Eight Month Old Sleeping Through the Night...

Updated on September 18, 2009
M.L. asks from Indianapolis, IN
11 answers

My son will be nine months in a week. He has had multiple ear infections and had tubes put in about a month ago. I started letting him cry when I put him to bed for about two weeks now and he's been sleeping through the night...somewhat. I never let him cry through the night before because of his ears and I wasn't sure if thats why he was crying or not, so I would get up with him every three hours until two weeks ago. He now makes it through the night but he cries out several times a night for just a few seconds and then stops for a few hours and does it again. I haven't been getting him when he does this, but has anyone else had this happen? I would think with two weeks of going through the night he would be a sound sleeper by now but he still cries out for a few seconds every so many hours.

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A.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

My son does this sometimes. He also laughs in the middle of the night. I think he's just dreaming.

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M.P.

answers from Indianapolis on

yes, I have 3 kids and 2 of them would do this on occasion. Not every night, but I was always grateful they would just go back to sleep.

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P.N.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi M.,

My son didn't suffer from ear infections at that age, but he used to cry out in his sleep. He started sleeping through the night at about 3 months on his own. Since he only cried when he needed something, I would go to his crib whenever he cried - and often found him sound asleep. After a while, I could tell the difference between him crying out while sleeping and when he really needed me.

So, I think the occassional cry while sleeping is perfectly normal. Just wait to see if he really is awake and needs you.

Good luck!

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S.E.

answers from Cleveland on

My son used to do that. He slept though the night very early on. He went though a phase unrelated to starting to sleep through the night where he would just scream for a few seconds. I forget what age, but I bet around your little ones age. It will pass.

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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

He has probably been doing it for so long that its just a hard habit to break! At least its just for a few seconds, sounds like he has learned to self soothe, and thats wonderful! He will probably stop very soon.

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C.K.

answers from Cleveland on

My girls and my son all sometimes cried out in their sleep, even when they weren't actually awake. My four year old still talks in her sleep sometimes. I learned to wait a few minutes before checking on them when I heard a cry, because I realized when I went in too quickly, I was actually waking them, when they had not actually been awake. It's totally normal. It's not from his ears - he's probably just a restless sleeper, lots of kids are.

Good luck.

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B.B.

answers from Indianapolis on

If we hear just a little "yelp" or little bit of a "cry", we "wait and see". You never know if she's just uncomfortable and trying to get settled or if it is something like she's woken up from a night terror.

So we "note the tone" and "wait and see". If our 2 yo screams like she just had a nightmare, obviously we go get her. BUT if she's just trying to get comfortable, then we don't have to go get her or comfort her - no need. BUT if she puts out a little cry, and then we hear her moving around in her crib (via the monitor) and start crying out some more as in "is anybody else awake around here?!" THen we'll go get her.

Hope that makes sense, and for what it's worth, and good luck!

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J.C.

answers from Cincinnati on

My son is 7 1/2 months old and he does this as well.Don't be concerned about these mini cries. He may even be dreaming. It's when he starts screaming as if he is in pain and it is continuous that you should probably go and check on him. I can see your concern, after dealing with the ear infections. Old habits die hard. Give it time. Good luck.

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L.W.

answers from Cincinnati on

Hi M.
My baby girl is 9 months on Monday. She has been sleeping through the night since month 4 and she will still cry out every now and then. If its only a few seconds, dont worry about it. When my girl cries out in the middle of the night I give her 5 mins before going in..unless its the screaming cry, then I go in right away (I think us moms can tell the difference in the cries)
The best thing I ever did was turned the monitor off. My baby is just down the hall. we have both doors close and I can hear her cry. I dont hear the cries in the middle of the night anymore since I turned the monitor off. if he needs you, you will hear him.
Good luck!!!

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J.B.

answers from Bloomington on

My daughter, 14 months, has always cried out in her sleep as well. Just for a second or two, then back to dream land. Sometimes we'll go nights without it, and others she'll cry out a couple of times an hour all night long. It use to concern me as well, until we took a long car trip and I noticed that she did it while napping in the car too. I think it's part of there DNA to make us as anxious as possible at all times! (haha!)

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A.G.

answers from South Bend on

My youngest daughter had that from birth on......it is actually a form of "talking" in their sleep. They aren't even awake. It bothered me, but not her.

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