https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:37:41 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153843 Thu, 10 May 2012 09:53:52 +0000 brownie 153843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: that's a good idea. His bedtime is 6 hours later often. I think that will be my new plan no matter what. Then if he takes a cat nap we can still work it. </p> <p>My husband thinks that the constant white noise wakes him up. So he isn't on board with that idea. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153748 Thu, 10 May 2012 08:44:00 +0000 Cole 153748@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wanted to echo the ideas of blacking out the room and continuous white nose. Also, pick a plan of attack and give it close to a week. Sometimes a one or two time change in schedule just messes with them but after a few days it sinks in and they start to adjust. </p> <p>If you don't already, try to develop a solid routine for sleep and follow the same routine each time. It doesn't need to be complicated or long but knowing the order seems to help them know asleep is coming and is a great step for sleep training. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153732 Thu, 10 May 2012 08:36:33 +0000 brownie 153732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's 6:30 in the morning and suprise, he's awake. He spent the night in bed with us. But he is happily crawling off the bed and exploring the room (I can't leave him on our bed because he will attempt climbing over the rails). So at least he is happy. </p> <p>Today is la leche at 9:30 when he should nap so here is to trying 1 nap today and seeing what happens. I will also tell daycare, that he must be in the room for at least 2 hours. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153725 Thu, 10 May 2012 08:31:53 +0000 looch 153725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought of another thing, I read it on the blog here...It didn't help us, but it may help you.</p> <p>Try a bedtime that is no later than 4 hours after the end of the last nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153711 Thu, 10 May 2012 08:21:33 +0000 mrs. wagon 153711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My suggestions would be:</p> <p>darkening room (using tinfoil or something else in addition to blackout curtains to make it really dark)<br /> white noise machine (our humidifier is REALLY loud)<br /> making sure it's not too hot or too cold in the room (we keep it between 68 and 72 degrees)<br /> earlier bedtime (he may wake earlier in the beginning but by changing the conditions in the room, he may put himself back to sleep in the mornings)<br /> transitioning to one big nap after lunch (it may make him more tired and help him sleep earlier / longer at night)</p> <p>I think these are the same suggestions as everyone else has made, but I hope things get better!! Wagon Jr. has always been a phenomenal sleeper, but he did go through periods when he slept a lot less than normal, which is about 14 hours a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153703 Thu, 10 May 2012 08:16:48 +0000 mrstilly 153703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For a while I used tinfoil under our blinds to black out the room so he would sleep better. They make black out curtains (they sell them just about anywhere you would buy curtains, including walmart and target). What about a white noise machine on low? Our wood floors are creaky, so DS will hear us using the bathroom at night or getting up in the morning. The white noise machine blocks it out and he will keep sleeping. </p> <p>DS is also cranky in the mornings usually and on and off during the day and evening. It's been worse during the last month, which I'm attributing to teething. It's been tricky to figure out what he needs in the morning and in what order. If you give him breakfast/snack before a bottle, he will then smack the bottle away and be cranky until he sees his buddies at daycare. </p> <p>Also, it has only been in the last month that DS is sleeping as well as he is now. He was waking during the night and getting up for the day at 4am! It took a while for him to adjust. What helped us when he was waking at 4am was getting a bottle with just a little bit in it maybe 1-2 ounces, and giving that to him in his dark room. We didn't talk or sing or turn on any lights. The bottle usually soothed him for a bit and we'd put him back in his crib even if he was awake. Usually he would at least not start crying again even if he didn't fall back asleep. If he did start crying, we'd hold him, but still keep the room dark and not talk to him, kiss him, etc... It was all about not stimulating him any more than necessary to keep him calm. Gradually it helped him either go back to sleep after waking, or sleep longer. And for us, it also didn't matter when he went to sleep, he'd wake at the same time no matter what. </p> <p>I really hope you can find something that works. There were a few tense months for DH and I when DS wasn't sleeping well and waking early. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153601 Thu, 10 May 2012 01:41:44 +0000 looch 153601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel for you brownie. I think our sons are twins separated at birth when it comes to sleep issues!</p> <p>My son is not textbook at all when it comes to sleep. The actual bedtime is irrelevant, he wakes up at the same time in the morning no matter what. I've tried everything and it is really frustrating sometimes to hear that other's babies sleep 12 hours and need to be woken up in the morning. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153593 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:50:05 +0000 HLK208 153593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When DS was 12 months, he had the exact same schedule! The only thing that helped was time and CIO method at night. CIO method took 3 months of trying to actually work.</p> <p>By 15 months the naps increased from 40 minutes to 1.5 hours for each nap (one at 10am and the second at 2pm). Then by 18 months it was one long 3 hour nap at 1pm. He's always woken up at 6am and in bed by 8pm (even at 3 yrs). Some children are just early risers. With the longer naps it gets easier through. By the time he's 15, I'm sure you'll miss the early morning wake-up ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153585 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:16:40 +0000 Red 153585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my LO was co-sleeping with us, we were able to wake up and leave her sleeping in the bed til her natural wake-up time. Maybe give that a try - just make sure you have safety guards in case he makes a run for it though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153583 Thu, 10 May 2012 00:05:24 +0000 brownie 153583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Red: that is possible. We like to put him in his crib because we wake at 6 am but need that hour to ourselves to get ready for bed. Working full time I can't go into his room and take care of him. We aren't opposed to him sleeping with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153576 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:47:42 +0000 Red 153576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe the issue is the alternating between the bed and the crib. If he sleeps with you at night and wakes up in the crib, then he's probably not happy about the bait &amp; switch. I remember reading that when babies/kids wake up in a different location from where they were put down, they are disoriented and then seek to restore their former sleep conditions, which is to be back where they fell asleep. Essentially, they've learned to fall asleep in one environment and formed a sleep association to that environment and can't fall asleep without it. Kind of like people who can only fall asleep with the TV on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153575 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:47:01 +0000 brownie 153575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cyneswith: one possible issue is that he is super sensitive to sound. I am like that as well so that doesn't suprise me too much. It doesn't explain all of the issues. We have blackout curtains up but I do want to figure out how to darken his room even more. </p> <p>What would you do to reduce noise etc? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153571 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:43:06 +0000 cyneswith 153571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is it possible that sleep isn't the problem and that something else is causing him pain/frustration (on a nigh constant basis)? I don't really have good advice - I was the kid who screamed constantly for the first 18 months of life. And my mom didn't figure out until years down the road that I was hypersensitive to light, noise, and touch. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153567 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:33:46 +0000 brownie 153567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: I wish that earlier would help. We have played with times between 6 pm and 8 pm and earlier just means waking up earlier. I know that isn't supposed to happen, but it does. I think he will only sleep 11 hours max at night so that is 8 pm to 7 am. </p> <p>I would say he got enough sleep if he woke happy from sleep but 98% of the time, he wakes up super grumpy. So that tells me he isn't getting enough sleep for him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153566 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:29:23 +0000 Mrs. Pen 153566@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>From most books I've read, babies at that age only need 10-12 hours at night, and since he still takes two day naps I'm pretty sure he is getting enough sleep.</p> <p>But I do concur with another PP about an earlier bedtime meaning later wake up time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153564 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:26:44 +0000 brownie 153564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Red: going to bed earlier results in waking even earlier. We have found the later bedtime to be better. It is at the very edge of normal I know.<br /> @MrsHotDog: He wakes up crying and will cry the entire hour. We have done this when we are just too tired to get up and take care of him. At night he comes into our bed and nurses back to sleep. In the morning he won't go back to sleep. We even tried me going into his room and putting his bed on the floor and nursing in the hopes that by not moving him he would go back to sleep. Epic fail.</p> <p>We have just started putting his scout and his sea horse in with him. He likes them and wants them but it doesn't seem to sooth. He also has his blanket. He just hasn't taken to a lovey.</p> <p>For some naps we will go in and rock him back down but that never lasts longer than 20 min. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153562 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:21:12 +0000 MrsHotDog 153562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Of yeah, we had to adjust to an earlier bedtime. She goes to bed at 6:45 now as opposed to 8:30. We adjusted it by 30 minute intervals and found that putting her to bed at 6:45 gave her the best nights sleep. So maybe you can try an earlier bedtime for a week or so to see what happens. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153561 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:17:36 +0000 MrsHotDog 153561@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am by no means a sleep expert, but how long do you let him stay in bed in the morning before you go get him? My daughter wakes up between 6:15 and 6:45 but I never go into her room before 7 (unless she is crying). 9 times out of 10, she puts herself back to sleep after playing for 15 minutes or so. One thing that I think helps her is when she turns on her musical soother, I think it relaxes her. Also, I think her internal clock lets her know I won't be coming in there and she has adjusted to that. </p> <p>Do you think if you give him 20 minutes or so he could put himself back to sleep? Does he have a lovey or something else that he could use to put himself to sleep?</p> <p>One more thing I thought of, do you have room darkening curtains? That might help a little if you don't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153560 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:16:05 +0000 Red 153560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most experts say that the earlier babies sleep the longer they sleep. Have you tried moving his bedtime to 7 or 7:30? If not, I would try that. Move it up gradually in 15 min increments. </p> <p>I'm a big believer in sleep-training - have you tried sleep-training for nighttime sleep? and how do you respond/what do you do when he wakes up in the night? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153555 Wed, 09 May 2012 23:06:29 +0000 brownie 153555@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrstilly: he is teething but he should still wake up happy and he wakes with what we affectionately named the death scream. He also wakes two times at night still (if not more). So that's another hour he doesn't sleep. It is so frustrating. I feel like my life is trying to get him to sleep. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153549 Wed, 09 May 2012 22:53:57 +0000 mrstilly 153549@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is 13 months old and has almost the same schedule, except that he only takes one 2-hour nap during the day at daycare. On weekends he'll usually take a morning nap too. DS has been pretty cranky lately and I thought it was that he wasn't sleeping enough during the week, with only one nap at daycare. But... he is getting 6 teeth! Including his 2 bottom 1-year molars that have popped through earlier this week. </p> <p>Is it possible that there is something else contributing to him being cranky? Just a thought to consider. </p> <p>I have no idea how to make DS sleep longer, for naps or in the morning I'd love for him to sleep until 7. Right now he is up at 5:45 or 6:00 every day. </p> <p>Sorry I don't have much to add. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/my-baby-doesnt-sleep-enough#post-153517 Wed, 09 May 2012 21:26:59 +0000 brownie 153517@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 12 month old baby doesn't sleep enough. He sleeps maybe 10 hours at night and then 2 hours total in the day. It isn't enough sleep for him because he doesn't wake up happy and is a fussy cranky little boy. </p> <p>Current Schedule<br /> 6:00 am Wake up (we want him to wake up at 7 am)<br /> 9:00 am Nap 1<br /> 9:40 am Wake from Nap<br /> 1:30 pm Nap 2<br /> 2:30 pm Wake from Nap<br /> 8:00 pm Bedtime (this is a good bedtime, earlier if he doesn't do well that day)</p> <p>What do we do so that he will sleep later in the morning? That would help a lot! </p> <p>How do we get him through the sleep transition? </p> <p>We have tried CIO and he cries for the entire nap or until we get him and he is just more tired. </p>