Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Original poster

8 month baby won't sleep through the night! Help!

44 replies

thomascb540 · 04/12/2021 15:38

Hello, my 8 month BB won't ever sleep longer than 2/3 hours through the night. Here's what we have done so far;

  • he has two regular naps both in the morning and afternoon to which he naps from 30mins-2 hours sometimes.
  • He is breastfed and eating some solids albeit right now he is just exploring the foods.
  • bath time is at 630pm every night, followed by a massage with baby creams and then dressed ready for bed where he has his night feed off his mum
  • during the day he is very active, moves around so much and is able to stand up, crawl etc..

Even with this regime every day he still doesn't sleep longer than 2/3 hours - it's killing us!!!!

Can someone please tell us what we are doing wrong / need to change...feel like we tried everything!

We don't want to start sleep training at all!!

Thank you all x

OP posts:
HungrySausage · 04/12/2021 15:43

Adjust your expectations. Babies that age usually don’t sleep through the night. 2-3 hours is doable. Mine woke up every 45 mins at times and didn’t sleep through until 14 months. It’s normal.

user1471457757 · 04/12/2021 15:44

Sorry but I also agree that this is within the range of normal.

Element4056 · 04/12/2021 15:48

My 1 year old has never slept through the night. Still wakes up every 1.5 to 2 hours and needs feeding back to sleep each time.

He now also wakes up around 1am thinking it's time to play and can take upto 2 to 3 hours for him to fall asleep again.

Sorry OP, this can go on for a while.

IDontDrinkTea · 04/12/2021 15:48

Im sorry, this sounds developmentally normal for this age

Latenightreader · 04/12/2021 15:50

Another voice saying that your expectations are too high. It will get better, but maybe not just yet...

UpsAndDowns13 · 04/12/2021 15:51

I'm sorry to say this sounds perfectly normal! Hang in there, you're all doing great. My oldest was 2 before she slept through the night regularly, my youngest is still up every couple of hours at 18 months.

Sunshinegirl82 · 04/12/2021 15:55

My 5 year old still doesn't sleep through (although he now just gets up and comes into bed with us when he wakes up so it doesn't actually disturb us!)

He woke every 2 hours until about 13 months. His younger brother was a bit better but not much! It gets better eventually!

I actually found it much easier to cope with once I stopped trying to fight it and just found ways to manage it.

TeeBee · 04/12/2021 16:11

Mine would never sleep more than 45 minutes at a time. He's now 6'3 and sleeps a little longer (although not when he's been out clubbing). Lack of sleep can be par for the course with some babies, I'm afraid.

TeeBee · 04/12/2021 16:13

...and my second would sleep for 11 hours with a quick wake up for milk and then straight back off to sleep. Couldn't believe my luck.

In short, it's not you.

Lou573 · 04/12/2021 16:13

Normal! Sorry!

avocadotofu · 04/12/2021 16:22

I'm afraid I agree with other posters. It's totally normal at that age. It's really hard and I remember being so exhausted when mine was that age! I started co-sleeping when mine was 8 months old and it really helped but I know that's not for everyone.

cherrypie66 · 04/12/2021 16:55

I would give a bottle of formula before. Bedtime

SoftPillow · 04/12/2021 17:02

Waking for milk? Or just waking?

Whilst clearly many babies aren't sleeping through, personally I would also be trying to encourage more sleep at this point. Many babies do sleep though by 8 months and earlier, it's just that people don't mention it as they feel bad for the others.

Disclaimer: I am French, and we have a different approach to sleep than the Brits.

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 04/12/2021 17:03

It’s really normal for babies to wake in the night. All children are different some sleep well some don’t. My 2 year old has never slept through x

AnneLovesGilbert · 04/12/2021 17:04

Another one saying it’s normal. Also saying as you’re breastfeeding cosleeping can be a sanity saver. Hang in there.

cafedesreves · 04/12/2021 17:04

We sleep trained at 8 months and he has slept through ever since. He was waking out of habit and stopped very quickly when he realised no food was available!
We used Nicola Watson... I'd highly recommend her!

cafedesreves · 04/12/2021 17:05

Although it's normal it doesn't mean you can't encourage him to sleep longer! I am a much better parent since we did it and he's a super happy chap at 15 months.

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 04/12/2021 17:07

Sleep training isn’t for everyone so don’t be pressured into that. I tried it and have felt so bloody guilty ever since

cafedesreves · 04/12/2021 17:08

@Fet2021duejuly2022 sorry definitely didn't mean to pressure! Ours was a vv gentle approach

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 04/12/2021 17:08

Also waking in the night lessens the risk of sids before 12 months x

Fet2021duejuly2022 · 04/12/2021 17:10

@cafedesreves sorry I typed my message before reading yours. Oh yes there are gentle approaches (they didn’t work for us either, some babies just don’t sleep well no matter what you do). I was talking more about leaving babies to cry.

clouds56 · 04/12/2021 20:51

I'm totally sympathetic as I'm going through the exact same right now with my 7 month old. It's easy for people to say 'it's normal' etc etc but when you are living it day in day out it's soul destroying and is really starting to effect my MH and physical health. Sorry I can't offer much advice I wish I knew the answers! Just know that you aren't alone.

MeltedButter · 04/12/2021 20:56

Does baby sleep in the same room as you? If not I think it really helps when they are in a separate room.

Buttercupmoon · 04/12/2021 20:59

Sleep Train. Sorry. It's the only way. There are gentle sleep training methods. At this age he is physically capable of sleeping though. He is waking out of habit or may be hungry if he isn't getting enough milk in the day.

PerpetualStudent · 04/12/2021 20:59

Another vote for normal here, but have you tried settling him later? My 2 DC have always been late sleepers (8pm at earliest) and trying to settle them too early just added to our pain.

I also used to co-sleep, and would sometimes sleep with them from about 8pm-midnight, then sort them out for their first waking, have a little twilight hour or so to myself then go back for a second sleep when they woke again around 2am. Not for everyone, but worked for me when I was on mat leave.

Swipe left for the next trending thread