My 7 month old was a wonderful sleeper up until he just got an ear infection. The ear infection is now gone but he now wakes up at least 2 times per night and will scream histarically if I don't hold him and rock him of nurse him to sleep. . anybody have any ideas as tohow I can break him of this?? HELP!! :)
Hello Jamie
Wish I could be more help. I am going threw the same thing. My daughter got sick at Christmas time and wakes up 1-2 times a night still and wants a bottle. Once I give her the bottle she goes back to sleep. My Dr. told me she is to old to wake up for a bottle and I was suppose to let her cry it out. It was horriable she cried for 1 hour. Finally she put herself to sleep. He told me every night would get easier. So I was on a good path. Had done it for 3 days and it was working then she got a sinus infection and we are back to where we started. She will be a year next month. So hopefully I can just cut her off the bottle completly and everything else will fall into place. but i am probably dreaming. Good Luck.
Heather
Hi! I have a 7 month old and he does not sleep through the night yet. I was told that I should not worry about it until he is a year old. If you can work around it I would not worry about it, I am told it is normal and good for them especially if you are breast feeding. I am afraid I might be of no help, but good luck!
Hey Jamie. First off, good job getting through his ear infection! Those can be rough times for everyone, to be sure. It may be that your little guy has worked himself into an ugly habit that you (and husband?) are going to have to help him break. It won't be easy, but if you're consistent and patient, it won't last forever.
Our little one would get this way at different times. Usually it happened at different developmental stages like teething or when he started moving more (walking, crawling, pulling up, etc.) and they do find it harder to stay asleep...the little limbs get so active and the muscles have a hard time staying settled.
My advice is to seriously help him out by letting him attempt for a predetermined amount of time (say 10 minutes?) to get himself back to sleep. Then check on him without picking him up...rub his back, head, whisper loves and it's okay and shhhh...then leave him be. Let another 10 minutes go by and if he's still going at it (probably will be) let your husband do it the same way, then lengthen the time to 15 minutes, then 20 minutes. It'll take time and you guys have to be patient and calm. We had to do this quite a few times in the earlier months, but our guy has been sleeping through the night, on his own since 4 months old. He's 19 months now and rarely has a rough night of sleep...like if he's sick.
Remember, this is just my opinion and what has worked for us. Help him be brave, but reassure him vocally and with touch that you're there for him. He's not gonna like it at first, especially if you've been nursing him or rocking him to sleep and it may take 100x trying...but it will get better and you will have given him (and yourselves) a huge gift!
