[dawnrenee58]

OK, Ladies, here is the scoop. DS is now almost 5 months old. From about 6 weeks to 3 and a half months old, he was sleeping about a 9 hour stretch at night. Then he started getting up in the middle to eat, but would go right back to sleep. It has gotten so much worse, now he is up every hour, and I DON"T KNOW WHAT TO DO!! He cries, we go in and put his paci back in, and most of the time he goes right back to sleep. But, this is so often! He also can't nap anymore. He has to be in my arms. Otherwise he will only sleep for 30 minutes. I am so tired, I don't know what to do. I know everyone says you can't spoil a kid, but you can train them, right? I mean, if I can train a kid that no one is going to come, so might as well not cry, I can do the opposite?? What do I do to help this kid to sleep at least a few hours at a time? I would also LOVE to get rid of the paci, but don't know how to do it. He is soooo dependent on it. I am really starting to see how this is affecting us. I am so crabby and doubting myself. Argh. Please help.

[kimb1005]

There is a great book called "The Self-Calmed Baby". My pediatrician recommended it when my now 14 year old son was 5 months old and decided sleep was optional. I have used it with my other two sons (ages 10 and 3) and it really worked well. Both were, for the most part, sleeping throught the night (midnight until 6-7am) by 6 weeks.

[thediva320]

A suggestion that worked for me, however, not all mom's agree with this: putting about a teaspoon of rice cereal in the bottle with the formula right before bedtime (or during bedtime, however you do it.) it worked like a charm when my son was little. I guess it soothes the tummy and makes him feel full longer.

The other suggestion I have, which sounds so mean, is just letting him cry himself back to sleep. My pediatrician suggested that when mine was around a year. They say because he will have to learn to get himself back to sleep, and going in and out of the room everytime he cries teaches him that you will come every time.

I watched a show, I think Dr. Phil, last year or the year before. All about getting lil ones to bed. They had a "coach" come in with this one family and taught them how to get the wee one back to sleep. Basically, put him in his bed, and sit next to him. If he gets up, put him back down. Don't talk to him, this stimulates him and keeps him up longer. After a couple days, back your chair up from the crib further. Every couple days, keep doing this until you are no longer in the room except for when it's necessary.

I hope you can figure out something that will work. I completely understand the lack of sleep. It's rough for awhile, especially if he started out sleeping the whole night.
Good Luck!!