8 month sleep regression?!?

[anna]

Yes I am still up. What a night

DD has been very unsettled this month. I thought it was her top teeth, but they've been through for a week now. I thought it was the week 37 wonder week. But we're past that now. I thought maybe illness (she had a fever last week). But. Now? What???

Whhhaaaattttttt?????????

She is sleeping fine in the day (2.5 hour sleeps etc), and will settle off for the night like normal, but then she wakes, and wakes and wakes! I have been co-sleeping with her a fair bit, but then DH gets no sleep (because she still tosses and turns and carries on)!

Pllleeeeaaaassseeee help me!!!!

She is totally booby obsessed, so I am feeding her to sleep a bit more these days, but it shouldn't be making this kind of impact? Could it?????

[Lady-bug]

We went through the exact same thing at 8 months! It was about a month where DS's sleep was just crap! And to be honest, nothing we did worked and he just changed it himself. I'm sorry I don't have any advice but know that you are not alone. Oh and yes DS went booby crazy for a while there and we still feed to sleep so I don't think you should worry to much about that. Good luck and I hope you get some sleep soon!

[bjrose]

She might be going through a growth spurt? Maybe you could try offering her more solids through the day & see if that helps?
Other than that though, hopefully she'll sort herself out soon

[Mak]

DD had massive growth spurt and was feeding 2 hourly for a few weeks too - was exhausting. It did pass though. Hang in there

[anna]

Thanks everyone! I think hunger is a factor because she isn't really eating any solids at the moment. I offer her all the things she used to eat but she will have one teaspoon and turn her head away.
*Sigh*

Zen mummy mantra...."this too shall pass..."

[MamaPan]

it will pass honey....
hopefully SOON!

[MantaRay]

I found that solids didn't help at all during that phase. In fact with DS2 it actually helped when I cut back his solids so that he'd drink more milk during the day.

Studies have shown that the 8 - 9 month mark is another time of rapid brain development as kids start preparing for walking etc. It seems that they need a lot more milk at this time, and even the best sleepers seem to start waking in the night for a drink. Unfortunately I think you might just have to ride it out, and feed when she wants it. Usually it doesn't last too long (although when they start standing it can be another rough patch). I hope you are getting more sleep again soon hug:

[anna]

Thanks everyone. It means a lot to me that you're all so supportive!

I can see some incisors bulging under her gum and have started wondering if that could be contributing...it never ends for the poor little things does it? Teething sux...no wonder she has been so clingy and off her food and waking...

Poor little muffin!

[Shanti]

I am preparing myself (as best as I can ) for the 8-9mth growth spurt..... I've heard about this at the Pinky McKay seminar I attended....

You're right in saying "this too shall pass".... it helps to say it in your head at least hey!

You're lucky your DD sleeps for 2.5hrs for her day sleeps! I'm lucky if my DD sleeps for 1hr... sometimes she'll sleep 1.5hrs but that's rare..... makes it so hard to get things done.

Teething DOES suck, I agree... my poor bub STILL doesn't have ANY teeth yet and has been teething since 4mths

[anna]

Thanks Shanti! I found her sleeps got shorter at 7 months until she dropped one, and now she goes down later for longer (that transition time was a bit tricky though).

I too have heard of the 8-9 month sleep thing, but I just didn't expect it to last so long!

Teeth take ages hey? Poor DD is a bad teether too. I hope your little one bears it ok!!!

[MrsB26]

we went through the same thing. It lasted for about 2 weeks. It was hell!! Ds even stoped sleeping during the day, i was a wreck. It stopped just as quickly as it started. FIngers crossed it ends for you soon.

[anna]

Plllleeeeaaassseeee end soon!!!!!!!!

My eyes are twitching I am so tired.

Even co-sleeping isn't working, because there certainly isn't any sleeping going on. Co-waking!

[Ginger]

my ds1 was shocking at around 8 months, i remember him waking hourly and i was beside myself...
i promise you, it will get better.....big hugs xoxox

[Shanti]

Anna, how are things now?? Getting more sleep? Has the "phase" passed?

Well my DD the last 4 nights has gone off her sleep too!!! (except tonight ...so far so good touch wood!!)......

The last 4 nights (except tonight) when we've gone to put DD to bed she has started crying hysterically as soon as she sees the cot! She'll be all sleepy after her bedtime routine and last breastfeed of the night and then she just goes crazy when she realises it's really time for bed and i'm going to leave her in her room.

The separation anxiety has hit our household!!!! she's then taken up to 2.5hrs to put to bed ...... lately been going to bed around 830pm!!! leaving no time for couple time for me and DH!

Tonight though, after her breastfeed she went straight down and hasnt woken yet (touch wood!!!) go figure????? What's that all about?????

[anna]

hi Shanti.

Oh, no poor you!

Well, it did get better for a while, but now she's sick again, so we're back to co-sleeping.

As for the separation anxiety, I found extending the bedtime routine by about 5 mins really helped.

Hope things have worked themselves out for you.

Thanks for asking too.

[Shanti]

Thanks Anna!

Well the last few days things have been better! It was only for about 3-4 nights there she was just not wanting to go to bed at her usual bedtime and wanted to stay up for 2hrs more!!! But the last few days have been really good... back to normal.... going to bed about 630pm most nights again.
sometimes she is still waking 2-3 times a night though but I'm guessing that will pass soon enough anyway..... just being patient....

[MrsB26]

Glad things got better Anna, ds was just sick also and we had lots more wakenings but once he got better it stopped too (thankfully).

[Jitterbug]

Glad I found this! My little one will be 8 months tomorrow and the last few nights have been TERRIBLE. Every hour, sometimes less she will wake up and hasn't slept longer than 2hrs!! I'm wrecked. I really hope it doesn't last long or I might go a tad insane! She falls back asleep fine at the breast, no issue getting back to sleep but just constantly waking up!! She has just started "crawling" (can get around but it is more of a slam hands out in front and pull forward as pushing her legs than proper crawling just yet) and seems to bang into the sides of the cot a bit. She has four teeth and doesn't appear to be getting anymore at the moment, she isn't sick... I don't know what is up!!

Day sleeps appear to be fine... 2hrs as usual, falls asleep at the breast and then is popped into her cot.