How do you get your seven month old to sleep through the night?

Answer 1

We all wish that new babies would come with a manual, they don't. So, here are some tips that have have been tested and successful with Moms all over the world:

1. Routine is key. Establishing a bedtime routine isn't just recommended, it's necessary for baby's development. Routines such as bedtimes, mornings, naptimes, and general day-to-day help create a sense of security for them. Plus, as your baby grows accustomed to the routine, as you begin it at each night, your baby will associate that routine as "Okay, it's almost time to go night-night!"

2. Eliminate night time feedings. At 7 months of age, night time feedings are less of a nutritionally necessary one. Babies no longer need night feedings by the third month or sometimes sooner. Gradually reduce the number of late night feedings. Eliminate the ones are even less necessary. Increase the size of bedtime feeding before going to sleep and make sure he's getting enough to eat throughout the day. Wait a little longer between the feedings at night. However, if he still demands the feeding and won't fall back to sleep, feed him because by now, you've probably stretched the interval of feeding by at least half an hour from the previous night. Cut down the amounts you feed him at night each time, such as going from 4 oz of formula or however minutes of breastfeeding to 2 oz of formula or half the minutes of breastfeeding. Eventually, you want to completely wean the baby from midnight feedings at 7 months of age.

3. Don't diaper your baby. Diapering during the night will cause unnecessary extra movement that will rustle your baby from groggy to wide awake. Unless it's absolutely necessary in which a quick sniff will tell you when it is. Of course, the fewer midnight snacks you indulge him, the less necessary night time diaper changes will be. Use the next larger diaper size to provide extra surface area for absorption during the night or use the special night time diapers.

4. Establish some distance. If you're sharing a room or bed with your baby, and have no plans of continuing this in the long run, it might be a good time to think about splitting up. Your nearness alone may be the reason he's waking so often and why you choose to pick him up just as often.

5. Less sleep throughout the day. If he's napping too much or not having enough time in between naps to burn off energy (can be up to 6 hours between sleep times for some), then your baby isn't tired enough to continue sleeping for long throughout the night.

6. Make sure there are no other major changes. Major changes will cause major stress for the baby. If he's already dealing with one disruption, from teething, a new babysitter to mom going back to work or illness, wait until he is feeling settled again before launching any night sleeping campaigns. If you're planning any family trips in the near future, it's almost certain to derail your efforts to try to start such routines beforehand. Only offer comfort to midnight awakenings when they truly need it, as in stressful times or illness, otherwise your baby will continue to awaken just for that comfort long after the situation has settled.

There are two ways to go about any of these suggestions. That is either cold turkey and gradual withdrawal. Letting a baby cry it out almost always works, which is best to use when baby's at least six months. As long as crying results in being picked up, rocked, fed, whatever, they'll keep it up. When they discover it no doesn't work anymore, most will give up on night time crying. However, as mentioned before, some situations require that comfort, such as illness or stress-related changes. But if you're uncomfortable with cold turkey tactics, conditioning methods work in the same way but work more slowly.

Anyway, just keep in mind what will work best for you, your baby, and your living situation and beliefs or feelings about certain methods, and feel free to alter these tips to fit you two just right.