5 1/2 month old and sleep regression?

My son was sleeping at night with a 6 hour stretch and two 2 hour stretches with a quick nurse in between. It was great! Then about 3 week ago he began turning over, and then 2 week sago his teeth popped through. He now wakes every 2-3 hours and wont calm down unless I nurse him. Once he's calm he'll fall asleep by himself but I'm really struggling with the lack of sleep. I've begun making up the sleep with napping when he naps. I need some advice on how to get him back to his normal 6 hours again! I don't believe in the cry it out method. Has anyone else had this problem?

5 1/2 month old and sleep regression?
Ya know I went through the same think like last week. My son just cut his two bottom teeth and it was hell. I would say that if he still isnt sleeping through the night like he used to, he still isnt feeling good! He might be cutting more teeth! Just wait it out and all will go back to normal. I dont believe in the cry it out method either so dont listen to people when they tell you that you should. He's your baby and he needs you. Good luck
Reply:see moxie.blogs.com/askmoxie. she's got an excellent discussion re: sleep regression at certain stages of a baby's life. very very informative and helped keep me sane! [for sake of keeping this short, i won't copy and paste here.]
Reply:i did what you did with my first, shes 8 now and is the worst sleeper i have ever seen, she still wants to come in my room, we never let her but she never gives up, this has been happening since she was 4.





with my second daughter i used the cry it out method, it was tough for 2 weeks and then viola, she did it herself, she learned how to comfort herself and fall back asleep. She is 3 now and every since she was 8 month old she has slept through the night without fail, unless she was sick.
Reply:I'm not a fan of the cry it out option either, but my hubby was pretty firm in it. While they may go through a period of altered sleep pattern because of teething, after a bit, they'll get back to normal.





You're doing the right thing by napping when he naps. When you've got a little one in the house, everything takes a lower priority rating, including housekeeping. Do what you need to do to keep a clear head.
Reply:Yes, he'll fall back into the routine. Just give it a couple weeks. He's probobly teething. I gave my son teething tablets when it was really bad. Give him less and less milk at night. Maybe that will help.
Reply:This is a tricky one. I ran into the same problem with my son and he is now 13mo. old and even though he is on a bottle now he still wants a bottle in the middle of the night. 13 months and not sleeping through the night is killing me!!! I am just writ ting to let you know that if by the time your baby is old enough and not on any growth spurts to do what ever it takes including the dreaded crying method to keep your sanity!!!
Reply:how many teeth popped through? he could be working on more teeth. My son got 8 teeth between 6 months and 11 months....so they can pop in quite quickly and right after one another.





There are some books out there that help you get your child to sleep through the night without making them "cry it out"








1. The No-Cry Sleep Solution: Gentle Ways to Help Your


Baby Sleep Through the Night


2. Sleep Baby Sleep: An Incredibly Simple and Gentle Plan


to Get Your Baby and You Sleeping Through the Night


3. The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Cal


Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer





To get more go to www.amazon.com and put in a search of "baby sleep"





I haven't read any of these...you'll have to look at the reviews yourself and decide which sounds closest to your personal definition of good parenting. You decide what you will and will not put your child through...and don't let anyone tell you or convince you to do something you're not comfortable with in order to get your child to sleep or to discipline in the later years.





Good luck and congrats on the little one! They're so precious...enjoy him while he's little!
Reply:It's a shame you don't believe in the "cry out" method. What has happened is that your baby has put 2 and 2 together and found that when he cries, you come in and give him attention. So as soon as he is bored or wants attention, he cries till he gets you to come in and as a bonus nurse him. This is a classic case of the tail wagging the dog. If you let him cry a few minutes longer each time, then he will go back to his normal routine. As it is, he is teaching you a whole new routine.
Reply:I wish my 5 month old son had slept for 6 hours at ANY time LOL He's never slept longer than 3 hours at a stretch, but I also do not believe in the cry it out method. We were at the end of our ropes last month, completely exhausted, so we tried it for 4 days %26amp; he actually slept *less* because he worked himself up into such a tizzy. I wish I could help you %26amp; I know I shouldn't have posted if I had no advice, but I just wanted to letcha know that I sympathize with you %26amp; I will pray that he starts sleeping again cuz I know how hard it is. Good luck
Reply:At different times throught the years, kids change their schedules! They don't all keep the same schedule or we would all sleep 20 hours a day even as adults. Chances are he will eventually change his schedule again and maybe it will be one that will suit all of you. As far as the naps go...take them! You are a mom and you deserve them! You have to take care of yourself and you need the rest! No harm there! I have an almost 3 year old and a 12 month old and they BOTH get up through the night still and I have to get up with my hubby at 5 and get him off to work. I don't get much sleep! I take naps with my kids too sometimes....more lately than I used too!
Reply:When babies teeth thier sleep schedules gets all out of wack. All I can suggest to you is to try to put him back to sleep when he wakes up. Let him know that when he is in his room it is sleep time. (Do not take him out of his room to put him to sleep). Also, if his teething really is not allowing him to fall asleep, give him some infant tylonol and gripe water. This will give both of you a good nights rest.

larry