8.5 month sleep help please.

[newnamechange1234]

My 8.5 month daughter has been co-sleeping with me, and we have enjoyed this so far. She usually wakes 3/4 times a night still, for a breastfed dream feed, and then off to sleep in minutes. This never disturbed either of us that much.

However the last two nights when she has stirred for a feed, she then woke fully and it took me a while to get her back to sleep again. Does anyone know why this would be? I think there is a 8-10 month sleep regression- could be this be it?

Also, her cot is set up next to my bed, and she screams when I put her in it, whether it’s for naps or bedtime. Does anyone have any advice for how to get her to sleep in there, as I could be waking her when I move during the night.

I did try controlled crying, she cried on and off for 1/2 an hour and then fell asleep, but woke 2 hours later, as she usually does. I felt it wasn’t worth crying for half an hr for her to wake as normal later. If she had slept longer I would have persevered with the CC.

I have tried letting her fall asleep on the bed and transferring her to her cot, she still wakes 2 hours later, at which point I lift her out and dream feed, and attempt to put her back in the cot. Then she wakes fully, so I’ve just ended up keeping her next to me in bed.

Sorry, I didn’t realise I had posted this twice!

Basically, any help would be great on getting my girl to sleep on her own, in the cot. And also to reduce night feeds.

I know this won’t all happen at the same time, but a plan of action would be very helpful. Thank you.

I think given her age, and you're right, there is a sleep regression, I'd say, ride it out and don't try to reduce night feeds yet. She's unlikely to be eating enough yet to meet her calorie needs without those night feeds and, I suspect, it's the quickest and easiest way to get her back to sleep if it's anything like DS

We can get DS to go to sleep lying next to me and transfer now or he'll drift off with DH singing to him but that's only just starting to happen now, at 13.5 mo

Keep responding to her needs, it's a phase and you're doing the best thing by her.

I'm sure someone else will be along with sleep training advice shortly