8 Month Old Will Not Sleep More than 3-4 Hours at a Time (Night)

Hi L.,

First let me just say that I have recently been there and feel for you! My highest recommendation is to read "the no cry sleep solution" by Eliabeth Pantley. I think you will find some ideas that work for you. If you gradually lenthen his times between nursings at night, your body will adjust after a few days. You might be able to hand express, just enough to make you comfortable, but not so much that your body just produces more milk. I have found that we have had to break the suck to sleep association for which Pantley has some ideas. We are still working on it, but it is much better. The other thing that worked was having baby sleep with Daddy. No milk, but lots of comfort.

Good Luck,

C.

I've gone through this and it does get better and no you don't have to stop cosleeping or nursing at night. My son is 14 mos, we still cosleep and nurse (can't get him to take a pacifier either) and we're getting some decent sleep. Teething was a major contributor in the non sleeping, we did a dose of motrin at bedtime because that's when the teeth bothered him the most. If he wakes up before you are going to bed, have your husband try to soothe him back to sleep. Let him nurse when you are getting in bed to sleep to give you a stretch of sleep. If he wakes up with in a couple of hours you can see if your husband can get him back to sleep, although this is easier if you're in another room.
Your breasts are on a supply & demand production so I wouldn't pump them at night, maybe just hand express to ease the pressure. As your son nurses less at night, your milk supply will adjust.
Read Dr. Sears articles on sleep problems and you might find some really good ideas that don't mean having to stop cosleeping. www.askdrsears.com

Hi L.,
You may or may not like my suggestions, but I'll put them out there for you to decide. I am a mother of two (a 3+ girl and a 22 mo-old boy). Many of our friends have experienced the same results we have. We actually found that our kids both slept way better when we put them in their own crib in their own rooms. At first, we were very hesitant to do this and had to work through the crying-it-out for a few minutes, but, until we did this, we weren't getting much sleep. Also, I was blessed with an abundance of milk and had similar experiences with the fullness. What I've learned: you've really got to cut at least two of those night-time feedings. This will be uncomfortable at first, but your milk production will eventually adjust. When I figured out that my son was just, basically, using me as a pacifier (as you described, too), I figured (I checked with lactation specialists and books as well) he really didn't NEED to nurse. This helped to cut back on his nightly feedings. Finally, we all make noises to some extent when we sleep, we toss and turn, wake and fall back asleep. It's the same for a baby and it is constantly changing.
I hope this helps in some small way. Feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions.
Good luck,
L. =0)

I continued to nurse my son in the middle of the night until he was 2. He really seemed to need the night feedings until at least 18 months old. This time passes fast, give you baby what he needs.

Hi L.,

I could relate to you. Once my daughter reached 12 months she began sleeping through the night. Thank goodness! I thought that I would never see the light but it finally happened and it feels so good. My daughter is now 14 months and she weaned off my breast on her own. She is full of energy and a very happy baby.

When she was younger, I remember feeling like a zombie because she would wake me up every two to three hours at night. I co-slept for fear of anything happening to her (SIDS). I also breastfed which was very convenient. My breast would be so full that I too couldn't wait for her to wake up just so that I could get some relief. Every child is different. The one thing I learned especially being a first time mom is that things will get better it just takes time.

Good luck,
Mar

Dr. Ferber's book helped us get our son to learn how to self-sooth himself back to sleep. I forget the full name of the book, but if you search Dr. Ferber, you should find it. It works to help understand routines and habits and sleep cycles.
It was hard for our son to go a full night without a bottle - but we'd slowly move the feeding 15 minutes, then a half hour, then an hour and then... sleeping a full night! You'll find good info for moving him to his own bed and how to deal with self-soothing to sleep for that. Now when our son passes his crib, he reaches for it when he's tired. No joke.

L.,
I have a 9 1/2 month old son and until recently, was going through the same thing. We tried the cry it out method and it worked for a short period of time, until my son caught a cold and reverted to his old ways. Tried it again, with not as much success. Then we decided to only send in my husband and that it was okay to pick him up until he calmed down. I usually let my husband sleep at night since he's the one that has to get up and go to work. However, every time I went in the room, the only way our son would calm down is if he got to nurse. My husband started going in on a Thursday night and would hold our son til he calmed, then put him back in bed. He'd usually cry then and we'd let him for 5-10 minutes, then my husband would do the same thing. It took 3-4 nights of this (thank goodness it was over a weekend) but eventually our son has begun to sleep from 8 pm-6 am. He still occasionally wakes in the night, but has been able to put himself back to sleep within a few minutes. Not saying that this is your answer, but it worked for us. Keep trying til you find something that works for your family!

For me the answer to you question is in the statement, "we co-sleep." Get him into his own bed and wean him from comfort eating during the night. At 8 months if he is eating enough during the day, he doesn't need the night feedings. Good luck!

I have to respond and say that you are doing everything right. My daughter is 15 months and doesn't sleep through the night. She still nurses anywhere between 3-7 times a night, depending on whether or not she's teething or uncomfortable. Generally, babies aren't supposed to sleep through the night until they are done teething, which is usually around 2 years. If you can, keep with it. I just put my daughter on a later schedule, so she goes to bed late and wakes up late, like me. Goes to bed around 10-11pm, wakes up around 10-11am. And let me say that she is totally secure and loved and has never woken up crying.
I recently had to go into the hospital for an appendectomy, and she had to stay at home with my parents through the night. You know what? She was a little sad going to sleep, but she did fine, and they say she slept mostly through the night! I think that is because she has never had any reason to fear that I won't be back. No separation anxiety from my little girl. So you are doing everything right. Hang in there if you can, it will get better. :)

I would suggest to put him in his room, get a TV monitor for checking during the night. He also sounds as if he is not getting enough milk before bed to fill his tummy and sleep.
just my opinion.

My five month old is still a horrible sleeper (she is child #2 & #1 slept great so this is all unknown territory for me)! Some nights she gives me a longer block of sleep (however I have the same issue I'm never ready for bed) but then the next night will be up every hour or so.
I think the first thing I would do in your situation is get the baby into at least a cradle, even if he still sleeps in your room. Then I would try to pump right before you go to bed sounds like your milk supply could handle it if you had to feed sooner than hoped. Or wake him quickly to nurse when you are ready for bed. Then try to just soothe him when he wakes up without picking him up, nursing, changing, etc. Even if you just do that one of the times he wakes up you will start the pattern for him to cut back on the night nursing. Which should eventually lead to him sleeping longer.
Also does he have a routine during the day? I did notice once I got our daughter onto a daily nap routine, instead of the new born sleep whenever schedule, that she started sleeping at least 4 hours most nights before she would wake.
Lastly take lots of naps!!!!!

I have heard it said that it is not the child that sleeps though the night, it is the parent. This is when the child learns to self comfort and put them selves back to sleep. This may be difficult if co-sleeping or nursing him back to sleep, because he will not learn to self comfort. I know people all have different views on this kind of stuff, but at 1 month I stopped nursing my boys if they woke up at night, and they learned to rely on other methods. I have gotten 8 hours of sleep almost every night since my boys where 2 months old. They are 2 and 4 years old now, and go to bed great every night, with out a fuss.

Don't know if this is any help, but here it is.

You might try a bassinet on the side of the bed, they have some that the side comes down so it is still kind of co-sleeping but that might give him the firm support he needs so that he doesn't wake up when you get in bed.

HI L.,
I feel for you. I too have been there with no sleep and you just can't take it any longer. What worked for me was putting my son in his own room. It truly helped me to sleep and helped him to sleep better also. Also, I nursed him through the night as you did and the first approached I did was instead of nursing him when he would wake, I would rock him. He was totally unhappy that I was not giving him what he wanted, but after about a week he gave in and did not wake up until morning. Unfortanuately for me, it was at about 5 am, but we are still working on that. I too would have some discomfort at night, but nothing like you are saying. What I did do is express the milk out into the bathroom sink. Your body will adjust to the decrease in his eating at night, it does take a bit, but hang in there, it does get better. Bless you mom... It is rough.. Both my two children and I just got over throwing up for two whole days and I am sooooo tired and wanting to sleep again. Thank goodness my husband was a big help. Take care.
B.

I'm so thankful you wrote in for this. I literally could have written this exact thing myself...except my son is 9.5 months now. My husband and I have been feeling unsure what to try, but know that something needs to change.

Several weeks ago we began night weening him (ie going for a 5-6 hour stretch with no nursing), which seemed to be helping. However, he got a terrible cold and we have reverted back. Once the cold is gone, we plan to try again.

Good luck to you and me too! :)

Pump at night when you feel full and it wakes you. Keep the breast very warm to help the over supply leak with wool. If you are alergic to wool wrap it in flanel or cotton. I sleep in a tank top with a built in bra shelf so I can keep wool pads in there. If you sleep in the same position all night you can fold a baby blanket up and put it over your breasts.
You could try keeping him up longer too. Have your hubby start playing with him about 7:15 and keep pushing it later each night until he goes to bed at a reasonable time for you. This will change the rest of your sechedule too like naptimes. Also, feed him just before bed. Something heavy like cereal may help. Ensure he is dry before you put him down too.
Then pump every last drop and make sure you are empty.

I agree he may be ready to move to his own bed. If he is a light sleeper waking him up is not good for you.

Good luck!

I went through that too. I felt so relieved and stupid when I had my daughter as we put her in the little crib and got him a big one. As soon as he had enough room to move around and not wake himself up he slept through the night. It can all be a matter of training too which can mean a night or two of crying. Your milk flow can be trained as well which is not comfortable for a little while as well.

Hi L.,
Babies do need to learn to put themselves back to sleep and it seems your son is using nursing as his way to get back to sleep. At eight months he can go 12 hours without food, no problem, so he shouldn't need to nurse (ask your doctor, of course, but this is what I read and was told by doctors). Also, maybe it's time to move him into his own crib. Though I love cuddling up with him, my son and I sleep much better apart. We are both light sleepers and thus wake each other up at the slightest movement. Also, there's that mom instinct that kicks in when you hear the slightest noise from your baby - you expect to have to get up to tend to him, so you wake then he wakes.
You might try having your husband/partner sleep with him a few nights to try to wean him of his nursing habit. I know a lot of women who tried this and it worked very well. He can smell the milk on you and milk means comfort if he wakes up...
As for your breasts feeling full, this will pass in a few days. It is uncomfortable, but it will pass. I remember feeling this way when I weaned completely not too long ago, but I was always fine in a couple of days. Good luck!

yicks! this sounds like a tough situation. i'm sure your getting lots of advice but i will just throw in my two cents.

first off, move him to his own bed. i know all the benefits of co-sleeping and we tried, but my ds is also a light sleeper and sleeps SOOO much better on his own. when he was five months i got a cold and had to sleep in the guest room to not wake him coughing. and oh my gosh he sleep 11 hours! then the next night 12! i was in heaven. since i moved him to his own room he almost always sleeps through the night (11 hours).

second. you are feeding him way too often during the day. sounds like he snacks but doesn't get good full meals. then he is hungry at night. by 8 months we were breast feeding 4 times during the day and never at night. then he was taking a good 8 onces during his day feeds (i only know it was this much cause of occasional bottle feeds) you milk supply is also backwards. i would start gradually spacing out day time feeds to every 4-5 hours. obviously don't do it all at once but in 15-30 minute intervals.

third- when he wakes up in the night before being hungry don't use the boob to get him back to sleep. this will just teach him wake up=boob and he will wake more often just to have a couple of sucks.

fourth- forget the pacifer. he is way too old.

fifth- get a good cloth diaper for night so you don't have to change him. getting half naked in the middle of the night is way too stimulating! we use the bum genius pocket diapers with an extra insert and have never had a leak.

ok, i think thats it. i don't mean to sound preachy and these are just things that worked well for us! all moms deserve a full night of sleep and so do babies! it is much healthier for them to get good quality rest!

My almost 8 month old sleeps through the night more and more now, waking up once a night, but sleeping through the night more often recently which I love. I've heard of some kids who wake up til a year and half. I've noticed I reach a point of "This needs to change" and it does because you work to make it change, so be patient during the change.

Your milk will balance itself out, don't worry. It won't take too long really. I do that same thing...lol...."Wake up, baby, and give me some relief!" It happens to us all! ;P

The biggest problem I have with sleeping thing for me is transitioning him to his own bed. I co-sleep for a month of so (I did for 8 weeks with my oldest and it was TOO LONG)because it is easier to not have to get up to nurse for during recovery. At 3 weeks, I worked on getting my guy to sleep in his own bassinet for naptime (there were exceptions) and then about 5 or 6 months (whenever I felt it was time to have my room back) I worked on naptime in a crib in another room, finally from there I put him in his bed for the night. At first he was waking up 2 times a night (in our room he'd wake up 2-3 times a night and I was exhausted) but the last two night he's slept through the night. I am ready for it and I think he is too.

You are a dedicated mom and uniquely created for this moment for this child in this situation. Don't doubt the intuition and wisdom God gives you for doing what's best for him.

Happy sleeping!

My son did the same thing. We co-slept and I nursed him all night long. This didnt happen with my daughter, so I thought I was going crazy. I finally put him to sleep in his crib after a good feeding and rocking/cuddling session in the rocking chair. It took about a month but he started sleeping thru the night and my life has never been better. He's two now and is still a great sleeper. I hated weaning him around 10 months, but he was ready. You could try pumping once in the middle of the night to relieve pressure. Its amazing how quickly your body adjusts to the less frequent feedings. Try the cry it out method, I know it doesnt work for everyone, but it worked for me. Its all over now and I sorta miss the nursing, rocking and middle of the night time with my kids. It really goes by so fast:) Hang in there!

start offering table foods/baby food... you can even offer 2-4oz of diluted juice. Pump at night if needed - your body will adjust... you have more milk at night because that is when the hormone that drives milk production is at its highest. Once you passs 7 months or so, night waking is generally attributed to the need for calories... you can greatly adjust the routine and sleep pattern of your child by getting them into a more regular feeding pattern with meals and naps and a set bedtime...