or going to bed for the night. He sleeps in his own bed, fyi.

Unknown · July 2014

This content has been removed.

Designermomma · July 2014

Is he sleeping at an incline in his bed? Our dr told us to slightly incline the mattress with our reflux baby. (Put a small rolled up towel under one side of the mattress) It may have something to do with it also? The wakeful happens at this time too. Baby's are distracted and not eating enough during the day and then are hungry at night. Mine also began teething at this time. Wish you luck.

flcl · July 2014

We're going through the 4month wakeful in our house too. On the worst night, I lost count after he woke up for the 8th time. Our pedi echoed what the ladies on here are saying, no CIO until at least 6 months. As PP mentioned, his bedtime may be too late. Maybe you and your SO can plan out/ take turns with LO and your 4 YO. As hard as this is on DH and me, LO seems to be having the toughest time... he is a little needier right now. So if he needs to be picked up and cuddled, that's what I do. Wearing him helps me get other things done. Reminding myself that this isn't going to last forever helps as well.

ddembinska · July 2014

He wasn't alone for 30 minutes, I was coming in every 5-10 minutes so he didn't think he was alone.

My husband works from 5pm-5am, so when this is going on, I don't have anybody else to help out.

I never went through this with my 4 year old. He went through random phases, but they never involved blood curdling screams luckily.

His reflux doesn't seem to be an issue anymore really. His spitting up is almost non existent now. He was put on rice at 2 months, which made a world of difference.

He has always been very needy. He fights naps all day long, but it just gets excessively bad at night once we're winding down. I try to put him down arounf 730pm, but he won't stay down until 930, which is why his bedtime is then. My 4 year old's bedtime is 9pm.

jackieoickle · July 2014

It could be the 4 month sleep regression. I'm pretty sure I just went through it he past 2 weeks. My son was EXTREMELY fussy, very hard to get him to settle while trying to get him to go to sleep, Up every few hours wanting to me held, not wanting to go back to sleep once up, and every time I would FINALLY get him alseep he would wake up once I put him in his crib. One night it took me 2 hours to get him to settle. The good news is it doesn't last forever. I looked online and I've seen it last 2-6 weeks. Yes I know that sounds like a looong time but it will pass. We're on week 3 and I am starting to see him going back to his normal sleeping patters. No I don't have a baby that sleeps through the night but only having to get up once or twice is a big improvement from being up every few hours. Good luck!! And be patient, it will pass if it is the 4 month sleep regression.

Unknown · July 2014

This content has been removed.

ddembinska · July 2014

I don't understand why parents, especially mothers, choose to bash or bad mouth other mothers.

Some of us don't have much help. My husband works from 5pm-5am, then drives home, then sleeps from 6am-2pm. He stays with us for 2 hours,then leaves again. I don't have anybody to help me when my 4 month old gets going, and I'm still trying to get a 4 year old ready for bed. When he's inconsolable, and I know he's not in need of something, he cries for a bit. I don't lock him in a room alone, but he needs to have some degree of knowing how to calm himself down.

I did CIO with my 4 year old when he hit 5 months. Again, I didn't just leave him alone for hours at a time, and I didn't let him get too unraveled. But, he needed to start learning how to comfort himself. Today, he is a happy, healthy 4 years old with great sleeping habits. And thank god, because that's 1 less kid I have to fight with at night.

There's a reason why all pediatricians don't recommend the same exact thing for every kid. Kids don't come with instruction manuals, and no 2 kids are the same. I can say with 100% certainty that my 2 kids are literally complete opposites when it comes to infancy. My 4 year old didn't get rice cereal til he was 6 months old. My 4 month old has had it since 2 months due to reflux.

Unless a parent is doing something that is clearly neglect/abuse, i don't judge. We are all just trying to make it and trying to do what's best for our kids.

Unknown · July 2014

This content has been removed.

Unknown · July 2014

This content has been removed.

pmattingly927 · July 2014

Right around 19 weeks they may go through a sleep regression and eating as well. Mine just went through this with eating and still isn't quite sleeping through the night like he was before. He is starting to get back to normal again and has his appetite back. He just hit the 21 week mark yesterday. If he was sleeping good for you before it may just be a phase, for there will be many phases their whole lives. I tend to always think there is something wrong being a FTM, but most times it's just a phase. Hang in there and don't let the negative comments get to you. Only you know what is best for your child and what works. Every baby is different. Too many people are so judgmental and think they know what's best for others.

ddembinska · July 2014

I don't know why people are so judgmental either. I obviously didn't do too bad if my 4 year old is happy and healthy.

I definitely think it's regression, however, he's been in it longer than anybody says he will be lol! He has been in this for almost 2 months now. My 4 year old never went through the regression, nor was he needy in the least. My infant is the opposite lol

He gets mad if I don't hold him all day long. and it's not about needing stuff, it's about wanting attention. It's all fine and dandy, but I can't just hold him the entire day. Apparently that makes me a bad parent cause he's not glued to me.

Want a personalized experience?

The new nightly battle!

Re: The new nightly battle!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards