8 month sleep regression?

[makeitmakesense]

My LB is 8 months old and he used to fall asleep on his own at bedtime and for all naps from about the age of 4m to 7m. However, since he learnt to crawl & pull himself up to stand it has been impossible to get him to fall asleep on his own as he just sits himself back up. No matter how tired he is. So we've had to revert back to rocking. But as he weighs a hefty 11kg it is absolutely breaking me (both mentally and physically)!

The normal sleep training methods don't work because he doesn't lie in his cot unless he is fully asleep, so I'm at a total loss.

Is this the 8 month sleep regression, or a developmental thing, or both? Will he go back to falling asleep on his own eventually or do I have to teach him, and if so, how?

If anyone's been through this and has managed to come out the other side then please please share your words of wisdom!

This is a really common and quite usual phase many baby's go through when learning to sit and stand.

Key thing to realise is that it's behavioural. You basically need to teach him that while he can sit or stand (as in he is physically capable), that the cot is not the time or place yo do this. That your boundaries are that he must lie down in the cot, and you won't tolerate anything else.

So you get through this by repeatedly keep lying him back down, hand on chest yo reaffirm him lying down. Then at every struggle yo get up, lie back down. Over and over and over again.

I'm afraid I don't have any words of advice, merely support! I came onto the sleep forum tonight expressly to ask about the 8 month regression, my son seems to be going through something similar - the cost of all the developmental leaps.

Keep reminding myself that this is a season, and it will pass. But that doesn't stop it being bloody hard in the meanwhile!

@FATEdestiny yeah I've tried this a few times but it seems pointless as he will literally just sit back up, no matter how many times I try to lie him back down. Maybe I just need to go again and have a bit more patience/perseverance..

@Sairafina so hard! My son was up having a party 2-3am last night then up for the day at 5 🙃 I think my bloodstream is currently 90% caffeine

I've tried this a few times but it seems pointless as he will literally just sit back up, no matter how many times I try to lie him back down. Maybe I just need to go again and have a bit more patience/perseverance.

You do. He literally could not keep doing this forever. He couldn't do it all night long. He probably wouldn't keep doing it over an hour.

Just stand there - lie down > hand on chest > Moving to get up > lie down > hand on chest > Moving to get up > lie down > hand on chest > up > lie down > hand on chest > up > lie down > hand on chest > up > lie down > hand on chest > up >>>>>>> repeat repeat repeat repeat

Don't be getting frustrated or angry. Stay calm. Stay consistent. Keep going.