Sleeping at 8 Months

Hi A.,

I have a 10 month old at home and he learned how to pull himself up at about 9 months. He would wake up in the middle of the night pull himself up and then start wailing. The first couple of nights we went in and layed him back down, but I realized he knew how to get down himself and we finally just had to let him cry. I don't know if that is a method you are comfortable with. It was hard in the beginning (that is how he eventually started sleeping all the way through the night) but it does work. We were lucky thought because he never cried longer than 30 minutes. In any case it's just a phase and will eventually most likely stop but you don't want to start forming bad habits by bringing him bed. I hope that helps.

My daughter started doing the same thing. We ended getting a low wattage light to put in her room, so when she wakes up, she can see. It works like a charm. She still wakes up most nights, but now she puts herself back to sleep.

leave him where he is and he will figure out how to get back to sleep - usually takes two or three days.

you have to teach him to lay down from sitting now. Do this while he is awake, then when he wakes in the middle of the night he will be able to do it.

Do NOT get him up, no matter how it hurts you to leave him in there, just without saying a word lay him back down and leave the room. He just has to learn that when he sits up he needs to lay back down.

He isn't teething, or having a growth spurt, he just learned a new skill and is trying it out and not remembering that he can lay back down.

N.

Hi! Congrats on your little 8 month old!!! Mine is just turning 11 months.

We went through the exact same thing at 8 months. And I ended up bringing Charlie into bed with us as well because 1) I don't like the cry it out at all cost method and 2) honestly, we enjoy having him cuddle up with us in bed.

We always start him out in his crib, and if he does wake up crying I typically (pending the type of cry) let him whine for about 10/15 minutes. If it doesn't look like he is going to colapse from exhaustation then I bring him up to bed with us.

This lasted maybe a month before the excitement of sitting up wore off. So now he's back in his crib all night.

There was a brief re-do when he learned to stand up in the crib as well about a month ago. But that was short lived -

Best of luck to you.

Courtney

My 10.5 month old little girl did the same thing at 8 months when she learned how to sit up on her own really well. I think it kinda freeked her out that she could sit up straight out of sleeping.

I would just walk in there, lay her down, give her her cuddly and paci and walk back out of her room. Sometimes I had to do it a couple times before she stayed laying down and went back to sleep. Every once in awhile I would pick her up and sway back and forth just to calm her down a bit, but then I would lay her right back down after a few minutes. So far, this is what has worked for me.

Also, one good point is not to engage your little one too much. I don't look her in the eye or talk to her when I go back into her room other then a soft "it's ok." Otherwise, she may wake up even more with too much interaction. Good luck to you!

He could still be feeling a little bit "shocked" that he sat himself up...and he can't figure out how to get back down. (This will also happen when he learns to stand!)

The onset of separation anxiety occurs around ages 6-9mos, and your son is exactly at that age. However...he is very accustomed to sleeping in his crib, isn't he? So being in his bed, after following the exact same bedtime routine you've been using for months and months, shouldn't really set off his separation anxiety alarms.

I think your smart son is testing you. He has already figured out that when he escalates his crying, you will break down and bring him to your bed. If starting a commitment to co-sleeping is okay with you, then go for it! If not, you will have to stop bringing him to your bed. In this case, you'll need to find a method to help him adjust. I had excellent, quick results with letting my kids cry-it-out, but not all Moms are able or willing to do this. I would recommend seeking some advice through a good sleep training book (there are many -- I like "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child").

We had the same thing at 8 months. It took one night of crying it to cure it.

He will go back to sleep in his crib. He's a little confused and excited about his ability to sit up. Be very matter-of-fact, during the day teach him how to lay down from sitting my moving his arms and body, he might actually learn from you and you will not have to wait until he figures it out himself. When he wakes up mid- night, go in, lay him down and leave without saying anything. Keep his room as dark as possible. The idea is to teach him that it is nighttime and there is nothing to do but sleep. Do this at his first sound, before he gets into a big cry. Then come in as many times as necessary to lay him down again and he'll begin to get the idea. When and if he starts to cry, remind yourself that his cry means, Mommy, help me to figure out what I should do. Take it from someone who took them to bed because she wanted to go back to sleep--they can keep that up for years. You are only going to loose sleep one or two nights and then he'll be okay. The same advice goes for when he starts to stand up in the crib, show him how to get down and do it over and over until he gets it.

maybe he's stuck sitting up ? adn then he cries and woke himself up crying...

He already slept 11 hours. Let him get up. Put a microphone in his room so you hear him when he first wakes. Bathe him, feed him, play for an hour or so and he'll go back to bed. Then you get your nap...enjoy.