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sadface · Feb 11, 2011, 01:35 AM

My almost 9 mmonth old HAD a fantastic sleep routine and from nearly 5 months started sleeping straight from 8pm - 7-8am.. all night. Over the last 9 days he started waking up for me in the middle of night.
He is recovering from a cold so I wonder if its his cough that wakes him up or if its something else. I give him a bottle and he sleeps again. But if he wakes up 3 times at night I don't give him a bottle every time. He drinks it alone in his bed. Other times he wakes up I try giving him his dummy but he doesn't always fall back to sleep. So I bring him in bed near me. I know biggest mistake really.

Any tips!

sadface · Feb 11, 2011, 01:50 AM

Help

DoulaLC · Feb 13, 2011, 09:34 AM

Having him in bed with you is not necessarily a mistake. It is very individual as to what families are comfortable with. Co-sleeping, even once in awhile, certainly has benefits for many families.

It might be from having a cold still. Try propping the mattress in his cot up slightly and consider using a vaporizer or humidifier. Just be sure to clean it regularly. You can check with your gp or chemist, but usually saline nose drops are helpful if he is congested.

Has he recently been learning a new skill? Crawling, pulling himself up, cruising furniture for example? Sometimes when a baby is reaching another milestone they will wake more often for a time. Any new teeth trying to come in? That may be another reason. Any change in temperature in the house... could he be waking feeling too hot or too cold?

Any changes to his daytime routine? Skipping a nap, or having a shorter one? Does he take a couple of naps... if so, for how long? Changes in feeding schedule, foods he is taking, bowel movements?

It is very common for sleep cycles to change in the first year. Most babies will go through periods of more wakefulness from time to time. It is challenging since you get him on a nice schedule only to have him mix it up on you! He will get back on track with consistency, extra cuddles, and patience.

jenniepepsi · Feb 13, 2011, 06:42 PM

Don't automattically turn yourself off to the sleeping with your baby. I slept with my daughter until she was 5 or so, and she moved into her own room easily. If good healthy sleep for the BOTH of you means little one sleeping with you, there is nothing worng with that. If it is not something you would want, then just wait it out. It will take time, but baby will ease into a good sleep pattern. Sometimes it can take until 2 or 3.