baby sleep issues - help!

[sylviamaria]

I m having trouble with my almost 8 month old daughter sleep. Since May she is waking in the night at least once, normally between 4am and 5 am crying. I don't know what to do. I don't think its teething - not every night for 3 months anyway! She now goes to sleep for naps and at bed time awake and I shush to sleep or just leave her to it and she goes off on her own. So she doesn't get cuddled or fed to sleep.

The thing I don't understand is that she wakes crying every time. Even from naps. That suggests to me that she is still tired but I don't know how to get her to go back to sleep on her own once she has woken up. I am exhausted and she sometime s wakes her older sister too, as they share rooms.... Help!

Edited to add that she is not hungry - I have fed her in the past and she still didn't get back to sleep easily. I normally feed her between 6.30 and 7.00am.

[jennyh]

My 7/8 month old wakes between 4-5.30 usually. If I quickly feed him around 4-5 and sit with him he will usually drop off, not much fun but he then sleeps another hour or so. If its 5am onwards he won't go back to sleep, I feel a bit like this is just his waking time...he seems very alert then. Prob not the same if your little one is crying on waking. Could she be cold? I had some success with my older daughter doing wake to sleep, going in an hour before her waking time and gently rousing her and re-settling. Was quite hellish to do it but it did help. Not sure on smaller babies though...

[wilko]

We had a very similar experience. I found giving her a sippy cup of warm water did the trick. She only ever wanted about 30mls but I think she was just thirsty in the warmer weather. Might be worth a try if you haven't already? Hope you get it sorted. The early mornings are painful!

[sylviamaria]

This has now evolved to waking constantly from 11pm onwards. We have brought her in with us to get some sleep, though she still cries. Is there an 8 month growth spurt? I haven't tried feeding recently. Maybe I should... I am tired!

[shaunag]

Hi. Do you think she might be in pain? It would be a bit weird to only be starting now but acid reflux could be an explanation. Maybe have a chat with your gp? I'm a firm believer that babies don't cry for no reason. If you don't ya think it's pain could it be something like not liking the dark? My sister had her son in pitch black and he slept very badly. In mums suggestion she introduced a night light and he started sleeping much better; he was a bit freaked out in the dark! Similarly maybe some white noise could help? Or could she be hungry? My son is very predictable; if he doesn't have enough protein in the day I know I'm in for a rough night. He's a terrible eater though so we still have off days. I don't know if others have any other suggestions but you must be wrecked if she is awake all the time, so maybe worth trying some of the above (I'd start with more food if possible; whatever she will eat)!

[tarafitness]

There is quite a serious sleep regression that takes place around the 8 month mark. Plus, there's Leap 6 (see the Wonder Weeks book, and app too), and that can promote wakefulness. My almost 8 month old was sleeping for quite a long time during the night until recently.

I also think that it's a hunger thing, since he's become more mobile he's clearly needed more milk during the night as well as the day - as he takes a full feed.

Could you try offering boob/bottle at that time to see if your lo is hungry? Until they're 1, milk still makes up a massive part of their calorific needs.

[sylviamaria]

Thank you all for the advice. Her sleep patterns seem to be different every night. I have started feeding in the night for the last 2 nights now and have also decided to just go with it - she will grow out of it. It's probably so many different things that they are hard to deal with all! Teething, separation anxiety, growth spurt and development leaps.... She may even be a little cold - what do you put your baby to sleep in and what temp is their room. I have her in a baby grow and a grow bag.

Monday night was pretty good, last night was awful. I just hope it gets better soon , as I go back to work in a month!

[shaunag]

Just to add, I don't want to encourage bad habits but when my son wakes for an early morning feed (4/5am) he often won't go back in his cot - recently I've taken to letting him into our bed where he then sleeps soundly. I have vague recollections of my daughter being similar- with her I think input it down to teething pain freaking her out and wanting the comfort of mummy nearby. It's not a good habit to get into, but if you need to get some sleep and it works might be worth considering. That said my daughter is now 3.5 and she still comes in in the night a lot. But, I did the same as a child and I don't like the idea of her being scared (and they do grow out of it...) ps have my son in a vest, baby gro, merino wool sleeping bag and if it gets really cold I out a cellular blanket on him (he then wriggles out of it and I put it on again if I or he wake again)

[tarafitness]

shaunag, I do the same :-) my son is in a cot bed in a side-car arrangement, but I've found that if he's tucked up with me after an early morning feed, then it buys me a few extra hours of peace!

[sylviamaria]

Yes, I do bring her in bed after a while. I also did it with my older daughter too (and still do if she is I'll or something). I love the extra snuggles, but it doesn't always guarantee that she will sleep - she didn't this morning. Last night was pretty good, though. She didn't need me till 5.30!

[alieh]

My 8 month old has been a disaster for a couple of weeks! Sleep has gone downhill since 6 months but some really bad nights over the last couple of weeks. No advice but I hope it is just a tough stage that will pass!