My almost 8 month old daughter is now waking up during the night. She was sleeping through the night by about 2 months old and would sleep from 8 pm to 7 am. In the last 2 weeks, she has started waking up at least 1 time during the night. I'm nursing her and she's also fed breastmilk in a bottle. Sometimes, she is hungry but not always. Sometimes, she just wants to be rocked to sleep and sometimes, she is wide awake. She wakes up and then stands up in her crib and cries. We have tried to let her cry it out but she doesn't seem to ever fall back asleep on her own. She just keeps standing there. I would love some ideas as to how to get her to sleep again through the night.
Thanks for all the great advice. She has a nightlight in her room and also listens to music each night. She has plenty of toys to play with in her crib. I'll try feeding her some solid foods and keeping her up a little later. We have been keeping her up a little later lately because she is fighting going to bed too. She did get her first tooth last week and it looks like another is on the way but she hasn't seemed fussy from that. It could be teething though. Last night as she was standing there, I kept thinking that she probably doesn't know how to sit back down. I'll try working on that with her. She has been crawling and pulling herself up on everything but really hasn't learned to sit back down that well, especially when standing in her crib. We've tried to let her cry it out (which I hate to do but we did try) and it gets her more worked up. She's never been one that could cry it out. I'll give all the great advice a try. Thank you so much for your responses.
Hi, its possible she's teething, in which case, all bets are off. My son, now 18 months, has had trouble sleeping all night since birth. Its always something. I would give her some pain reliever before bed, and see if it doesnt help. Keep reading those growth charts, so that you will know whats going on at her stage in developement. Otherwise, some kids are just that way, and just remember.."this too shall pass." K.
I have a 10 month old & have been having the same problem for some time now. I end up bringing her in bed with us, which I know is bad, but I need sleep!!!! I'd be happy to hear of some suggestions too! I have found that a little juice or water & fresh diapers sometimes does the trick, but not often enough. I have even tried putting her to bed later, but it doesn't seem to make a difference when she goes to sleep - she keeps waking up between 4 and 5 am.
My son who is 10 months old and has always slept through the night had started waking up during the night and crying too. I had been putting him to bed in pajamas that were shorts & short sleeves. It's been cooler at night so I switched him to long pants for bed and now he's back to sleeping through the night. Just a suggestion, in case it's something as simple as being too hot or cool that's waking her up. Good luck!!
R.:
I am so relieve to see your message as we're going through the SAME thing with our 7 month old. She was sleeping great and then about a month ago started waking up in the middle of the night. We tried feeding her but that never really did the trick so we did a cry it out weekend (awful). It helped for one night but every night she is moving constantly - crawling, rolling over, pulling herself up etc. She looks so tired but will NOT go back to sleep. I'm a working mom who has been up for 3-4 hours every night for the past week. If you figure anything out, please let me know!!!!
sounds like she is either hungry or teething. She might need more food, not just milk before bed.
You need to get the book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child." By Dr. Marc Weisbluth. He explains sleep habits as well as gives guidelines for every age. The great thing about this book is he addresses crying it out as well as attachment parenting. He lets you decide what is right for your family. I would start by putting her to bed earlier NOT later! Start with 20 minutes earlier and do that 4 nights in a row. But, even more important are her naps and nap schedules. Her sleep needs may be changing and you just need to be aware of what she needs. Get the book, it's a lifesaver! You can read other reviews at Amazon. Good luck and sweet dreams!
Both of my girls had sleep issues around that same age. The only thing that worked was letting then cry it out. With my 1st it took 15 minutes one time, and she was sleeping through the night. My other daughter it took over an hour for many nights then she started sleeping through the night. A really good book that was recommended to me that you may have heard of is "The No-Cry Sleep Solutation" by Elizabeth Pantley. It has some good ideas about teaching your baby how to sleep on their own. I think developmently they go through somethings around 6-9 months, because they can sit up and crawl and these new developments can cause sleep disturbances. Good Luck!!!
I would suggest pushing the time out to 8:30 or 9 or try putting toys in the crib or try letting your child cry it out longer. I know it can take a long time for a little one to go back to sleep, but it'll get shorter and shorter as she learns you won't save her. You just don't want to develop a pattern of rocking or soothing unless you want that. Cry it out longer is my suggestion as it's worked for us.
is she teething?? are you comfortable giving her a little tylenol?? is she getting enough to eat before bed?? i dont breast feed, but give our baby a bowl of cereal and a bottle before bed...seems to help on most nights. you have to remember that she is going through changes too: separation anxiety, dreams/nightmares, etc...good luck
I read the "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley for my daugher who is 6 months and has never slept through the night. She went from 1 waking to 2 to 3 to 4 per night by the time she was 3 months. I got the book just a few weeks agok. After using the techniques for 2 weeks, she gets up 1-2 times per night. We still have some improvements to go, but I was pleased how quickly it made an impact. The idea is that you give the baby what they need to get them to sleep but you gradually give them less of it so they are in a partially awake state when you put them back in the crib. The baby has to learn to put themselves to sleep when they wake up during the night. Good Luck getting your sleep back!!
Don't ya just love it...as soon as you think you have your baby on a schedule they up and change it on you again! (-: Especially when it comes to sleeping! If she recently started being more active during the day, learning to pull herself up, crawl, roll over things like that she will wake up more at night. Most babies do this. Yes, the teeth thing could definately be part of it also or everything combined. For teeth...Hybils (I think that's the name) Teething Tablets are WONDERFUL!!! All natural so it is very safe to give your baby. We and some other people I know wont be without Teething Tabs when our babies are or were (mine are 3 & 5 now) teething. But watch, when her schedule during the day changes in the slightest, including new activities, you can bet her sleeping will change also. Best of luck!
R.,
I have an informational handout on this issue. If you are intrested in receiving it please feel free to e-mail me at ____@____.com I would be happy to send it to you.
A little about me,
I am a certified birth Doula through both CAPPA and DONA. I am the mother of 3 adult children and 3 grandchildren.
Whenever my boys were waking in the night, I knew teeth were on their way. During these periods, I would give them a dose of Tylenol before bed. (I got the OK from the pediatrician)
As far as the bedtime goes, I've read advice to and tried just the opposite. Try putting her down 1/2 hr earlier than usual. I know you must have gotten so much advice, but take your time and try things until you've found the key. I know how much I hate the crying it out, but really it works (eventually!). She will have such a healthier sleep life and independence.
Good luck!
C.
Have you tried music? Does she have a nightlight? Maybe even some crib toys that hang on the crib? I feel your pain, honest, I do! GOOD LUCK!!!
Teething is a very possible reason, so is developmental changes. Lots of babies wake at night and stand up when they can... because they can. Is she good at sitting back down on her own? Maybe she is still having problems with that part of standing/sitting and when she stands at night, she doesn't think to sit back down. Beginning to crawl can also affect sleep habits. And, as you said, she could just be hungry due to a growth spurt.
My son was not a good sleeper (just started sleeping through the night at 16 months). Some of the things I tried included, nursing (which you are doing), sitting by his crib and "helping" him lay down and stay with him till he goes back to sleep. I introduced a "lovey" at around 5 months, and now he is totally attached to it, and I think it helps him at night when he wakes up. His is a little blue blanket bear, and helped with weaning too.
Good luck!
J.
My son is also 8 months old and went through this last month. When I talked to the pediatrician about she said to let him cry it out even if it takes two to three hours. We had alot of things going on for the 3 weeks he didn't sleep through the night. Once we got him back into his normal routine of daycare and stuff he started sleeping through the night again. We never really had to do the cry it out thing (Thank God!) I am sorry I don't have any ideas for you, I just wanted to let you know you are not alone. Good luck.
K.
