[mandy1973]

I have an almost 8 month old who has never been a fantastic sleeper, she has had a couple of short periods where she has slept through, but they have been short lived. Her new thing is to settle, then wake half an hour later and then be awake for hours!
Last night she was awake from 8:15 until midnight, and tonight she is doing the same again. She is completely wide awake and as soon as we try and put her down she screams like the world is coming to an end. Our 3 year old can't get to sleep because his sister is screaming, and as i work mainly nights this is becoming a major concern for us all.
I'm seriously considering trying controlled crying, but I'm worried how i get my 3 year old to sleep through it - small house, bedrooms close together and a 3 year old who isn't a terrific sleeper either.
So, just wondering if anyone has had similar issues, and would love any tips you could give me.

[mummaorange]

I'm sorry all I can suggest is sleep school. As for tonight, find a big sheet, wrap her tightly and rock her.. That is my emergency routine xx

[HurryUpAlready]

Control crying worked a treat for our DD at 6 months. She slept through on the first night and every night after that. Day sleeps improved too.

She now goes to sleep at 7pm on the dot without a peep, wakes at 5am for a feed, then back to sleep til about 6.30am.

On the odd occasion that she does cry when going to bed, (several times this week, for some reason), I don't always leave her to cry. But I certainly do once I establish that nothing is wrong & she is just trying it on!!

It works OP. I sought the advice of all my mummy friends prior to trying it with DD. They all recommended it (bar one, who did it with her daughter - and it worked - but she now feels bad about it).

Other than that, I suggest sleep school, quick smart!

Good luck.

[smum]

8 Months is still so young & could be a number of reasons she is not wanting to go down now, being put in a room alone is just one of them. Infants undergo many developmental shifts as they grow, one of these changes is understanding separation, which many parents say happens between 6-12mths. Teething/ discomfort is also something that could be waking your baby & be unsettled.

Have you considered or tried laying down in your bed with bub to see if she is more content with that? Is it just a need for close nurtured sleep she is after?...which is a normal sleep need of all infants. If you dont want to bring bub into your bed perhaps consider bringing your cot into your room for a while, either pushed up against your side of the bed with the side on or off (side car), of just against a wall in your room.

You might find the book 'No Cry Sleep Solutions' by Elizabeth Pantley helpful, or even "Sleeping like a baby' by Pink McKay

Here is a great link on infant sleep http://www.isisonline.org.uk/

Good luck mumma, its hard when you have to work too. There are always reasons & needs behind our infants behaviour, listen to her communications & listen to what your instinct tells you.

[Madnesscraves]

Maybe she doesn't like being alone? Maybe you can try putting siblings together inthe room to sleep?

Is the room completely dark? If so maybe she wants a night light. If you have one maybe she wants it off.

[daturah]

As much as many here may disagree, I recommend Elizabeth Sloane's 'The Gift of Sleep' and Tizzie Hall's 'Save Our Sleep'. It is literally one to three nights of consistency and allowing to cry in return for highly predictable sleep patterns both day and night. I started when I couldn't bear the three-times nightly waking my then six-month old was doing. He's a very happy nine month old now, and we are all happy because we are all getting enough sleep now.

Tizzy in particular is a bit of a nutter around routine, but I found being consistent with timing for a week was all it took, and then we could be a bit more relaxed. It was completely worth the short term pain for us.

[meggs1]

You don't say what her day sleeps are like, but could it be something as simple as making sure she doesn't nap too late (say 330?) and making sure the evening is not too stimulating (so for example no TV, dimmer lighting, quieter play).

Forgive me if you've tried that.

[MrsW87]

As much as many here may disagree, I recommend Elizabeth Sloane's 'The Gift of Sleep' and Tizzie Hall's 'Save Our Sleep'. It is literally one to three nights of consistency and allowing to cry in return for highly predictable sleep patterns both day and night. I started when I couldn't bear the three-times nightly waking my then six-month old was doing. He's a very happy nine month old now, and we are all happy because we are all getting enough sleep now.

Tizzy in particular is a bit of a nutter around routine, but I found being consistent with timing for a week was all it took, and then we could be a bit more relaxed. It was completely worth the short term pain for us.

You're game...


OP, I have no advice, just hugs. My DS2 was like this for about 3 months. I went to every health care provider that would listen. Have you ruled out things like an ear infection or teeth?

[Kitty Fantastico]

It sounds like separation anxiety to me. She obviously settles ok to start with, right? But when she wakes, she freaks out because you're not around. Is she happy when she's awake? Or grouchy? I too would look at day sleeps, and comforting her. She's probably going through a developmental change, crawling perhaps? Whatever you do, be consistent. If you try to resettle her in her room half the time, but get her up the other half, it'll just confuse her.

[Swahili]

It's completely normal behaviour for an 8 month old. I would recommend Elizabeth Pantley's book. Sleep school (along the lines of CC), Tizzie Hall, controlled crying- all are inappropriate and cruel IMO. I'd look at whether she's teething and rejigging her nap times and seeing if that helps.