Need Help Getting 8 Month Old to Sleep Through Night

hey H.! I posted a similar question on 8/25/09 under the newborn/infant section and i got a lot of good advice. i can't remember it (mommy brains y'know?), but if you have a chance look on my replies b/c there's some good stuff. this phase really did pass and i think it's pretty normal. anyway, good luck darlin'! :)

I think you may have been just lucky before. Dr's consider 6 consecutive hours to be "sleeping through the night". If you're expecting 10+ hours, you may not get it. It sounds like she may be going through a growth spurt in addition to teething perhaps. I'm afraid the cereal in her bottle might be working against you. Cereal is not as full of calories or nutrition as breast milk or formula. It may be bulkier, but many studies have shown (and what you've found out) is that it doesn't help them to sleep longer. You might also check out the book -- No Cry Sleep Solution. It's full of techniques that are backed by scientific studies on infant sleep. Have you noticed she's fussier? drooling more? You might try some motrin to see if that helps in case this is teething.

In the end, this is a phase and she'll move past it. I know it's incredibly frustrating, but what she's going through is normal and you just have to figure out what it is she needs and then give it to her. If it is a growth spurt, she will move past it. Try just regular bottles and see if that helps.

Good luck!

it's just a habit, she waking up and not putting herself back to sleep. let her cry it out and everyone will be getting more sleep and will be happier!! maybe it's unpopular but it works, in 3 days. she'll be happier during the day and she will have learned a very important skill of learning to fall asleep on her own. you will be a better, more rested mom.

Babies are growing and go through changes constantly - nothing you don't already know. There is no magic bullet or book to read, all babies are different. This is a phase and it is temporary, as all baby phases are. She may be going through a growth spurt as well as teething (tablets or orajel won't reduce the pain throughout the night). She will get back to a longer sleep pattern in her own time. Limited, short naps during the day and cereal just before bed, along with letting her cry it out - all will be better in time. Good luck!

H.,

Have you considered taking her to a Chiropractor?

I specialize in treating children using Chiropractic and have found remarkable results without drugs or surgery.

Here is an e-mail I received from a parent:

----------------------------------------

"I could write a book on this woman and what she has done for me, my children, my friends and family members. She is more intuitive than any one I have ever known. Just to give you an example of her work, I will tell you about my son and how she has made him happier and healthier and saved my sanity in the process. Last winter I saw Dr. Sue for the first time with my son. He had just turned 2 and was a miserable child. He was clingy and fussy and he drained all my energy. Every night he would battle bedtime. It took an hour to two hours every night to get him down. He was exhausted but he fought it to the bitter end. He would cry and get so worked up, his asthma would flare up and he would start coughing. If we didn't go in promptly and give him a breathing treatment or the rescue inhaler he would vomit. We tried soothing him every way. Rocking, singing, reading, full body massage, bath before bed, you name it! The first time we saw dr. sue she adjusted him and performed cranial sacrum on him. She asked if he had ever had a bad reaction to an MMR vaccine. Indeed he had! The medical community looked at me like I was nuts when I told them my child's demeanor changed over night. I had a background in special ed and was worried this had altered him for life. I let it go after his social and cognitive skills were on track. Emotionally he was not where he should be. D. purged this from his body. She gave me instructions on how to continue this process at home. She told me to take him home and let him sleep. I thought to myself, she is nuts.. this child won't take a nap and he surely won't go to sleep late in the evening. I waited until bedtime and put him in his bed after the usual rocking and singing. He went right to sleep. Ok, first night, it must have been a fluke, right... well, after 3-4 nights my husband, the true skeptic looked at me and said, whatever she did worked! It was amazing. With in a week his preschool teachers mentioned to me that he was so much happier and that they could see a difference in him. I had not shared with them about Dr. Sue. He took naps again!! He went to sleep at night without a battle. He wasn't hanging on my body every step I took! It was amazing! He has very few asthma flare ups and they usually are associated with congestion now. She has improved our family's quality of life by helping him! I you want to be healthier, happier and have a more balanced life, go to Dr. Sue. She has a gift that could change your life."

----------------------------------------

Yes, I can help you with your daughter.

Our office number ###-###-####, our office is located in Plano, TX.

Look forward to speaking with you.
Dr. Sue

PS. If our location is not convenient to you, we would be happy to refer you to a Chiropractor we know who is closer to you.

Hi H.,

This is so frustrating! I highly recommend reading "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer."

She might be in transition or going through a growth spurt, which happens so frequently, doesn't it? Also, she might have gas, so try some gripe water for her (buy at Walgreens) and make sure she is burped well. I wouldn't recommend the "cry it out method" just in case you're thinking about it. She is communicating some need to you right now, and we just aren't sure what. If you do let her cry, watch the clock and don't go longer than 2 minutes just to see if she'll go back to sleep (I have a feeling you've probably tried that!).

Try switching things up like - rocking her, putting her in a swing, giving her a warm bath, or putting a sound machine in her room. There could be any number of things going on, but what I would remind you of is how this is probably just a phase, and even though she is trying to communicate her needs to you, you'll figure it out very soon - I know you will! Good luck to you!

Hi H. I have an 8 mo. old too. She sleeps through the night 11 hrs. and takes two 1 and 1/2-2 hr. naps during the day. She is on a schedule known as the "feed, wake, sleep" schedule in Dr. Ezzo's books Babywise I and II. All of our friends use this book and have the same results it works! You can find the books online as well as Barnes and Noble. People always comment on how happy our baby is and they say we are lucky. I tuly believe there is no such thing only great scheduling as is outlined in these books. Best of luck and God bless :)

What time does she actually go to bed? Does she eat solid food yet? I feed my daughter (who just turned 9 months yesterday) solid food around 6, and then give her about 4-6oz bottle around 7:15. I put her down right after that and she seems full and sleeps well. Maybe you could try adjusting her eating schedule?

Aaaah! Im having the same problem and my son is 8 months too! We actually feed on the schedule the other person recommended and no luck. I'm going ot keep an eye on this post and hopefully we'll get some good advice:) I feel like its back to the first two months all over again. . . yawn, yawn!