8mo now waking and SCREAMING!

[aoifesmama]

DD is 8mo, from about 6mo she has started waking during the night. She is not hungry (refuses milk), with a dry nappy and doing well (slight cold at the mo, but generally fine). She will chatter away for a bit and then start to whinge, followed by all out crying. If I go in to sooth her she is fine to watch me in the room, but if I try to leave begins actual screaming (sure it sounds louder at night!). If I pick her up she is fine and full of smiles. If I sit or lie with her she will snuggle in and go to sleep, but I can't sleep like this.

From 3 - 6mo she was sleeping, perhaps waking in the night but fine to go back to sleep. Does anyone have any advice on what to do? Please....?

Go in, reassure, go out again. Wait one min. Go back, do same. Don't speak to her except to say something like 'shhh alright mummy's here'. Increase time by one minute every time. 2nd night, start with 2 minutes.

OR you sleep with her - up to you. But unless you choose to either teach her that she needs to learn to fall back to sleep alone or that you are going to sleep with her, this will just continue.

Babies change constantly. Never, ever make the mistake of thinking that because they've got their sleep sussed at 6 months, they'll be great forever. I wish someone had told me that earlier! Every time they go through a growth spurt/learn a new skill/stay in a new place, their sleep goes to buggery again as far as I can see.

I did try this a few weeks ago for 3 or 4 nights, but she managed to keep it going from about 4am - 7am

Will try the 1min increasing again tonight. Probably easier to start whilst on holiday from school.

Think her cold a few months ago - and now again - has led to this

Thanks!