8 Mos Old and Not Sleeping Throught He Night

Hi S.,

The only thing that worked with both of my children, who also had reflux, who also co-slept until 6 months and to let them cry.

I started at naps. This helped them to learn to self-soothe. I hated it, I had to step outside, but they continued to wake up through the night crying because they didn't know how to self-soothe until I put them through the CIO.

Once they could put themselves to sleep for naps, then it was at bedtime, putting them down totally awake and then if they cried at night, patt the butt, give them the paci and never pick them up.

I hope that little piece of advice helps some.
I am telling you, I tried a million things and this is the only thing that helped. I got these things to muffle the crying at night in my ears and while they were being trained I didn't sleep much BUT once they went through it, it was HEAVEN. Because when they wake up in the middle of the night he will know how to soothe himself back to sleep. :)

Your dilemma sounds like mine. I have a 8 m. little girl who also has reflux. She slept in her bouncer and then in her car seat. When her reflux seemed better we tipped one end of her crib to create an angle. It worked for about 2 weeks!! But to no avail, because she now sleeps in our bed. I still think her reflux wakes her, though not as much as it used to. I know everyone says it's a no-no, but we do add cereal to her bottle, and we find it has helped (with the reflux and the sleeping). Lately she has been waking for bottles in the middle of the night, something that I thought had passed. I have had my mom and mom-in-law tell me that this waking in the middle of the night will pass. I had a nurse tell me to put my perfume on a teddy bear or blanket so when she wakes up in the middle of the night, she will smell my perfume and know I'm there. I haven't done this-I was a little hesitant with the SIDS thing. The nurse also told me to give her a snack before bedtime so she would sleep better. She also mentioned naps no longer than 1 1/2 hours and the last one no later than 3:30. This hasn't helped my little one, but maybe it would for yours. I don't know if I had an helpful info, but maybe a little support. Best Wishes.

Oh my goodness you are a busy mom! I feel for you. My son didn't sleep throught the night until he was 6 months and I wanted to jump off a bridge. I didn't have quite the same situation: we always had the kids sleep in their own room from day one. When they woke up at night, at a point when they should have slept, we let them cry until they fell back to sleep. I know this is controversial and sounds horrible to most parents. We hated every second of it. My son cried for an hour the first night, 40 minutes the next, and by the third he slept all they way through, and has ever since. My daughter was the same. It wasn't fun, but niether was being a walking, grumpy zombie every day. They are both perfectly fine and healthy. I know it's not for everyone.
I've also read recently (in my child psychology class) that many children are not biologically ready to sleep through the night until they are one, and that cosleeping children more often follow this pattern. I don't have personal experience with that, it may just be one doctor's opinion. Good luck!

Hi S.,
I have a three year old (still sleeps with us), and a 4 month old. My three year old was the worst sleeper, and I tried everything to get him to sleep! I am not a believer in letting them cry it out. My midwife told me that once my son started solid food, I could stop nursing him at night. Do you feed him when he wakes at night? This might be his way of getting back to sleep. Anyway, I was hoping not to have this problem with my second. A friend recommended a book for me called The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems by Tracy Hogg. I know what your thinking, another stupid book, but this one really seems to work for me. I can't follow her ideas exactaly, but the principle seems to work. If you think your son is still having a problem with reflux, is he on anything for it? Do you think he could be teething? There are some homeopathic medicines that might help him to calm down at night. If you research online, look for a homeopathic rememdy for restlessness and irratability in infants. All my love and luck to you! You are one busy mommy with six little ones to look after.

i have a 16 month ol who just now is sleeping through the night. i nursed him so it took awhile. like you i put my son in bed with me and he rolled aorund all nigght too keeping me up- i have 4 kids so i know how you feel about trying to function. i have a pac in play in my room as well. i frist got him used to his pac and play during nap time- he cried at first but then after a few days he starting taking naps in there. slowly i did it at night . to get him to sleep in there all night i let him cry and cry. the first night was miserable but by night two he was sleeping though the night. he is still in my room in his pack in play- my next step is getting him in his brothers room. you need to do what is best for you and you both deserve a full nights rest. just take baby steps towrd the big goal of getting him thru the night in his own room. it may take a week or more but you will get there. it wont hurt him to cry for a little bit.

I am so sorry! I thought I had it bad with my daughter but you have 5 other kids to deal with! I have tried everything it seems with my daughter and nothing is working. She is up pretty much from 12am to 4am. I don't know if they are teething or what is going on! Hopefully we will figure out what works. I am a zombie too!