Small issue of 8mo waking in the night

[Blimeyoriley]

Hi, I know I'm asking for advice on an issue that will seem tiny in comparison to some people's (I have full sympathy for those who are getting up all through the night, having been there).

DD is now only waking once in the night. She is formula fed (I gave up breastfeeding about 3 weeks ago). She no longer feeds in the night as we discovered it was just oral stimulation she was after, so are using a dummy in the night if needed. She wakes once at about 4.30am. I usually give her a cuddle and a dummy and put her back in her cot. She then stays awake happily for about an hour. Her noises then escalate to crying, I go back in to her, give her another cuddle and she usually falls asleep almost immediately in my arms. I'm then able to put her back in the cot and she sleeps til 7 or 8.

Does anyone have any advice on cutting down on her awake time (it may not be so bad for her being awake but her chatting keeps me awake and I go back to work soon and would love some full nights of sleep!). Do you think she will soon sleep through the night and be able to settle herself every time she wakes up? Or am I doing the right/wrong things when I go into her? All suggestions welcome.

Thanks

I think you are doing great. Mine goes through stages where he'll wake early, but they pass after a while. I've always gone to him. I've read somewhere that babies napping late in the afternoon might cause early wakings.
Good luck, and you are not alone in seeking answers!

Thanks mdavza, last night was the first night without being picked up when DD woke up. She woke unusually early at 2.45am, I gave her a dummy and after about an hour of on and off sucking and squealing she went back to sleep by herself. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come!