Baby Sleeping Through the Night - What Else Worked for You?

By this age you could do a Pick up, put down method. Read the baby whisperer. She does not believe in CIO so her ideas may help. PU/PD as it is called does involve lots of crying since most kids will cry every time you put them down but you don't ever let them cry alone. I didn't sleep train this way but the book was very interesting. I did CIO but never let her cry for more then 2 minutes without M. there and stayed for about 5 minutes in her room to comfort.

Hi, my son is is 6 1/2 months, and we have the exact same issue. He has to be rocked and completely asleep, otherwise he'll wake up and scream for hours. We tried the CIO method- didn't work for us, and I'm not a huge fan of it eighter. I researched this topic, because he used to sleep in his crib without any problem at all until he was about 5 months old. Just when I thought he would start sleeping through the night, his sleeping pattern changed for the worse. Now, 2 1/2 months later this is what I know: according to many studies, mainly European (I'm from Europe, too), CIO is very confusing to babies, as we play with them and comfort them all day, then we leave them in their crib and expect them to fall asleep by crying all alone and not responding. Based on this I tried to stay with him, comforting him, but not picking him up, until he fell asleep. It took him at least 1 hour every time, and he still cried a lot, too. Then he started waking up even more, almost every hour. Nursing him and rocking him didn't help anymore, so I had to start "helping him fall asleep without picking him up" again. This method wore M. out quickly, as he woke up frequently during the night, and took M. at least 1 hour to get him fall asleep again. Now he sleeps in our bedroom. At first he slept in our bed and I would nurse him to sleep. It usually took him about 10 minutes to fall asleep. (My hubby moved into the guest bedroom, as he snores and goes to bed late, wakes up very early, etc.) Baby is much more relaxed, (he also started having separation anxiety lately), so I decided to try to get him to sleep in a portable crib in our room. The first night went great, he slept really good, so I ended up sleeping in the guest bedroom, too. The second night was though, after 2 1/2 hours of rocking and crying he ended up sleeping in our bed again. At this point I'm not really sure what we're going to do, but I will keep trying to find the method that works bests for all of us. (Note: we just started solids and are struggling, so that might be another factor why he's having sleep issues lately).

Sounds WAY TOO HOT in there to M.. I'd dress him a little warmer and keep the temp more like about 70... I'm sweating just thinking about that! If you have a fan that makes white noise that often helps keep a baby lulled. He doesnt sound hungry when he's waking, more like just wanting to be soothed. When I needed to sleep I just put baby in bed with us and slept like a rock all night, that's the way I did it.

I agree with most responses below. I, too, wanted to say that 80 is too hot and that overheating of babies has been linked to SIDS. Also, I agree having baby in your room is probably resulting in less sleep for all of you as your noises wake him up and vice versa. As for that many feedings during the night, if he is truly hungry, then feed him, but feed him fully. Keep him awake until he has had a full meal, don't let him be a snacker, that doesn't help anything.

I agree that 75-80 sounds too hot. Our son wears pjs (no socks) and a blanket and our house is set at 72 but his room gets very hot at night (his three year old sister refuses to wear pajamas to bed at night because she gets too hot).

If he's in your room, he may be waking up because he hears/senses/sees you guys. Try putting him in another room and see if that makes a difference.

A white noise machine/fan does wonders!

I think nursing is still okay at nighttime but I do also think he's not truly hungry every 2-3 hours. I'd make sure to feed him a snack before bed then fully nurse him.

I rocked my daughter until she was 2 (stopped breastfeeding at 12 months) and even after that, she'd have to be fully asleep or she'd freak out/wouldn't go to bed. Around 2.5 I knew she COULD fall asleep on her own so I did sleep training then (even though I'm not a fan of CIO). It took 1 night of crying for 20+ minutes then the next night it was 10 minutes then the next night she was fine. Obviously not all kids are like that.

If he needs to be soothed, rub his back but do not keep picking him up. Sing to him, rub his back, ensure you are there, but do not pick him up. If you are in the room and just get back into bed, he is probably sensing this which is what keeps waking him up.

As far as during the day, invest in an ergo or something so you can carry him. Or keep him close (high chair if you are cooking) and give him toys to play with. He's not at an age yet where he'll play for long periods by himself.

Good luck!

I know you don't really want to let him cry it out, but may I suggest the book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. My now 4 year old, sounds exactly like your baby, and after hours of rocking and bouncing every night for 9 months, I just couldn't take it anymore. My doctor suggested NOT feeding her during the night after 8-9 months, but to teach her to use a sippy cup and put water in it and leave it in her crib for her to fine at night. I did let her cry it out, and it only took 3 nights! I realize that some babies might take a little longer, but if you read this book (or skim it in your sleep deprivation) it really makes you see how important getting your baby to fall asleep on their own is for their health for the rest of their life. If you are able to do so, maybe move him out of your room, I would guess he might sleep better without being able to see you and expect you to pick him up. They are smart little buggers so now he knows what to expect and probably is able to manipulate you slightly. Good luck, you need sleep too so whatever you try I hope it works!!

Keep the room comfortable for YOU and dress the baby warmly for bed. That is way too hot and hi temps have been liked to SIDS!
I don't think that at 8 months he needs to eat 3-4 times in the middle of the night.
It doesn't sound like 80 degree temps are making him sleep better OR longer. He's probably hot & thirsty!
If you decide to do CIO, you can't waffle. Once you start, you need to complete it. Research it online and then you'll know how to soothe him w/out picking him up.
Good luck.

....How old is your baby???

He is sleeping longer when the temperature is up... because, he is hot. Being hot like that.... means overheating... and one of the symptoms 'can' be.... not waking up. Babies... over-heat much faster, than adults.... over-heating causes Drowsiness.....

80 degrees... is hot. I live in Hawaii.... even we think it is hot at 80 degrees.

Try a sleep sack for your baby. Amazon has them.

Try putting on white noise... we put a fan on low, when my kids sleep.

Perhaps as well.... You or Hubby are waking HIM up... babies can hear us SNORE, or toss and turn too.

Maybe he is having a growth-spurt... and therefore, babies get mega hungry... and need to feed ON-Demand.... 24/7. Are you giving feedings on-demand???? If not a baby will always be hungry and not happy.

My kids as babies... woke every 2-3 hours. I breastfed on-demand even at night, for at least the first year of their life. It is not easy. But, I just did it.
My kids, had HUGE appetites as babies and when hitting growth spurts, they would do what is called "Cluster Feeding", which means a baby even feeds every single hour. But ALL of these things are normal.

Babies, when they hit a certain age/development, WANT to do what WE do. They learn that way. He is not 'needing' constant attention... he is playing.... and learning... with you. Believe M.... ALL babies, will band things AND our keyboards AND sit on our lap while doing it and while we are doing it. And they will, 'play' with the clothes as we are folding it. Babies ALL do this. It is normal development.
It is also a time where you need to baby/safety proof the home...

He seems to be developing just fine, it is not easy and very busy and the lack of sleep... does not end.... until later. Put it this way... my kids are 4 and 8... but even now that they do sleep all night, I 'wake" anytime I hear them toss and turn or make noise. It is just habit... and my ears are always tuned to them... 24/7.