Getting through a difficult phase at 8-9 months

[mooki]

Aplogies for the long rambly post. My lovely daughter, Alice, is 8.5 months. In the last few weeks she's had a bad cold and a pulled elbow. She's also learnt to crawl backwards and we've had a few little episodes of what seems to be separation anxiety.

It's made her a bit more touchy during the day. As per another thread; nappy changes and getting dressed provoke crying fits as does breast feeding unless she's really tired. For some reason the whinginess happens especially just when we are on our own, everyone else seems to think she is angelic!

Her night time sleep is ranging from fairly poor (3 crying wake-ups) to dreadful (waking every hour). We are increasingly having her sleep in with us as even feeding back to sleep isn't aways working.

I posted when she was about 7.5 months as her sleep had gone to pot while her two bottom teeth came through. We did have a good phase after that for a bit but it feels like it wasn't really long enough to recharge myself and yet again I end up cross or slightly hysterical at night and clumsy and vacant during the day.

Anyone else finding 8 - 9 months hard?

I've read this The wonder weeks which says we are in a fussy phase which should finish round about this week but at 6 months it felt like I was getting the hang of it and now I haven't a clue again.

I know there are much bigger challenges to come (must stop reading the threads about 2 - 3 year olds) but how do I pull myself together to appreciate my gorgeous girl right now?

I Did Not Like 8-9 months. It seems to be the age at which dd was most frustrated. She wanted to be part of the world and explore it. She did not want to lie down and bf, she did not want to sleep and she wanted to be able to walk when she could only crawl backwards. She definitely didn't want to be restrained in a pushchair/carseat/highchair.

It improved here when she cracked crawling forwards and then when she walked it got even better.

IME, dd felt 'trapped' in a body that wouldn't do the things she wanted at that age. Throw in a bit of separation anxiety, teething and the odd illness and it's a tough time.

Twill get better in time, I promise.

I'm having problems with exactly the same ago so will be intersted to see responses here. I can't offer much advice but I can empathise.

I'm sure it will pass. At least, I hope it will.

Same here!! DD 8 months old. Cut her two bottom teeth about a fortnight ago and since then is a different baby, she takes an hour to go to sleep during the day even though she is shattered and her naps have reverted back to being half an hour at the most. Nightimes are back to being a nightmare when I thought we had cracked it, I am up to her every hour before midnight and then she tends to wake up crying in the early hours, she has ended up in our bed for the past three nights, she just seems generally grumpy!

DD is 8.5 months and is a nightmare at night at the moment. She will not let me out of her sight at bedtime when a couple of weeks ago there would have been no issue. She is feeding at all hours of the night again, when she used to go nine hours at one time. During the day, I too am feeling pretty vacant, and she seems hellbent on tearing up the house, and lunchtime seems to be a battleground. She doesn't have any teeth yet, so I guess they must be on their way, and that isn't helping... I have been saying she's been teething for months now

Sorry I can't offer any advice, but you are not alone, I feel your pain!

Oh so pleased I'm not the only one who hates this stage! My ds is 9 months and still crawling backwards. He hates to lie down and be dressed ans he can now sit up from laying down hiself which has meant bed time is a challenge too. I used to be able to lay him down in his cot after a bath and massage, kiss him and leave and he would doze off and sleep for 12 hours. This last months has been a bit hellish and he sits up in his cot and sobs for me to go and pick him up. If by some miracle he does settle easily, he will be up in the night around 2-3am and not want to be put down again.

It's awful! He is so grumpy and frustrated in the day, tied with separation anxiety and teething, he is very touch and won't go in his pushchair and not keen on the car seat. Thank god this stage may be over soon. He's always been a bit difficult but this last month has been terrible as the nights were so good and now we don't even get the sleep we need to deal with him!

Just realised how awful my typing was! Meant to say he can sit up form laying down HIMSELF and is very TOUCHY in the day not that random incoherrent stuff I just typed! Clearly the sleep deprivation is affecting me!

icklou - everytime ds has had a grump in the last few months, dh and I have said "he's teething".

Still no teeth to be seen!

Mmm I get that a lot too. He has 4 teeth but I'm not convinced there are anymore on their way just yet! He's always been a bit grumpy and frustrated but has deffinitely been more clingy and night time has been awful. Incidentally, when he cut his teeth, he was fine at night so I'm even more sceptical!

Phew, although I don't wish crappy night sleep and grumpy babies on anyone, I'm glad we're not the only ones!

I hate the fact it feels like we're one step forward, two steps back. I must remind myself that stuff like separation anxiety is part of the process of her becoming an intelligent being.

Looking for the positives; she's way more giggly now and you can make her laugh by bumping toys together or making them dance.

I think I'm unusually chipper as she had an uncharateristic 2 hour nap today and I had a pint at the beer festival. I'm still off to bed in a minute though...