[LovingJesusinAZ]

My daughter was sleeping so well at the beginning that I was actually wondering if I should be concerned (I posted about this back in October). By about 4 months she was sleeping 10-12 hrs at a time.

Well . . that all stopped a few months ago. I am absolutely opposed to CIO and to this point I've never given her formula, but I have to admit I'm considering it now because she's been waking up 2x/night for about 4 months. I have fought through her being a vampire baby, supply/weight issues, a bad latch a couple weeks ago that was so bad I almost quit and after all that I'm now considering formula just to see if it will help her sleep at night.

I can't tell you how guilty/selfish I feel just considering it, but I need sleep. In addition to my 9mo old, I have a son who is almost 3. I'm constantly walking around like a zombie. I've been fighting a minor cold for almost 2 weeks and I can't help but think a lack of sleep is contributing to that.

At her last checkup (6/5) she was 15lbs, 5oz and 26" long so she's a peanut and I'm wondering if supplementing wouldn't help her grow a little bit more, too. I don't know. I am so conflicted. Other than formula or CIO do any of you have any other suggestions.

(She's eating solids 2-3x/day and the sleep hasn't changed or improved since those were introduced)

[ruthann8]

I don't think giving her formula is going to help. It probably has just become routine and a comfort to her. I tried a few things with Ellamae with no success; she too woke multiple times a night. It wasn't until lately that she has slept through the night.

I would suggest that when she wakes try other things to get her back to sleep other than nursing, like cuddles, rocking, or a drink (I kept a sippy of water in her room so we never had to leave the bedroom). Once she gets used to not nursing try slowly making your night time visits more brief until it get to the point that all you have to do is pat her back. Ellamae has a specific chair she likes to nurse in (in the living room by the window) so she knew that if we left her bedroom she was going to nurse. So I made sure not to leave her bedroom.

Some people will have Daddy help. But Ellamae screams her head off if Daddy comes instead of Mommy in the middle of the night. But that may work for you.

Good Luck

[twinzplus3]

Yeah sweetie I gotta tell you formula does not equal sleep--that's a wives tale. (If it is even that...it's just not true.) The issue is not that she is hungry. But this is perfect "fussy time". And why would you want her to grow more if she's growing fine on a curve? I'm lost on the logic there.

Let your hubby take her. . .take a nap with her during the day. . .or hire help. Try letting her cry for 5 minutes. It's not CIO...it's an opportunity to settle on her own. If she doesn't, she doesn't and then you know. But formula is not your helpful answer here I'm afraid.

[LovingJesusinAZ]

Thanks for the advice, ladies!! I had been wondering about the effectiveness of formula, but after having so many people in my life ask/tell me "Have you given her formula? That will make her sleep through the night." I figured I'd run it by you more experience bfing moms before giving in. I've already ignored everybody who's told me to put cereal in her bottle, read Babywise/Growing Kids God's Way (which I can't STAND) ,etc. I think the cereal in the bottle is bad old advice in the first place. Secondly, when she DID have cereal at 6 mo her tummy reacted poorly and we took it off, so that is my excuse. Also . . . the week she was eating cereal her sleeping habits didn't change

I'm going to continue with the breastfeeding Thank you!!!

[purelegance]

yea formula's not the answer. some babies just wake during the night. izabell still does, and just in the past few weeks have i been able to just go in and say "it's okay, go back to sleep." but that's still twice a night. try eliminating one of the night feedings. it won't be immediate sleep tonight, but over time she may just start waking up just once.

[Kimmama]

Just keep telling yourself she'll be a kid before you know it! Catch sleep where you can in the meantime. I'm not a fan of CIO either, I think it's mean! Sometimes I just bring my son in bed with me and he breastfeeds while I sleep. He may awaken and feed several times and I hardly notice... and I'm not tired in the morning. My #1 priority is that we are both well rested and he is happy. I'm not worried about it becoming any kind of long term habit because we're all hardwired to become independent. No child is going to wake up during the night forever!

[angelic_ky]

Gabby was the same at first she slept all night then just before she hit 6 mths she started waking regurlarly... everyone told me if i started her on solids she would sleep all night again, well that never happen... Gabby even had a full cup of cows milk then breast milk after and then settled herself to sleep and still woken up during the night... i haven't tried to stop Gabby's wake ups yet, so no advice there, but her wake ups have dropped from 2-3 times a night (more 3 than 2) to 1-2 times (more 1 than 2)

[twinzplus3]

Cereal in the bottle is a bad idea for most babies. I think I wrote a blog on it somewhere in here but it can cause all sorts of issues.
You can try adjusting her solid food eating times and see if that helps. But something to remember is that "sleeping through the night" as defined by a pediatrician is 5 hours...and it is considered "normal" not to do it through at least the first year and sometimes even longer.

But truthfully after five kids, what I find helps the most is just plain old time.