Not sleeping through the night

Erika - posted on 09/08/2009

well my son is 15 mon and now just starting to sleep all night!! what we do is give him a snack and milk then we put his cd in of baby rainfost mucis..that always work...ooo and i rub his back!!! give it a try

Christie - posted on 09/08/2009

My son is 15 months and just started sleeping in his own bed 5 weeks ago. We said the same about him...he's too stubborn and will just cry forever. It took almost 3 hours the first night and every night since he might whimper a few minutes, but most times goes right to sleep. An "expert" said they have to learn how to fall asleep and and go back to sleep if they wake. She said you should have a night time routine--eat, bath, brush teeth, read a story, into the bed at the same time every night, you should always put your baby in the bed awake--don't attempt to get them to wind down, have your husband toss him into the air a few times (SHE said this), put them in the bed and leave. If they cry return every 10 minutes make sure they are ok and leave. Don't pick him up! and don't give in after 20 minutes because they say that's more harmful to them then the crying. We are still working up to letting him cry it out again over taking the night time bottles away. I hope it will be as easy as getting him to sleep in his own bed. Good luck!

Candice - posted on 09/08/2009

Quoting Angie:

It is still normal for an 8 month old to be waking throughout the night unfortunately. It sounds like he is ok when he is being cuddled by you. Have you thought about bringing him into your bed and cosleeping? It's the only way anyone in my house gets any sleep. If that's something you are definitely against then you could try a few things to make his bed feel more comfy.

I"ve heard of people doing what pp mentioned and putting a heating pad or hot water bottle down on th emattress before lying baby down. Just pickit up before you put them in bed. That way you aren't laying them down on a cold sheet that is startling. Also a little bag of millet seeds (something maybe 12" by 5" in a little fabric sewn bag). Snuggle that up by him. Millet holds body heat so he may feel that beside him and think it's mommy or daddy.

It is exhausting but remember this baby stage is such a short time in their life and it won't last forever even though it seems like it will right now. He'll eventually get it. He may even just be going trough some severe seperation anxiety.

i feel relieved that i'm not the only one who thinks it's ok for an 8 month old to keep waking, or to think she may need comfort. In some countries it would be considered cruel to expect a baby to sleep away from her parents before the age of 3! (i'm not that extreme, but my daughter was in my bed when needed until...well..until she didn't freak out in her own bed..which was about 14 mos).

and by the way, for all those who say "it's a bad habit, they'll never learn to sleep alone"...she sleeps just fine in her own bed now. i just did it gradually. at some point she let me put her down, at least for short periods, then i put her down every time she fell back asleep, then i didn't pick her up when she just woke looking for a soother, then i stopped picking her up at all. no crying, no freaking, and both of us got some sleep!

if you choose to cosleep, look online first, there are suggestions of how to make it safe. I feel your pain girl.

Angie - posted on 09/08/2009

It is still normal for an 8 month old to be waking throughout the night unfortunately. It sounds like he is ok when he is being cuddled by you. Have you thought about bringing him into your bed and cosleeping? It's the only way anyone in my house gets any sleep. If that's something you are definitely against then you could try a few things to make his bed feel more comfy.



I"ve heard of people doing what pp mentioned and putting a heating pad or hot water bottle down on th emattress before lying baby down. Just pickit up before you put them in bed. That way you aren't laying them down on a cold sheet that is startling. Also a little bag of millet seeds (something maybe 12" by 5" in a little fabric sewn bag). Snuggle that up by him. Millet holds body heat so he may feel that beside him and think it's mommy or daddy.



It is exhausting but remember this baby stage is such a short time in their life and it won't last forever even though it seems like it will right now. He'll eventually get it. He may even just be going trough some severe seperation anxiety.

Angela - posted on 09/08/2009

When my 4m old gets fussy and not wanting to go to bed I usually will swaddle her and give her a pasifier because I know she isn't hungry she just ate a big bottle (usually about 7oz of breastmilk). Then I turn on the monitor and I wait until she starts getting fussy again and I go back in her room (I do not turn on her room light I turn on the hall light, I do not say anything to her but give her back her pasifier and then cover her up again maybe rub her belly a little. Then I leave. I keep doing this until she goes to sleep. I haven't really let her "cry it out" because I have had good success using the method I said above.

Minnie - posted on 09/07/2009

Yep darn stubborn babies, always wanting to be cuddled. Sheesh. Just wish they would get their cups of tea and easy-reading magazines to nod off too.

Jennifer - posted on 09/07/2009

you have the right idea to just let them cry...its the worst feeling in the world to just let your baby cry but its for there own good. wait until you cant stand it and then wait about five to ten more min and usually they will stop. as long as they are not hurt, hungry or dirty its ok to just let them cry another thing you could try is to shorten nap time and make it earlier in the day. and to put them to bed with a full belly.

Hanna - posted on 09/07/2009

by the way, forgot to add, my son sleeps from 12:30 am (when i put him down) to about 10-10:30 am and if he wakes up early, he's happy to play in the crib by himself for up to an hour so that i can get some sleep :)

Hanna - posted on 09/07/2009

with my 4 month-old (who is now 6 months), we've done the baby whisperer technique -- keeping him up during the day (and the last 5 hours before bed, in your case it might be even more and it will be challenging to keep him up because they get really tired & frustrated that u keep bothering them to keep awake) and not let him sleep more than 1 hour at a time during the day. then an extra feeding in the evening (i.e. 3 feedings in the last 4 hours before bed instead of 2). then relaxing bath with lavender soap (and make it a bit hotter than usual, like 2-5 degrees, to make him relax) and this is the most important one -- keep him in the bed when giving last feeding. i know eating in the crib is bad and can cause blah blah and blah, but if it's the only way u can put him to bed without having to move him once he falls asleep, than it's what u need to do. and if he is tired, he'll pass out while eating the last bottle (definitely add cereal & make it thick to the point that it still flows, but not liquid) and make sure to turn all the lights off so that there's no distractions. u can comfort him in his crib but don't take him out. it might take a few times to get him used to it, but it works.

and if he cries during the night, again, don't take him out, lay him down, comfort him in the crib & make it clear that it's night time and he should go back to sleep. you want to reassure him that you're there for him & he's not alone, but at the same time, he needs to know that it's not time to cuddle & keep u up half the night because he doesn't want to be there by himself. good luck!

Jennifer - posted on 09/07/2009

Thank you so much for your suggestions. I will definately try the old shirt thing tonight. I am open to anything. Again, thank you :)

Stephanie - posted on 09/07/2009

Try wrapping one of your worn shirts around a warm[not hot]water bottle or hot pack to put in the bed with him.Or you can try the same thing with a blanket that smells like you.Just remember to remove it later.Also you can listen to some relaxing music when you do cuddle with him so he associates it with sleep then play it softly when your not in the room.Most babies wake up from what feels like they are falling when you put him down so you can try leaning in while keeping him close as he gets into sleeping position[whatever position you hold him] then sort of keep your head close to his neck or head and breathe long but softly on him till he is really good and asleep.I hope this helps you Jennifer.Good luck.

Crystal - posted on 09/07/2009

Im still expecting, and have no other children. But I just completed prenatal classes where we talked about this movie, "The Happiest Baby on the Block". It seems pretty amazing. Im actually buying a copy before my little one comes! It teaches all about fussy babies, and this method to help with the fussiness. This is my suggestion!

Lots of luck. Let me know if you persue this, I'm quite interested~ take care