Bedtime is great; but what about the middle of the night?

Executive Member Joined: Apr 07 2009 Posts: 466

DD is 8 months old and not sleeping through the night. I used No Cry/EASY to get her to go to bed at bedtime, and BEH she's been going down beautifully.

The problem that nobody seems to address is what happens when she wakes up in the middle of the night and won't go back to sleep. What do I do then? Nothing seems to work: she spits out the paci, gets up the millionth time I've laid her back down, wriggles so I can't pat or rub her...she just wants to play! (Or sleep in my bed, nursing on and off, which is too often what ends up happening.)

Any advice? TIA!!

Oh - I don't have control over her naps because she's at a babysitter (I work FT), but she usually gets 2 a day.

I'm in the same boat, almost exactly. DD is 8 months, goes down to nap and sleep at night awake but sleepy and puts herself to sleep, but doesn't stay asleep. (also gets two naps a day). Here's what has kind of been working for us. I moved her out of my room into the room with older dd. Also, I decided that I'd nurse her once during the night at her first wake up (on advice of pediatrician that she was possibly hungry then), then I put her down - sometimes awake, sometimes asleep, sometimes groggy. If she doesn't stay asleep, DH goes in. He does a variety of things -- sometimes he just repositions her in the crib, sometimes he takes her out and holds her for a little and then puts her down, sometimes he puts music on for her. The important thing is that she doesn't get fed all night long. B'IH it's working a little better. I've also upped her food intake during the day to see if it helps. Mostly, I just want to sleep more than 2 hours consecutively. Eventually she goes back to sleep. Sometimes she plays for a while first. Good luck. IF anything works for you, let me know. at least she naps. My first dd was up every 1.5 hrs at night and never napped.

Executive Member Joined: Apr 07 2009 Posts: 466

So...the only problem is that we're in a one-bedroom apt. We're moving IY"H IY"H in November, but until then, it's pretty hard (if we put her in the living/dining/kitchen area then I can't do anything from 7:30 - when she goes to bed - onward, so that's not really an option).

Okay - let's keep each other posted!

I really like this sleep training method and it does address night wakings and weaning night time feedings.
http://sleepyplanet.com/

Executive Member Joined: Apr 07 2009 Posts: 466

Platinum Member Joined: Mar 29 2005 Posts: 10909

It's been my experience with my children and people telling me the same thing that at 8 months, the baby likes to play in the middle of the night -- they want interaction...it is a phase they B"H outgrow, so hang in there.

I don't expect my children to sleep through the night at that age. I just nurse them and let them in my bed as long as they allow me to sleep.
(I moved my oldest at 8 months into the second bedroom because of his wanting to play and keeping us awake, but I don't think it was the right decision retrospectively.)