Up all night

My daughter has slept through the night since she was about 8 weeks old. She's now 8 months, and for the last week she's been up at least once every night except one night, and last night she was up FOUR times. I don't know what to do. Of course the only way I can calm her down is to nurse her, but I'm nervous she's going to rely on that and never sleep through the night again. Her bottom two teeth have broken through so that may be why she's waking up, but Tylenol doesn't really seem to do much.

Because she's always been a good sleeper I've never read any of the sleeping books. I have a very hard time letting her cry - one of the nights we tried it for about half and hour, checking on her every 10 minutes, and she screamed so much she made herself hoarse.

Has anyone else gone through this type of sleep regression around eight months? Is it just a stage that will pass or am I setting myself up for nightly wake-ups and feeds?

Signed,
A very tired mommy

[fluffhead]

If you get her back to sleep every night by feeding her, she won't want to sleep through. Even if you don't want to let her cry, try rocking or holding her to get her back to sleep, but make her understand that she gets no food in the middle of the night. I think it usually sinks in remarkably quickly.
Now can you tell me how to make my 1 year old sleep past 4 AM?

Oh, Fluff. That sucks. Both kids have done that off and on from 1-2 years. If they woke up after 4, there was no going back to sleep. I have no advice, just sympathy.

Jill -- I agree with Fluffhead. Try not to feed her if you can help it. Even better would be to have your DH get her back to sleep (if he's home and not over-tired). Do you give her Tylenol or Motrin before you put her down for the night or once she is up?

You must be so tired, Jill. It could be teeth or just a growth spurt although a growth spurt *probably* would not have lasted this long. Has your daughter's bedtime routine changed at all? Is she getting enough naps in during the day? If you're looking for a sleep book, I recommend The No-Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. I don't believe in crying it out and I found this book to be a lifesaver. My son went from waking every 2 hours to sleeping through the night within 3 days of implementing some of the strategies in this book...and it involved absolutely no crying. This book offered a lot of tips specifically geared towards breastfed babies. If you're interested in reading it, I'd be happy to mail it to you.

I hope you can get a nap in today!

[samssugarmomma]

We used the 'no cry sleep solution' too. I can't believe how fast it worked!

Hope tonight is better!

I just called our local bookstore and they have the 'no cry' book! I'm going over this afternoon to pick it up...I will let you know how it works out.

[HeartRN]

Jill--I hope things get better soon! I have definitely been there as the all night pacifier. We tried the "No Cry" book, but honestly for me, exhaustion won out over patience...I just was too tired to do much of anything but put her in her crib. It honestly wasn't as bad as I anticipated, but I know it really depends on your child's temperament. Let us know how it goes, and take care!

P.S. It might make you feel better (or worse, depending!) to know that we still have our little night time issues here and there at almost age 2. I guess they just go through different phases.

[DCJenn]

Hey Jill-

I can promise that there are occasional sleep issues, but, even at 18 months we have a afternoon nap and he's in bed by 8am like clockwork. He usually sleeps in until he hears the alarm clock, so on weekends, he'll go as late as 8:30. (I can't believe that 8:30 am is now considered sleeping in!)

Now, he was subjected to basic ignoring at night so he learned that sleeping through being ignored is preferable to being awake and being ignored. That's my theory at least. The nighttime staff ratio was one staff per room and each room had like 8 kids minimum. It's not what I'd necessarily recommend but there is something to be said for "mommy needs sleep". If you're exhausted, no one will have a good day.

Jenn

Well....I guess things have improved somewhat...she's doing a little better overnight, and for the last few nights has either woken up once or cried out for two minutes and then gone back to bed on her own. Nap time is whole other story - she just wails and wails and wails. I think she might be readjusting to a later nap schedule - instead of napping at 8:30 today she feel asleep at 10, and in the afternoon went down at 3 instead of 1...so maybe that's what's going on.

Tonight she went to bed like a charm! I decided to try nursing her before reading to her...I don't know if that's what it was but I'm thrilled!

Now, I just need to get myself some more sleep and things will be good.

Things are still looking good! She's now taking to very long naps during the day and then sleeping from 7p-6a, which is early, but at least she seems to have stopped waking up in the middle of the night. I guess it was all teething related? Who knows.

[mommax3]

I am so glad things are better! The whole sleep thing waxes and wanes....but it is sure nice when you're on the good side of it! I *still* don't take a good night's sleep for granted!

Sally

[PrincessFiona]

Jill,

I'm late chiming in here, but I'm glad you have the sleep issue resolved....for now :> Sleep issues do wax and wane. Right now my 2 year old just won't go to sleep for anything. Now I understand why some moms and pops of the past used to dip their pacifiers in booze. If anything, by the time I get him to sleep, I need a drink!

kris

[HeartRN]

I would even take a pacifier myself (with the liquor, of course) at this point! It might help me resist the temptation to bitch and moan about how tired I feel all of the time! :!