8 Month Old Not Sleeping Through the Night......help!!!!!!!!!!

I believe your child is having a difficult time adjusting to the change of routine and sounds more like she needs more stimulation and not more food.

You will find that if you can get her outside in the fresh air particularly in the evening as the weather permits, it will greatly assist in more sound sleeping.

In addition, I would be very careful in giving meat products to such a young infant. Her digestive system really isn't prepared to handle breaking down meat products at this stage.

As you are already doing, try and keep her routine of eating and sleeping (naps) as consistent as possible.

The more you give food/drink in the middle of the night, the more she will demand.

Comfort her at night, but I wouldn't give in to cries for food, particularly if you're confident you have fed her a sufficient amount during the day.

I have 4 kids (7, 6, and two 3 year olds).

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My kids are now 8 and 9 but I can remember them both (being so young TOGETHER) that when one would have trouble sleeping then the other one would too!!! A friend recommended using passion flower. Which is a natural flower to help with relaxation. I then began to spray thier pillow with passion flower/ rose hips and also lighting a candle of passion flower and this was like a miracle for our whole family! You can find these items at wholeness stores online or ask a local Chiropractor. Make sure it is 100% natural. Hope this helps you as your baby as much as it did mine.

My 8 month old has just started doing this too - wakes up starving hungry at about 4am and stays awake until i feed him - I have also tried him on meats as well to help fill him up. He eats three times a day and has a big bottle of formula before he goes to sleep but it doesn't seem to be working too well. Can't think of any advice apart from feeding them - maybe they are going through a growing phase and just needs more.

After raising two children of my own and now raising two of my four grandchildren, I have had a lot of experience with babies. You may want to try mixing baby cereal with the formula in the evening to fill up the baby's tummy. Be sure to start out the mixture a little thin, with a larger nipple hole so it can pass through. You can always thicken the mixture, once you see that it is helping the baby get full. And purchase an actual bottle made for anything thicker than liquids.
Also, check the baby's gums for redness or swelling to rule out teething. If that is the culprit, you may want to give the baby tylenol to ease the discomfort, and rub some teething gel on the gums. Check with your pediatrician first, of course.
Let me know if the baby begins to sleep through the night.
Mom Again, L.

Dear C.,
I have a 9 month old son and went through the same vthing. Here is what hepled me, but remember every baby is different.
It may be teething keeping her up at night. If so, baby orajel has a night-time gel that is a little stronger and is more effective. Or you can give her some infant Tylenol right before bedtime.
You said that the only thing to calm her is a bottle. One thing to try right before bed is to give her a bottle of formula (or breast milk if nursing) and add baby rice creal in it to a semi-thick consistancy. Remember to get a nipple for thicker feeds or it wont come out of the bottle and she will get very frustrated and cause more problems (I learned that one the hard way). This will help make her feel full longer and hopefully sleep longer. She is at the age where she does not need to eat at night and shouldn't. Her digestive track needs time off to function properly. One thing to keep in mind, try not to give her juice at night. Even if she does not have teeth yet the sugars can cause decay. Stick to water to help her get back to sleep.
Another thing that I have read is to not to pick her up when she wakes. Rubbing and patting and talking are ok at first, then letting her cry it out. This is to help to teach her to fall asleep on her own. It is really hard to do at first, but after about 4 nights it works!
These things are just what worked for me, but like I said all babies are different. Also, advice is just that, disregard anything you don't agree with, you know what is best for your baby.

Goodluck!
L.