7 Month Old up at Night Again

I agree with the other posts that suggest she might be teething or have some other temporary disruption. My now 18 month old has been through several of these "phases" and with each of them I was just like you - paranoid it would be a new permanent pattern - but my mother was right and it never was. She advised me to tend to her if she cries and needs me - after all they are only little for such a short time and grow up so quickly. THere was a period of time when my little one was about 10-13 months old that she refused to go to sleep unless I was there in the room - I laid beside the crib every night and snuck out after she was asleep. And then one night she was fine! Before that she had been sleeping well through the nights most nights. I am rambling, but my point is that from my experience, it's worth tending to her needs and it will pass.

She really WON'T do this forever!! Really! I remember the first year jumping to that conclusion from time to time, but it just isn't true. She really is so young. When we think we are setting up a horrible habit, it is just much more difficult to deal with the normal stage. She isn't trying to relentlessly torture you every night. She is just communicating that she needs your help right now. She'll get over it when she is ready.

Leaving her to cry is clearly not working for her. There are gentle methods that can be helpful. Someone recommended The Dr. Sears book. There is also No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. Like any other method, it takes more than one night, but you may want to check out that book for some help. Also remember, it is totally normal for babies to have periodic sleep disruptions. So even if you "successfully" use CIO with her, you might be back to this again in a couple months when she is cutting teeth, sick again or reaching new milestones. I'd check out some more gentle methods, she will get over this.

She will not do this forever! Babies go through all sorts of stages like this. it sounds like she is still recovering from her illness. I personally would just have her sleep in your bed at night, makes your life so much easier. Listen to her and trust your own instincts. There are some good resources out there that can help you:
check out http://askdrsears.com
Mothering Magazine is also a good one: http://www.mothering.com/

Why don't you try bringing her to bed with you? She may also be hungry! Try the Dr sears sleep book. We have a 10 month old who nurses frequently through the night and sleeps with us (on my arm). Neither of us every fully wakes, and there is no crying ever!

Unless you don't mind a child in your bed for a long while, I would try other methods since she has been doing great up until her sickness. It could just be a phase, but could she be teething? It seems like the right age and it also causes runny noses to get worse. I would also suggest a second doc visit just to check her ears, too. It seems to be connected with her sickness. Try a little children's Tylenol. If it helps her sleep, then you know something is hurting her. Poor thing. It won't last forever, so don't do anything that you may regret. I have friends who are still sleeping with a 5-year-old!

Perhaps she's sick again. Unless you're positive she's healthy, you might want to bring her in for an ear check. They don't always run a fever with an ear infection. Good luck.

I stress when my son wakes up too...it is so frustrating to finally get them sleeping and then be back where you started, but it really is normal and it will pass. If she is anything like my 15 month old, she is back to waking up because of teething or an ear infection. He has been sleeping through the night since 7 months, but will be up if he is in pain from teeth or illness and I always am so scared that he is starting a new pattern. In my experienec it has never turned into a pattern and once he is well, he is back to normal. It just takes time for him to feel better. And if you think about it, if an adult is in pain the adult will not sleep well either. Your baby just can't explain that and will be crying instead. I would take your baby into the doctor and have the doctor check her out if you still are not sure what is going on.

Have you heard of the pick up/put down method by the Tracy Hogg - The Baby Whisperer?
Basically, you pick your LO, once she is calm, put her down (even if she starts screaming on the way down to the crib), then rub her back, pick her up when she gets very upset, and repeat, repeat, repeat.
I did it with my LO when she was much younger (she is 16 mos now) and it worked.
It does take perseverance and patience (and who has that in the middle of the night - so just warning you to stick with it and it WILL work).
I think the first night I did it - it took an hour and a half. I picked her up and put her down a 100 times. UGH. The second night it took 1 hour and 15 min. The third night, 10 min! I couldn't believe it. Then she stopped. I just talked to her calmy, rubbed her back, and stuck to my guns (even though I wanted to scream and cry myself). And after 3 nights we were all sleeping better.
Give it a shot, and good luck!

You are worrying too much dear.
Most babies do not sleep well or through the night until they are close to two years old.
I think the best you could hope for is some sort of feeding at around ten and perhaps the child would sleep til five or six at eight or nine months.
Nap when the baby naps during the day for the rest that you need to have. ( This from a mother of seven)
Tincture of time and this too, shall pass.
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell