Our son just isn't sleeping at night now. We have tried everything and he just won't stay down for more than 45 minutes.
If anyone has any advice we really would like to hear anything - thanks in advance
Comments
11:06 pm 08/04/2012
griffin
1. Routine. Bedtime is the same time every night. He falls asleep in bed, not on mammy's lap, or anywhere else.
2. Cues. He gets his last bottle of the day, then straight to bed. The music gets turned on, the lights go off.
3. Heartlessness. He wakes up crying, too bad. Leave him there. Night time is for sleeping. He is not the master.
You will only have to be a heartless bastard a few times. He will learn that he cannot manipulate you. You have to pick your fights, you can't be an uncompromising arse about everything, but this is one fight you have to win, no question. He sleeps at night, period. He wakes up, he cries ALONE.
We rarely had any issues with this, our P&J started sleeping right through the night after a few weeks.
Also, check with his doctor, do you suspect theer is any genuine reason for him to wake up. Like an earache or something?
11:07 pm 08/04/2012
marksyzm
I forgot to mention he's 4 months old now- not on solids for a couple of months
11:13 pm 08/04/2012
Lrrp
Thats when I did it for Cadence about 4 months just a little bit when the belly is full he willl sleep good,
11:29 pm 08/04/2012
griffin
Also, get this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleeping-Through-Night-Infants-Toddlers/dp/0060742569/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333924105&sr=8-1
It's not just sleeping through the night, there's more in there. I thought it was quite useful.
And don't despair, things get better! Much better! 
11:36 pm 08/04/2012
Hawk
not letting him sleep in late afternoon, evening does help a lot, also a little sport (move his hands/legs) right before bedtime goes a long way.
I'm not a parent yet, but these worked with my nephew. (5 month old)
1:54 am 09/04/2012
elsels
He will eventually sleep, they all do in the meantime no late naps and have a routine. Please, please don't do the cry it out method no matter how well intentioned folks suggesting it might be. Crying it out for more than just a few minutes will show your baby that you will NOT BE THERE FOR HIM and his needs cannot be met from you and hence he will seek more of you by crying more for everything. We co slept with our baby (not for everyone) and we had a bassinet in our bedroom. Above all things enjoy this time, he will only be a baby once and soon enough will be borrowing the keys to the car so he can go see his girlfriend 
Yeah they grow that fast! Good luck, rock and sooth him, rock and sooth. Might be colicky as well if he is crying a lot.
1:57 am 09/04/2012
Flee
Quote by elsels:
Crying it out for more than just a few minutes will show your baby that you will NOT BE THERE FOR HIM and his needs cannot be met from you and hence he will seek more of you by crying more for everything.
Since we have 2 differing opinions, we'll need to get some published papers on the matter. Im not a father, but I agree with griffin as this is what was done for me and I never felt my parents would not be there for me.
2:09 am 09/04/2012
Quaektem
When he's up is he looking for something? Some kids get hungry and milk/formula isn't enough to stay with them. Mixing in a bit of cereal into his milk (still liquid) may help a bit. Also at 4 months you may want to stat trying stage one foods. You can also try working with the lighting and sound levels (white noise like a small fan can work wonders).
Don't worry you'll figure it out just experiment a bit and be aware of what helps and what makes things worse.
2:11 am 09/04/2012
Quaektem
Quote by elsels:
We co slept with our baby (not for everyone)
Baby 1 was separate, baby two was in with us for a month or two, the last two were in with us almost two years. No harm in having them in with you, just realize that you may have to go back to having sex on the couch.
3:39 am 09/04/2012
djskitzy
sit up watching night time tv.... or snooze in the lazyboy with the tv on really low, like we do when that happens.....
11:32 am 09/04/2012
Rosie
You don't pick him up if he does get up, either. Pat him on the back or side, calm him down, and go back to bed. Of course, you could end up like I did...a little girl who needed a hug every night at 0300 for two years. <sigh>
A little bit of rice cereal in the last bottle won't hurt, especially at 4 months. If Wife is breastfeeding, express a little out for a bit of bottle for cereal before nursing.
Him learning how to go to sleep by himself, without being held or rocked will benefit you in the long run. And, I mean LONG run. I had teenagers who went to bed when they got tired, even if it was only 1900. And, babies who took naps on the floor in the doctor's waiting room. They actually preferred NOT being held, and they knew how to sleep for themselves.
Other parents, even YOUR parents, often know better than doctors. Caught hell once, for cutting one baby's formula in half when he had diarrhea. Caught hell from the doctor the next day...preemie and calories being the significant words. But it worked and he was better. His twin did the same thing a day later, so I didn't cut her formula. She ended up spending a week in the hospital and requiring pre-digested formula until she was 1 yo.. If I had just cut HER formula.... which is to say, my mom and Dr Spock's book were right and the pediatrician was wrong...at least in the short term. (I wouldn't have cut formula for more than a day.)
The point is that experienced parents you respect are your greatest resource. It might even be the next door neighbor. When in doubt, ask an old mom.
1:09 pm 09/04/2012
marksyzm
Rosie, that's what we just started doing and it works. We did actually get the same advice from "The Baby Whisperer" by Tracy Hogg - worked better than anything else - he stays down for 2 hours at a time now which is far better than it was.
1:11 pm 09/04/2012
marksyzm
Things have changed a lot too - you're not meant to put them on solids now until 6 months rather than 4 apparently
5:03 pm 09/04/2012
elsels
I would say, read up on Baby Center what new parents are doing right now, great resource. As much as I would have loved to rely on the advice from my grandparents or even my parents their way of doing things is outdated and sometimes even dangerous. We don't put babies in ice to get rid of their fevers anymore or drink during pregnancy which was even adviced back in the day, we parents of today have to be more sensible and go with what your gut is telling you, you and your wife know what is better for your baby. When I was young and a new parent I listened to well meaning but totally misguided advice which was really detrimental in my relationship with a new baby.
Sometimes baby just wants to be held, that is all they need sometimes. I wish you a nice 8 straight hours of sleep for you and Sara soon! You might be surprised, my second child started sleeping through the night from 8pm to 8am at five months and she is a healthy happy girl (teen).
PS A nice warm bath before sleep really helps, dim the lights.
5:06 pm 09/04/2012
Wombat_Harness
My parents are fond of telling anyone who'll listen that I didn't really sleep before I was in my teens.
They used to drive me around, the sound of the wheels droning seemed to have a therapeutic effect on me - however, as soon as they'd get home and the engine would stop, I'd wake up, refreshed from my mini nap and raring to go. I was a bit of a nightmare, apparently.
I'm a terrible sleeper now, I hate being off my guard, I think. Mechanical droning sounds (cars, fans, vacuum cleaners etc.) make me drowsy to this day, though.
11:56 pm 09/04/2012
Flee
Quote by Wombat_Harness:
My parents are fond of telling anyone who'll listen that I didn't really sleep before I was in my teens.
haha, my parents said the opposite about me. People would come over to see the baby, but I was always sleeping and only woke up to eat.