HELP - HE STILL WON'T SLEEP

[star1976]

My baby is 8 months old and still won't sleep through the night on a regular basis. He does ocassionally, even for a few nights in a row, but then stops and is back to waking during the night, having a bottle and taking upto a couple of hours to go back to sleep! Then he gets up at 5:30 - 6am still, meaning that I get hardly any sleep!
He doesn't sleep much during the day, maybe 2 hours or so at most. And he eats a lot. But is still (with the night feed) haveing 4 x 8oz bottles a day, which does seem a bit much!
Part of me wants to do controlled crying when he wakes during the night cause I am sure he doesn't need that bottle. But then if he doesn't need it why does he drink it????? Also my partner works shifts and try not to disturb him too much and the controlled crying would def do that!
HELP!!!! Any advice greatly appreicated!

[bramblina]

Don't worry, 8 months is still quite young. The fact that he has done it indicates that he can do it, and will, eventually. Is he on the move yet? If not, he'll be getting lots of energy from his food, but not yet burning it off, you'll see a big difference then, and again when he walks. Does he get lots of fresh air? It makes quite a difference. Swimming is a good one. Try not to let him nap past a certain time, say 4/4.30pm and have a good bedtime routine, warm bath, relaxed atmosphere and if my ds was fretful I'd feed him in his bedroom to calm him down a bit.
And don't stress yourself, it all takes time.

[funnypeculiar]

If it makes you feel any better, my 7 1/2 month old wakes (usually) 2/3 night. Hasn't slept through once yet. My first slept through at, ohh, 18 months or so... Felt like forever at the time, in retrospect, hey, it's over now...But you should know that,contrary to how it feels, not everyone has a baby that sleeps through the night at 3/4 months. My dad (a child psychoolgist, no less) claims brighter kids sleep worse (can you guess I was a bad sleeper ). I find chanting 'this is a stage... s/he will sleep through by the time s/he is 18' helps a LOT.

She's my second, and tbh, I'm not worrying too much - tried cc with my first and it a) made us all miserable b) didn't work ... 2 weeks later he still woke up twice a night!! I know lots ofd people do have great results though. I've just been bringing her into bed - yeah, we'll have to break her of it eventually, but I love my extra cuddles! Sure lots of people will come along and break big hard things over my back for being a complete fool soon.... Humm, think I'll go to bed.

(oh, and 2 hours daytime sleep sound normal to me)

[star1976]

Thanks! It's just I am sure that my daughter was sleeping through by now (guess I was just lucky) but she is 8 yrs now so it was a long time ago and hard to remember (but I was a bit younger then too so maybe it just didn't tire me out so much!!!).

I do keep telling him that he is lucky he is cute and a joy to be with during the day, otherwise he would never get away with it!!!!

[saffymum]

hi, girls are a dream, boys are the ones that struggle to get through the night, try giving water for the night feeds, he will soon get bored of waking up for no reward. Is he in his own room? Maybe something is distracting him or if he is with you he might know you are nearby. Try keeping the lights out when you give him his drink. Controlled crying is horrible but will work after a few days. Get hubby earplugs!

[hairymclary]

hi star, i don't think that 4 8oz bottles is too much.
he will do it when he is ready, he's still quite young

[bluejelly]

Girls still wake up at night. My dd did for 18 months. Knackering but cc didn't feel right up till then. When i did do it it took only 4 days and she never cried more than 20 mins. Been sleeping pretty perfectly ever since.

I would wait until your LO is a bit older.

[star1976]

Thanks!
He was a little angel and slept last night from 8pm to 7:15am!!! Amazing!
But this is probably only cause he was awake all the night before and didn't sleep much yesterday during the day. (His dad took him downstairs in the end cause I have started a weekend job and was doubly knackered).
He's only had an hour sleep today so keeping fingers crossed for a repeat of last night, but trying not to get too hopeful!!

[JunkInMyTrunk]

Definately don't worry about it, my dd1 is nearly one and doesn't sleep thru. Most nights she only wakes once tho now, hass some milk and goes back to sleep.
A couple of months ago I was determined to get her to sleep thru but after a couple of weeks of screaming, lack of sleep and me and dh snapping at each other thru lack of sleep, we decided just to leave her.....we all get more sleep that way.
Every now and again she'll sleep thru, so I know its just a matter of time til she does it regularly.

dd1 slept thru from 2 weeks old so dd2 was def a shock to the system but I 've learnt to accept it and appreciate it even more when sshe does sleep thru

[star1976]

My darling son (is that what ds stands for on this thing) had me up at 2am 4am and gave in and came downstairs with him at 6am this morning.
Next door have been having very noisy work done in their kitchen and bathroom today so he hasn't slept more then an hour all day and is in a terrible mood.
I know that he is going to want to nap soon (now that the drilling and banging has stopped) but really want to try to keep him awake till 7 so can bath him and put him to bed!
Wish me luck!

[LRWG]

Maybe let him have his nap?? In my experience DD gets cranky and find it harder to settle on a night if she is overtired. Hope tonight is better than last night.

[LRWG]

Maybe let him have his nap?? In my experience DD gets cranky and find it harder to settle on a night if she is overtired. Hope tonight is better than last night.

[star1976]

Well he slept till 4, which is progress! Noramally wakes at 2 at the latest! Gave him his bottle and he slept for another couple of hours.
Think he is coming down with something, as he keeps getting a weepy eye and is rubbing his ears and shaking his head (reminds me of a puppy I used to have).
Once he is feeling better am going to try the offering water in the night to see if it works!!! (Thanks saffy mum, will let you know how it goes!)

[belgianmama]

I agree with everyone here. 8 months is still v young. When new mums ask me when their lo will start sleeping through I always tell them it'll be a while. I don't tell them that my own dd took about 3 years though! From about 10m it did get easier, all he needed was a quick cuddle & he was off again. Now he's a brilliant sleeper & has been since his 3rd year. It all seems like a very distant memory now & soon it will be the same for you.

[star1976]

I have resigned myself to the fact that there is no quick fix for this!
Just going to carry on doing what I am doing and hope that he eventually grows out of it!!!!
Thanks for all your advice everyone!
Still welcome any other tips anyone may have.