UrbanBaby

06.03.08, 19:34 PM Newborn
26 replies

Help--my 5mo.old son is driving me bonkers at night. After 7pm he gets progressively moodier & moodier until he's finally just screaming his head off. It's awful! It's not hunger, it's not a wet diaper. I hold him but that only works for a while. The only thing that seems to work is taking him out in his stroller until he falls asleep. After a full day of same, I am absolutely pooped. Pls tell me this is normal & that it will go away. He is otherwise a wonderful baby & rarely sleeps. If he's having a hard time getting to sleep, what can I do to help him? He's my first so I really don't know what to do. TIA! [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
Newborn 06.03.08, 07:34 PM Flag

Dear UrbanBaby community,

Thank you so much for being a valued member of the UrbanBaby community. We wanted to inform you that we are shutting down the site on July 6th. We are grateful for your participation and support that has helped make UrbanBaby such an important resource to parents for many years.

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Thanks so much,

UrbanBaby Support

what if you put him to bed at 6:30? sounds like he could be overtired. in any case, he's just about old enough for cio. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:35 PM Flag

i learned with one of my twins that by seven he needed a dark room, utter quiet and NO touching. exactly the opposite of his sister. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.04.08, 05:31 AM Flag

normal, sounds exactly like my db, who is now 13 mos and has totally grown out of it and become a different baby entirely. you can help him by not using stroller or anything else as a crutch to fall asleep. Sleep is a learned behaviour [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:36 PM Flag

Uh, no, sleep is not a learned behavior. What a bizarre thing to say. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:07 PM Flag

do you even have a baby? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:13 PM Flag

ita. sleep is a biological need. self-soothing is a learned behavior, but it also depends on developmental level. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:21 PM Flag

Sleep is not a learned behavior. Sleep on your terms is a learned behavior. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.04.08, 04:28 AM Flag

Why up past 7 pm? What is his schedule? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:37 PM Flag

It'll change and then you'll have something else to complain about [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:37 PM Flag

Do you have a swing? would that work? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:38 PM Flag

hey, may be you need to just leave him in his crib and let him cry it out. I just sleeped trained my 6 mo old. This is only the 4th night, so far so good. She has been fallen asleep for naps, and sleep through the night at least 8 - 9 hour for the past 3 nights. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:40 PM Flag

At five mo my dd started screaming her head off all day and night. It was the only time I ever questioned my decision to have a child. I read the Mark Weissbluth book on sleep scheduling, followed everything he said to the letter, and it saved my life. My dd, now 8, still sleeps 11 1/2 hours a night and needs it. Your ds is probably insanely overtired. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:42 PM Flag

from above. I agree that is a very good book, I used it too. sleep training your ds, you will be happy. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:45 PM Flag

put him to bed earlier!!! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 07:49 PM Flag

I agree. He may very well be overtired. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:08 PM Flag

THX! Honestly mu hubby & I have probably set very poor examples. We go to bed very late & our son has been going to bed as late as 11:30 some nights. You're right--he's probably very tired but I guess I just don't know how to put him to sleep. I will look into the Mark Weissbluth book b/c this is all new to me & I need all the help can get or this might be my last & only child! FYI, the swingy chair doesn't work--nor does holding him & putting him in the crib to cry it out. I tried both & the screaming finally drives me to change his position. THX again! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:20 PM Flag

I'm the MW groupie mom -- the bad thing about this program is it means a pretty rigid lifestyle for you -- no taking your kid out for tapas at 10pm! Two naps a day to plan around. But my dd took to it instantly and stopped screaming. And if you follow recent press about sleep deprivation in American children it seems that kids really do need huge amounts of sleep. It may be as important as giving them good nutrition. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:42 PM Flag

This is absolutely true!! Your child is totally overtired. Get the Weissbluth book - it will really help you understand sleep patterns. Stick to it and both you and your child will be happier! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.04.08, 07:50 PM Flag

I am the sleep training mom. I don't put my dd to bed until 10:30, she sleeps till 10, and taking 2 - 3 naps. I don't think one has to put them to sleep that early, you should make whatever works for. My ds was also sleep trained, he goes to sleep at 10pm and gets up at 8 and takes a 2 1/2 hr naps. The schedule works for us because we go to sleep late. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:18 PM Flag

Interesting... did you use the Mark Weissbluth book or something else to sleep train them? [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:21 PM Flag

I read the book, but did my own schedule. I just make sure they did thier hours. It works very well for us. After they go to bed, we still have few hours. We don't go to sleep until 12 or 1, it is because our job, sometime we don't get home until 12. But it is going to be difficult when the school time comes. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:25 PM Flag

Sounds like our schedule--thank you very very much. I feel hopeful that all this can get sorted to fit our routine. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:27 PM Flag

dd just woke up from her sleep, didn't go into the room. 10 min later she is quiet now. It is hard in the beginning, but you has to be cold hearted. Believe me it is very hard not to pick her up! [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 08:28 PM Flag

This is our exact schedule too, and I love it! I work at night too so the later wake-up time is perfect. When the kids are 5 and are in school, it will be a different story - but for now both kids sleep til 10am [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.03.08, 10:41 PM Flag

he's way over tired. put him down earlier. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.04.08, 03:32 AM Flag

It's normal and will pass. [ Reply | More

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General Topics 06.04.08, 04:26 AM Flag