My 7-Month-Old Wakes Up Every Hour At Night – Help!

We all know that a newborn baby may wake up often to feed. But what if a 7-month-old wakes up every hour? Can this be considered normal? What can it be, and what can be done about it?

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Mom’s Question:

My baby has never slept well, but now it is even worse. Right now, my 7-month-old wakes up every hour at night.

I don’t think he is hungry.

He already has four teeth, and I suspect another is coming through. I gave him Motrin and rubbed Orajel on his gums, but he STILL gets up every hour. I don’t think he’s hungry, cold, hot, etc.

What am I doing wrong?

Tips When 7-Month-Old Wakes Up Every Hour

Find ways to get sleep for YOU

I don’t think you are doing anything wrong! Some babies get unsettled very easily and wake up often. It is exhausting for you.

I know it is not much help, but he will grow out of it! Many babies have periods when their sleep is suddenly a lot worse, and often, we will never be able to figure out why.

Try to get a night where someone else is the person on baby duty, so you get a decent night’s sleep. And make sure you nap in the day when he does if you can. You can also find other tips on how to maximize mom’s sleep here.

When Mom gets exhausted, we tend to get cranky, and of course, the baby picks up on that, gets worried, and cries more!

In addition to just waiting for the phase-out, it is a good idea to exclude some possible reasons for your baby’s poor sleep.

A Cold or Other Illness

You haven’t mentioned how long this has been going on. If it is just a few days, it may be that your son is about to get ill, and you’ll soon notice. A cold with a sore throat, ear pain, and/or a stopped-up nose will certainly affect his sleep.

Teething Pain

If he is teething, then clearly, you are doing all you can to help ease him through it, and lots of Mommy cuddles are really all they want. (But do check for more teething remedies here.)

Tummy Pain from Food Intolerance or Allergy

Just a possibility, though, some children are intolerant to dairy products or have a cow’s milk allergy, and the formula they  can make them uncomfortable and contribute to sleep problems. Learn more about the signs of lactose intolerance here.

Have you introduced any new foods recently? In addition to cow’s milk, many babies get tummy pain or constipation when we start feeding them solids. This can certainly affect their sleep. If this may be the case, slow down the food introduction and remove some of the food types, you recently introduced.

Headaches

One thing you might not be aware of; babies can also have headaches! And when they lie down, it hurts more. If this may be the case, you can try a couple of cranial osteopathy sessions. I don’t know if you have someone in your area who is specialized in working with babies, but it can make a difference for babies who don’t sleep well.

Too Warm or Cold

A baby that is too warm or cold obviously will not sleep well. If you have recently changed your baby’s sleep environment or pajamas, double-check that your baby is not sweaty or cold.

Separation Anxiety

Finally, being 7 months old, he may also wake up due to separation anxiety. (Read about 7-month baby milestones here.) If he sleeps far from you, consider moving his crib next to your bed. A teddy or small cloth that smells like mom may also help.

Hang in there, and try to be as calm as possible with him; if you are worried and stressed, he will be too!

More Babies That Wake Up At Night

• Baby Waking Up And Staying Awake
• Baby Wakes Up For 2 Hours Every Night
• 9 Month Baby Wakes Up Every Second Hour

Research references

• Headaches in Children: When to Worry | Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• What Does Cranial Osteopathy Do for Babies?

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Paula Dennholt

Paula Dennholt founded Easy Baby Life in 2006 and has been a passionate parenting and pregnancy writer since then. Her parenting approach and writing are based on studies in cognitive-behavioral models and therapy for children and her experience as a mother and stepmother. Life as a parent has convinced her of how crucial it is to put relationships before rules. She strongly believes in positive parenting and a science-based approach.

Paula cooperates with a team of pediatricians who assist in reviewing and writing articles.