Baby & Sleep… HELP.

[Bossa09]

Looking for advice or tips regarding my 8.5 month old.
Not sure if she’s teething (she has 2 at the bottom through), getting too cold? DD is wakening me up approx 5 times per night. I give in and bring her in beside me. Not to bash co sleepers but it honestly fills me with anxiety but it gives me a slightly steady sleep.
DD is still in my room, I moved her cot from beside my bed to across the room approx a month or so ago. I was hoping this would be a bridge towards moving her into her own room.
I’m exhausted to the point I’m forgetting full conversations I’ve had, along with other things. I’m also back at work a couple days a week. And anaemic and forget to take tablets often which doesn’t help how I feel any.

Someone please offer advice or recommendations to help this tired mum out??

Can you put her in her own room?

Hiya. Yeah her room is ready to go, its through the wall from mines. I wasn’t sure if I’d be doing the exact same as I am now but further to go to settle her. It’s got to the point where I’m so tired I argue with myself about getting up. Even though she’s crying. Then I end up bringing her in beside me.

Around this age they can get major separation anxiety, my DD got really bad around this age until 10 months. It was tough, we put her cot next to our bed with one side down so she was in her cot but could come over for a cuddle whenever she wanted. It really helped and made the night wakes easier. She started sleeping through at 11.5 months and now only wakes if she's unwell/teething

It sounds like a phase. I would cosleep for a bit and when she seems more settled try moving her a bit further away. Little Ones sleep tips are very good xx

I would give her own room a go - my first was a terrible sleeper in our room, and then slept through the first night in her own room at 7 months. Made no difference to my second, but you never know.

Other than that, it might just be a phase. Could she be ready to drop a nap? Can't remember when that happens.

Poor you! A couple of things to consider:

How does she get to sleep initially? By herself, or with intervention (rocking, milk, patting etc.)? I found it helpful to ensure that conditions were exactly the same when DD woke in the night as when she was going to sleep initially. Otherwise, they need you again when they wake up. So, put down awake, in the dark, with white noise playing all night. Then when they wake up in the night, they can more often get themselves back to sleep. That’s the theory anyway. Note! Independent sleeping might be something to work towards, not to feel bad about if it’s not the case already. But if you’re actively helping her to fall asleep, consider if there’s a way to reduce that, aiming towards independent sleeping, E.g. over several nights shift from rocking, to patting, to one hand on them, to bring nearby, to you leaving.

If independent getting-to-sleep at night is too hard you could try working on it for daytime naps; the benefits would transfer to night time if she gets the hang of it.

Also, you mentioned being cold. All babies are different, and you need to be aware of overheating, but DD always sleeps better when she has one layer more than the strict recommendations of togs and layers. Consider adding a layer or pair of socks?

Good advice above - the key is letting her learn how to fall asleep by herself. (Highly recommend Ferber method - life changing).

I also take iron tablets. I have them with a glass of orange juice as vitamin C increases absorption of the iron. Try to get into a fixed routine - I have my orange juice and iron tablet with my lunch every day.

Thanks for this, really helpful! Most of the time I’m beside her until she falls asleep, I have recently let her fall asleep in her cot. I’m either on the bed or potting about upstairs, think she’s managed a few times. I’ll try doing this for nap times to remain consistent.
Generally not a bad sleeper, but we’ve had a few bad stages lasting a month or so, not as many wake ups as this though.
I’d say we have a few bad habits that prohibit sleep or interfere. Firstly, she likes to hold my hand or finger through the slats which she can no longer do. And she likes to have her comforter teddy & this is fine when I’m watching but not it I’m sleeping as she’ll cover her full face. Constant battle. All my own doing though.
Her arms & chest that seem really chilly especially around 3am. She goes down in a long sleeve vest, sleepsuit and a 2.5 tog sleeping bag. I’ve tried a thicker pyjama top part but she shows signs of over heating.

I will look into this! Thank you.

and I did manage with a glass of Oj. I’ll defo try buying some again. Funny thing is I managed 3 times a day whilst pregnant along with the multi vitamin. And now I’ll forget even with an alarm set on my phone!

Sounds like you’re doing a great job - it’s so tricky to work out what’s causing the wakings, especially as they change all the time! Fingers crossed for better sleep for you both soon.

Moved the cot back to beside my bed and we haven’t had the previous issues. Feel silly for not doing that before posting asking for advice.
I think it might have been separation anxiety? Or because the rooms darker now than it was previously, so when she wakes up she can’t sense or tell I’m there?
(watch this space, I’ll have jinxed it now)

Koala & Joe are giving away a free session with one of their amazing sleep coaches - might be worth entering to see if they can be of any help? www.koalaandjoe.com/blog/win-sleep/