Hi.
So we have an 8 month old who has never slept long stretches. Since she was born, she has been doing 2-3h stretches of night sleep. Recently she has done a 5h stretch but that seemed to be a coincidence more than anything else. I felt like a new woman but I didn't want to feel happy about it because these things never last :(
At the moment, she seems to be going through a sleep regression combined with some teething (two bottom teeth are finally visible - shouldn't she sleep better now that they have pierced)?
We are thinking of hiring a sleep consultant around her 9 or 10 months if her sleep doesn't improve when this regression is finished. We just can't take this anymore.
A bit of background:
- She is a very alert, intelligent, active baby
- She sleeps in her cot, which is next to my bed (my partner sleeps in a spare room)
- I am an extremely quiet sleeper so I don't think I wake her up
- She has a good routine and good naps
- 2 naps per day, usually lasting 1h20min each (or at least 40 min)
- Bedtime between 19:45 and 20:15
- Is combination fed (50% formula, 50% BF)
- Last feed is formula (around 100ml, she won't take more)
I've always breast-fed during the night but I always try to leave her to self-settle first - or later settle her with a bit of water or a dummy - which often works. I've been trying to wean her off the breast at night but I admit she has a bit of a sleep association with this.
Anyway, if people have been in a similar situation, how did you resolve it? If you hired a sleep consultant, did it work? Or did you regret it?
Or in the end, did sleep improve on its own after this regression?
ANY TIPS GREATLY APPRECIATED xxxx