2 Month Old Waking in the Night

I am having a very difficult time getting my 2 month old daughter to sleep past 3am. I changed her bed time from 8 to 10 in hopes it would improve things, but it hasn't. During the daytime, she typically gets 2-3 naps for a total of 5-6 hours. Our night time routine consists of a bath, a feeding and being rocked to sleep. I keep the light dim,
usually just a night light. She has just started to be able to self settle, but not consistently. I have no problem putting her down for the night. She typically wakes at around 2 for a feeding and easily goes back to sleep. However, she wakes up shortly thereafter, around 3:30. I often struggle the rest of the night trying to put her to
sleep unsuccessfully. I may be able to put her to sleep, but she always wakes within 20-30 minutes. Finally, I give in at 6am and bring her to my bed to sleep with me (in which she sleeps for another 3 hours). I really don't like cosleeping and would prefer not to depend on it.

Do you have any suggestions that might help (as well as things I might
be doing to further aggravate the situation)?

Overall it sounds like you are doing the right things. I am pleased to hear that your 2 month old is already sleeping 4 to 6 hour stretches at night and seems to understand that night is for sleeping. The goal I set for my patients is consistently sleeping 6 to 8 hours by 4 months. I realize this may not seem like success to a mother getting 6 hours of sleep a night. However, it is my experience that as children age and gain weight they should gradually increase their hours of nighttime sleep.

If she is a well grown, healthy child I would recommend you gradually space out her daytime feedings closer to every 3 1/2 to 4 hours. If your baby is a frequent feeder slowly space out their feeding by increasing the minimum interval by 15 minutes at a time. Such that if the baby is able to tolerate feeding every 2 hours make them wait 2 hours and 15 minute at each interval.

If you have not already tried, I would recommend you try a pacifier to help settle her down at night. I would also recommend you try swaddling her. My 2 month olds, typically liked to have their legs swaddled and their arms free.

I agree with your stance on co-sleeping. While it is easy in the short run, it makes sleep more difficult in the long haul.

Bottomline: It sounds like you are doing the right things and she is close to sleeping well. Hang in there!

Written January 2011 by
Dr. Gordon, Orlando Pediatrician