Is this normal 8 month old baby behaviour, or is it, sigh, just a phase?!

[RNW]

My 8 month old baby has been really unsettled this week, niggly and grumpy, when normally she is a really vocal and amusing pleasure to be around. I could cope with that if it was just during the day, but now she's taken her mad behaviour to bed too!
She's never been a brilliant sleeper, waking up every couple of hours for food , but over the past 3 nights she has surpassed herself by being awake for 3 hours at a stretch. Last night it was 11-2.30, she screamed or cried when she was put back in her cot, and then seemed to be totally wired, she couldn't keep her arms or legs still. I'm not sure whether she is teething, but without any other visible signs apart from the waking up and crying.
I don't want to co-sleep with her, because I wouldn't get any sleep at all as she's a fidget. I just don't know what to do for the best. Should I let her cry a little and see if that process will wear her out, or should I continue with shushing, patting and giving her milk?!! I'm just exhausted and need to know it will get better!!I'm sure her whinging during the day is because she is so over tired really.

Hi my daughter is 8months and although since around 5weeks shes slept straight through the night without wakes she has recently had the odd 1 night that she wont sleep, this has happened 2 times now. I have noticed that just after these nights shes has got teeth through, hers come through really quick.
Maybe you daughter is having the same problems but the teeth are coming through very slowly. Try a tiny bit of calpol and make sure you rub bongela in to her gums. My daughter is normally playful, cheeky, chatty and giggly but got whingy the next few days after not sleeping due to over tiredness.
Hope this helps

my dd is 8 months too and she has been a bit whingey recently too which I think is due to teething. otherwise, could it be developmental? can she crawl yet?

Hiya,
thank you for your replies. It's good to know that similar things have happened with other babies. Hopefully her teeth will come through quickly! She can't crawl, and has no interest in doing so whatsoever! She loves nothing better than sitting for hours like a princess, playing with her toys and babbling away to herself

hee hee! mine can't crawl yet properly but pulls herself around on her arms and rolls about constantly, babbling and playing! they are lovely at this age aren't they

They are fantastic at this age. I'm really enjoying being at home with her

Yeh im loving being at home to, gets bit lonely though with everyone else at work. Meant to be going back to work in Jan :-( but if can find a position will only be going back to nannying so she will be with me most the time.

You're right, it does get lonely at times. There are so many other mums who i see wandering around the town by themselves, and I quite often think how much easier it would be if we all dropped the British reserve and talked to each other

very true RNW!!

I dont find I get out enough anymore as didnt want to keep wandering up and down with nothing to do or nowhere to go! sad i no!!

It's not sad, I think it's a fact of life. I go through phases where I really enjoy wandering around town, or around the park with just the baby, and other times where I feel like a right billy no mates. My baby loves being out and out though, so a trip to Sainsburys and a Costa coffee is heaven for her!!

where are you based?

Near Epsom way. You?

Im just in Walton

ooh babytalk I'm in Molesey so if you fancy meeting up let me know. that's if you mean Walton, Surrey!
did you go to antenatal classes and meet mums there?

Hi yes I did mean that Walton!! :-)
No I went to the first class but didnt find it very helpful, I found everything she said id covered in my childcare course when i did it.
Sometimes I wish I did though as then Id have some other mums to meet up with now. I was lucky as had a few friends off work in the same situation but theyv all returned to work now. Iv only got til jan then hopefully returning to work myself.

I'd be up for meeting up for coffee too!

ok email me at [email protected] if you still want to meet and well try and sort something out. I might be meeting some other mums from a different site soon so we can all meet together as children are all similar ages.