Baby Waking After 40 Minutes

[Meyou]

I'm terrible at searching for what I'm looking for but I'm sure I've read threads on here about babies waking after 30-40 minutes everyday and it being related to not transiting to REM sleep.

I'm looking for some info or techniques on how to get past the stage.

The baby in question is 6.5 months, goes into bed for naps with very little fussing (3-5 min) and goes to sleep quickly. Then wakes after 40 minutes screaming. He can be calmed with rocking and shhhing but he fusses/cries for 20-30 minutes the second time and then wakes again after 40 min. This is just for naps. At night he goes right to sleep (awake) and sleeps until his middle of the night nursing and then goes back to sleep with Mom. He cosleeps only from the middle of the night feeding until morning.

Help please!

[jenboo]

I dont have one that little but my 12m old does the same thing. I just let him cry until he goes back to sleep. He has been falling back to sleep quicker each time. The first couple days it took forever!

not sure if you want to try that with a younger baby.

[BumbleBee]

I'm in the same boat with my 6.5 month old dcg. Only difference is she sleeps straight through the night. I posted about it a few weeks ago but didn't get much in the way of responses (I admit it was written oddly). Anyways, hopefully someone has some idea because I'm out of ideas!

[Blackcat31]

Here is a good article about sleep cycles.

http://www.parentingscience.com/baby-sleep-patterns.html

I think that part of the issue is the middle of the night feeding as well as the attention he is getting after that 40 minutes.

I have one right now who is the same age as your little one. Mom said she weaned out the night time feedings and allowed little one to wake but she didn't go in or do anything. Little one learned after a week to self-soothe and now sleeps (or atleast doesn't cry or need something) all through the night.

I think your little guy is getting used to having the attention after the 40 minutes that it has now just become a habit....kwim?

I think at this point he needs to be taught how to go back to sleep after he comes out of the regular 40-50 minute sleep cycle.

All sleep is done in 40-50 minute cycles so the sleeping through the night thing is a myth....people (babies too) just learn to get themselves back into another sleep cycle....provided there isn't any "attention" or feeding given during those times.

[Blackcat31]

Here's another good article that also supports the idea of discontinuing the night time feedings by 6 months so the child can begin learning how to go through the sleep cycles on their own.

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/children-and-sleep

[Meyou]

How do I fix it without letting him scream until he gets sick though? He gets really, really worked up to the point its cruel to leave him and dangerous IMO since he's gagging. He seems too small for CIO that intense.

[Blackcat31]

How do I fix it without letting him scream until he gets sick though? He gets really, really worked up to the point its cruel to leave him and dangerous IMO since he's gagging. He seems too small for CIO that intense.

I don't think YOU can fix it....I think it needs to start with mom at home first.

At your house, I would maybe just try to rub his back, soothe him but don't pick him up. Just keep the room as dark as possible and aim to keep him in that pattern of not quite awake...kwim?

Mom may have to do some serious sleep training at home before you see any progress at your house.

This is why it is so sad that parents don't understand how to prepare their kids for care....not that this mom didn't but she should be "schooled" enough to know that by 6 months nighttime feedings should be reduced in preparation to eliminate them all together.

I do agree that 6 months seems too little to allow him to get that worked up. He is getting that worked up because his normal pattern is being allowed to get up and eat. When you don't follow that pattern, he resists.

If I were you, I'd talk with mom and give her the articles that really do a great job of explaining sleep cycles and what to do and not to do to help this little guy get through this.

If you can or have the time, a phone call to Nan might really help...she is a WHIZ at baby sleep and sleep training.

[Meyou]

Mom is working on weaning at night and he has slept through a few times in the past few weeks but he does the same thing when left at night. They have 5 other children so it's hard to let him CIO in the middle of the night. I'll talk to Mom. She wants this to improve. She's a good cookie.

[Blackcat31]

Mom is working on weaning at night and he has slept through a few times in the past few weeks but he does the same thing when left at night. They have 5 other children so it's hard to let him CIO in the middle of the night. I'll talk to Mom. She wants this to improve. She's a good cookie.

Those are the keepers.

Glad she is willing to work WITH you. I am sure she doesn't like waking in the middle of the night anymore than the next person does.

If she is willing to try then I think with a little consistency and some support of one another you two should be able to overcome this quickly and have baby sleeping a full nap in no time.