I dont want to whinge, but...?

shouldnt my DD be sleeping thru by now? shes 6 months old in 2 weeks.

i put her to bed at 7pm, dreamfeed at 9pm, she sleeps til between 4 and 5am, feeds, then back down til about 630am. she is FF.

im probably gonna be barraged by mums saying "my 6m.o only sleeps 3 hr blocks" but alot of my friends who have FF babies similar age to my DD say thier babies sleep 10-12 hrs overnite (as in without a feed), DD struggles to go 7-8 hrs.

im not whinging, just wondering why?? shes started solids but it doesnt seem to have made any difference at all...:doh:

Being FF doesn't have anything to do with it, neither do solids (sorry :hide:). Yes, formula feeding does fill their bellies up quicker than breastmilk, but it doesn't necessarily mean they sleep longer.
When you put her to bed at 7pm, is that after dinner and a bottle? Have you thought about removing the dreamfeed at 9pm. To me, if she's having a bottle just before bedtime at 7pm, she wouldn't need a dreamfeed. She may wake up during the night for some milk, but she may not.
And remember that 'sleeping through' is actually a solid 5 hour block of sleep. So if you look at it like that, she is sleeping through :D Sleeping for 7-8 hours overnight is a really good stretch.

No reason why, that's just your DD :) At that age, DS & I were still comping during the day and he had a similar routine to your DD. He dropped the 4-5am feed at around 7 months and that is when he started "sleeping through". For a little while at least, there has been many a times that he still wakes in the night, not necessarily for a feed, just for comfort or teething or something.

Try not to worry about when it will happen, it will happen and there are no rules as to when. Don't let the other mums get to you xox :hug:

Sorry hun but Ava is 18 months and STILL not sleeping through *sigh*

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but that IS sleeping through...

Jodi, she has a bottle at 5pm and solids at 6pm, she feeds 4 hrly during the day.
Sigh...i assumed i was asking for too much, just gets me so annoyed when i hear of other babies her age sleeping 12 hrs a night (and with my middle insomnia i usually sleep 10pm-2am, then 4am til her 430-5am feed, then up for the day)

My 7 month old only sleeps 3-4 hours at a time, he is up at 130 & 530 for a bottle then up for the day about 630-7am. Id kill for a 7 hour sleep IMO thats sleeping all night

There are some mums who don't tell the full truth or bend the truth about "sleeping though". There have been some cases where they claim sleeping through, but what they mean is "bubs wakes, but I don't go to them" or they are using some not nice things to keep their baby asleep. Now I am not at all saying that any of these other mums you talk to do any of that, but something to keep in mind so you don't beat yourself up over it.

sounds like you are a very lucky mum to have hre sleeping through as well as she does, I am envious! My 3.5 year old only started sleeping 12 hours in the lat couple of months, and he still often has wakeful nights

ok maybe ill go hide now :hiding:

Astrid: thats true, or maybe thier partner gets up to feed/resettle so the mum gets to sleep thru?
just very tiring not getting a brake!

:

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There are some mums who don't tell the full truth or bend the truth about "sleeping though". There have been some cases where they claim sleeping through, but what they mean is "bubs wakes, but I don't go to them" or they are using some not nice things to keep their baby asleep. Now I am not at all saying that any of these other mums you talk to do any of that, but something to keep in mind so you don't beat yourself up over it.

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That's so true! A friend of mine always insisted that her DS 'slept through for 12 hours' from 6 weeks of age. It turned out that they couldn't hear him at night from their room and they didn't have a monitor :shakehead:

What about dinner, then a bottle just before going to bed? Certainly can't hurt trying new things.
Some babies/kids don't 'need' to sleep 12 hours straight over night. When she wakes in the mornings, is she happy? Has she had enough sleep? DD1 needs to sleep on average 14 hours overnight. She has never been up before 6.30am! But DD2 has never slept past 7am, and doesn't get any where near 14 hours solid sleep. She just doesn't need it.
I know it's hard when you hear of other babies the same age sleeping all night. You start questioning yourself as a mother. That you must be doing something wrong if your child isn't sleeping like that. But just remember that not all babies are the same. Yes, it's hard at the moment for you, but it won't be like this forever. :hug:

I know what your saying there, I havnt had a full nights sleep in 7 months dont have time to day nap either, at the start when i was BF i was up 2 hourly then went to 3 hourly then 4 hourly so 7 hours would be a dream for me lol

I have a little man that will be five in March & he doesn't sleep all night most nights.....

DS goes 12 hours at night without a feed but he does wake up a couple of times to be resettled but ive been told that hes very weird to do that my friends mum said her little boy hasnt had regular sleep yes he has slept through just not every night and he's 5

Ditto to what Jodi said. My DD1 was ff and slept through 7 till 5am at 4 months, DD2 was also ff and she didn't drop her 3am feed till 10 months....to my dismay

I'm another sorry to say that my 2.5 yr old and 15mth old both still wake at least once a night (with in about 10hrs they are in bed at night). DS usually still wake 2 times a night.

I too think you're lucky getting such a big block of sleep from her at such a young age! I wish my two would sleep that long now!

DD is 15months old & has not slept through ever, the longest stretch was 5 hours when she was 3 months old. On average she wakes every 3-4 hours

You are both doing really well. Don't be fooled by those mums that can brag about all nighters - I reckon there is another 5 mums to every one of those - and those 5 have permanent matchsticks under their eyes :p

I too would try the bottle just before bed and drop the dreamfeed. It is scary at first and you anticipate them waking, but I remember with my DS1 (the only one I did dream feeds with) - I stopped it at 5 months and he just never woke up for it anyway. But I didnt sleep well the first few nights - and he then slept until 6am regularly without need ing me much over night, occasional dummy run etc.

Give it a go and see if it makes a difference. Solids at this age isnt really for a "meal" as such, so you could also try putting the solids somewhere else to make sure she takes the full bottle before bed?

Good luck

I am another that wonders what a full night's sleep is like! At 2yo I get up 4 times some nights sometimes less - sometimes more!

It will get better. Maybe for now you need to go to bed with her so you get some more sleep honey with all you are dealing with? I know I do - though last night I stayed up late to watch Private Practice & am paying for it now! :asleep:

Bella slept for 12 hrs plus since 3 months - so I would give her a bottle at 6.30 and then she would be in bed till 7 the following morning - that was then. Then you get teething, sickness, walking, crawling.. and it ALL changes!!

Bella now refuses to go to bed till 9.30 - 10 pm and will then sleep "through" till 8.30 with a few re-settles on the way.
Your doing an awesome job and your bb is perfect!!!
I would also agree with the bottle before bed, after the solids.. may keep belly fuller.

Kate

I remember when I was PG with my third, a lady I knew said "oh you'll have bub sleeping through in no time, you know what you're doing by now".... as if there is a secret that works for every baby & you just have to learn it :rolleyes: - if only it were that easy!

DD1 was FFed & DS2 was FFed from 8 weeks, DS2 was Bfed & NONE of them slept through at 6 months, I can't remember exactly but it was much later, well over 12 months.

You sound as though you're doing great & the best thing I can say to you is it WILL change, it's not forever (although it might feel like it!) :hug:

(and it's still ok to vent about being tired even if it IS normal ;)

Another barer of bad news ...

I have an almost three year old and a 11 month old and I get up between 5-6 times per night between 23:00 and 5:30 between the two of them. They both sleep in our room, dd on the mattress and ds in his cot, but most night we end up all in one queensize bed. I was very mad at DH when he bought the more expensive queen, instead of a double ... but now I'm leaning toward buy a king size :lol:

My perfect chrismas gift would be: uninterupted sleep ... please Santa

The whole formula and sleeping more is a myth... it can even make them sleep worse as its tougher and slower on the gut to digest so it can keep them up. Also breastmilk contains hormones in it which promote sleep... formula doesn't. On average, based on study, sleeping through at night is 5 hours. It can also depend on how many hours your bub sleeps through the day too. You'd be best to get some good books on babies and sleep to get some strategies to help you, like books from Pinky McKay, Margot Sunderland or the Wonder Weeks. All great books.

I think you are doign a great job TM.
All babies are different. Mine sleeps 10h most nights, DS1 was the same.
Both were bf for 6 months and ff + solids after that.

Our bedtime routine was play, bath, bottle, bed.
DS1 - I tried a dreamfeed but it only served to make him wake more and he wasnt hungry. It never resulted in him sleeping any longer so I stoped doing it and his sleeps went from 9-11 and 12-6 to 8-6

Ditto everyone else.

And sorry to be a killjoy but I had one of 'those' awesome sleepers from day dot and he is now a 3yo who prob wakes during the night atleast 3 out of 7 days minimum. My crappy sleeper is now a 2yo who sleeps like a log and is still day napping when the former gave up his day naps at 17mths!

So I laugh at those who tell me their bubs are great sleepers; cause there isnt any law saying it stays that way and believe me a 9mth old is easier to re settle than a know-it-all cranky toddler!

I've just resettled a 3 year old. I took the easy path and put him in bed next to his Dad.
Do you co-sleep? If you don't need to get up when she wakes re-settling is much easier for both of you.

FWIW I still don't sleep through and I'm in my 30's so I always take tales of babies who sleep through with a grain of salt.

Just to add to the list....DD is 15 months and has dinner @ 5.30pm, BF and bed @ 7pm, wakes between 11pm and 1am then BF@ 4am and up @5am-6am. She eats like a horse so its not cause she is hungry. Just her. aslong as i go to bed at a good time its ok.....on that note-better get off BB and go to bed LOL.
I think its totally normal! And also....i agree, dont belive everything 'other mothers' tell you about sleeping through etc....they sometimes just like you to think they have a star baby!!! :)

My SIL FF her DS from 2 weeks old and he sleeps 12 hours ! Whereas I struggled my butt off to BF DD for 6 weeks and then went to FF and after she went on FF she was slightly better but it made only the tiniest difference. I think it just depends on your baby and when they learn to sleep. Vent away darl, most of us are in the same boat ! :hug:

hmmm, also have to add that 'sleeping through' is a moveable feast and has many interpretations...

for me, i regarded 'sleeping through' when DD would wake for only one feed overnight and go straight back to sleep. so maybe when other mums talk of sleeping through they might have interpretations of what that is to them?!

to me, at 2, DD 'sleeps through'. that said, there are nights where one of us will get up, to re-settle as she might of kicked off the sheets, or had a bad dream etc. but still, to me, that is 'sleeping through'...to put this in context, DD used to have a 'party' as a young pre-6month old every night between midnight and 3am...everyone was invited :lol:

thanks for your feedback guys, just hate when some ppl i know rub in how good thier DS or DD sleeps, makes me wonder what ive done wrong or if im starving DD and thats why she doesnt sleep longer :(

Sometimes you will find those who say their babies are sleeping through the night are stretching the truth just a little. My DD was waking once a night for a bottle right up till about 19 months. Its so tiring isnt it but before you know it, your DD will be much older & sleeping like a little angel. Also I think a baby of 6 months probably still needs a feed during the night.

As my DH said to me...sleep is not an indication of how good we are as parents. It is not a metric!

We are nourishing a tiny human, not a robot with a set pattern of sleep and awake.

Don't feel like you are doing anything wrong. You are loving and caring for your DD in the most beautiful way - by meeting her every need.

Just remember - you get so many extra cuddles by getting up in the night to her. I know its hard now, but you will miss this eventually.

:hug: I hope you get a break soon.

Argh - sleep!! I felt so incompetent when #1 never slept through, infact she is 3.5 and still struggles to have a good nights sleep. #2 (who is 1 on Sat) has just started sleeping well - she may get up anywhere from 4 - 6am. To help counteract the sleep deprivation we cosleep with whomever wakes up and won't resettle. It is just easier for us - but we also are all in bed before9.30 to grab a few hours befor any party starts. It is hard to do but necessary here.
It sounds like you are doing a great job - trust your instincts and so what suits you best. I have heard all sorts of wild tales of 3 mo's being given farex/formula to get bubs to sleep through - in my experience they sleep when they are ready!!!
Hang in there - nap when you can and most of all be kind to yourself. xxx

hey there

not sure what the other mums have said but have you tried to put your dreamfeed back to about 10pm or so. from the whole mass of books i read it seems to be a good time. BUT im am no expert as my 10 month old is still waking up at 430-5am for a feed - he was never one to want a dream feed though.

good luck i think your doing great

Just wanted to tell you what a beautiful name your little girl has. i just noticed it as it is not very common and i actually went to the petrol station this morning and the attendants name was Freya. what a coincidence

take care

It is a lovely name :D

I'd say on average you and Jade are doing pretty good sleep-wise. It can be hard when everyone raves on about a perfect baby - in fact with my first she started sleeping though at 8 mo and I thought there was something terribly wrong since she appeared to be the only baby in the MG not to be doing so by 3 mo :rolleyes:

In any case she seems to be not-too-terrible and not-too-perfect in the sleeping dept, I'm sure she will start stretching her overnights out a little bit longer xoxoxoxo

thanks guys,
Renata, ive tried leaving it til later but if i dont give her the DF at 9pm she wakes up 930pm on the dot for the bottle and is difficult to settle, and still wakes at 5am.
And yes i love Freya, it was my choice for 1st name but XP preferred Jade as it wasnt 'so random' according to him