I need help!!! My 8.5 month old stopped sleeping through the night this week. He gets up at all hours crying and I feel like we are back to the newborn stage!! Does anyone else have this problem? Is it due to teething? Any advice??? Thanks!!

Alison - posted on 08/28/2012

My son is 8.5 motnhs, he has always been a light sleeper and has to be wrapped. I haven't slept through since he was born sorry apart from a week but that didn't last. He goes down at 7-7.30pm and wakes and 10.30pm and again at 3.30pm, we give him a bottle and he usually goes straight back down. Last night however he wriggled and wormed everywhere, I took off his wrapped and he bounced around the cot like he had bees in his nappy, and only settled down when i picked him up. In saying that he also was pushing of me some of the time, the weird thing was that he was still asleep his eyes were shut. I don't know what to do, he seems to be immune to Panadol or Nurophen.

Colby - posted on 04/22/2009

So my daughter is 9 months old and does the same thing. I just took her to her check up and I asked the doctor about it and she said it is completely normal. At this age they are going thru a new sleep cycle so they sleep fine for about 3 to 4 hours then they switch REM which causes them to wake up ( we do it too but we just go back down) but because they are also entering the separation phase they cry when they realize they are alone. also my daughter pulls herself up in the crib but is scared to get down, so she cries for me. The doctor says it shouldnt take long but no promises!

Bridget - posted on 04/21/2009

Yep been happening to us lately too. I had no idea my daughter had an ear infection until I just decided to go to the doctor. That is what was waking her. She had no symptoms at all.

Linn - posted on 04/21/2009

I had the same issue with my boy for a couple of months. I was told by a nurse that it could simply be because now, he is getting bigger and there are so many impressions during the day to process, and this happens at night. It can be scary and overwhelming for such a little person, and that can result in uneasy sleep and nightmares etc.
I did take him to the doctor to check for ear infections, but he was fine. It stopped about a month ago and now he sleeps fine, apart from when he is teething. ( He has one, and I can see that there is another one coming)
If you are concered, take your baby to the doctor for a check up! You know your baby the best!

Katie - posted on 04/20/2009

I would guess teething or ear infection...especially if there are tears I would say he is in pain

Ahnna - posted on 04/20/2009

I second someone's post about checking for ear infection. When our older daughter had her first one she had no other symptoms besides waking and crying at night. Also could be teething or a food allegy that's causing gas. For us it was totally worth that trip to the doc though. Good luck!

Erin - posted on 04/20/2009

Funny, my son has NEVER slept thru the night, but he's recently begun waking only once instead of 2 or 3 times at night. I really can't even imagine what 8 hours of sleep would be like....

Jaime - posted on 04/20/2009

giving your baby a feed during the night is like giving them a award coz they know if they cry they will get awarded by getting a bottle i dont get my wee man up till 7am if he wake i just leave him and he ends up going back to sleep by himself

Diana - posted on 04/20/2009

THANK YOU EVERYONE!!! I really appreciate all you thoughts and advice!! I love this forum, it is so helpful!! He still is waking at least once a night so I will let you know how it goes, you are the best!!

Diana - posted on 04/20/2009

Same with me, I feed him and he goes back to sleep. I hope he doesn't get used to the nighttime feedings though and need then every night!

Andrea - posted on 04/19/2009

I'm in the same boat with my 9 month old. A small bottle when she wakes up around 3am has put her back to sleep immediately the past few nights, so right now I'm guessing a growth spurt.

Marnae - posted on 04/19/2009

My Ben's had this issue too. He started sleeping through the night when he was 6 weeks old and did so solidly until he was about 7 months, then he started waking a couple times a night. He has done this off and on since. It's not all the time, but it stops and starts. It's hard to tell what it is all of the time, could be teething, temperature (mittens at night helped), hunger/growth spurt (we are increasing food as this happens), and finally the one that seems to be the most accurate: at this age babies are moving in new ways. They are using muscles in ways they never have previously. The theories I've heard are these: the muscles tingle due to the new movement, they pull themselves into a position and get stuck necessitating your help to get back out, or (the most likely in my eyes) the muscles are tense and tight and having a hard time settling down. I can sit and watch my son as he falls asleep and his muscles twitch and twinge as he's settling in. Imagine working out right before you fall asleep what your muscles would do. I think it's just their muscles learning to relax, etc. Not much help in getting through this other than there is an end, the muscles eventually do relax :)

Rosie - posted on 04/17/2009

i baby girl called laura shes nearly 9 mths .she went through the nite at 8 weeks.so far still sleeping all night long .this morning she woke up at 10.30 .

Roseanne - posted on 04/16/2009

I find kyle wakes up more when he's teething, or has moving wind (usually have to do the knees to chest to make him pass wind) he also has got to the clingie stage (hes 9 months) so i just moved his cot right next to my bed so i can easily half sleeply rub his tummy through the bars of his cot to settle him..plus because he see's me close he sleeps better. I breast feed so he's never actually slept through a whole night.

Elizabeth - posted on 04/16/2009

My son has done the same thing. We found out that he has been having ear infections (without a fever!) and that's why he has stopped sleeping at night and nap time. Maybe your baby is sick?

Karine - posted on 04/16/2009

We've been going through the same thing off and on with Cameron. He sleeps well for a stretch, then suddenly we have a week when he's up and down several times a night and not happy about it. It does tend to get better again, at least in our experience.

Lori - posted on 04/16/2009

It could also be that seperation is setting in about now. I am noticing that with Brady. He's upset whenever he wakes up, whether it's naps or night time. I think he feels like now he's missing out on time with us. Hopefully it passes soon. I've not slept through the night YET since having him, he's 9 months now. So, I can only imagine what it would be like to be sleeping and then suddenly having a waking baby. Hang in there, this too shall pass!!

Bev - posted on 04/16/2009

I've went through that as well. It didn't last long, she is now over 9 months and it's gotten better. Thank God! Could be teething, also do to the fact they are so much more in tune with what's going on around them, growth spurts and the fact they want to get up and use all the new skills they are learning! Hopefully for you it doesn't last long, it's hard dealing with the no sleep after you have gotten used to getting a bit more of it! Try maybe a nice warm bath before bed, a bit more cereal before bed? A nice baby lotion massage with the calming lotion you can buy? Good Luck!