8 Month Old Wakes up Every Night but Isn't Hungry! Help!

We tried CIO twice (once at 9 months and again at 14 months). Despite being consistent for several weeks both times, it only made matters worse. Our son started fighting bed times, was getting up multiple times over night and his naps were shot all to pieces. Basically his sleeping got steadily worse. So far we are the only people we know who had bad results from CIO so maybe we were doing something wrong. At any rate for us we discovered what Margaret K. mentions. Our little guy just seemed to need a little comfort and then he was right back to sleep. My husband did one thing (patting on the back with soothing humming) and I did another (picking up and gently swaying) BUT we were both consistent when it was our turn to go in there. After a couple of nights our son was getting up less and then after a week he was sleeping through the night (10-12 hours). We did have to revisit the issue at 14 months but the comfort method worked for us again. We each noticed we had to go in the nursery calmly. If you went in there annoyed for being woken up for the umpteenth time that night, then it made matters worse since it seemed our son picked up on the foul mood and was harder to settle. As far as naps our pediatrician took the stance of do whatever it takes to get the naps in. If you find your child sleeps in the stroller while walking, then do that. The pediatrician's argument was the focus should be on establishing the pattern of napping. Later on you can slowly remove the crutches/aids you use to achieve the napping. Not a theory for everyone but it did seem to help with our catnapper who averaged 30 minute naps from the very beginning. Good luck whatever you decide and strive for at least a week's worth of consistency before throwing in the towel/trying a different method. The no sleeping phases are tough on everyone but they don't last forever.

Maybe she just needs the comfort and security of a hug and kiss. Whatever you do make sure it's the same every time and stick with it. My daughter had this issue when she was 10 months. When I finally figured out that she just wanted some comfort I would go in pick her up, give her a pacifier, rock her a few minutes, give a hug and kiss and tell her it's bedtime. Turn on her music, put her back in the crib and leave the room. I would go back and do it again and again until she was back to sleep. After about a week it got better and after about two weeks she was sleeping through the night and I mean 10-12 hours.

Is it possible she is having acid reflux? Try giving her some Mylanta (a couple ccs) and see what happens.

She may need to sit up a little bit, you can try raising the head of her crib about 30 degrees, Dr. Sears said you can roll a towel up and put it under the mattress.

Since she has always done it, it might be an allergy to something she is eating, either in her formula or in your breastmilk...PM me if you want more help. I have been there and I know how hard it is! Hang in there.

Try the doctor ferber approach. Sounds likes she is using the pacifier as a sleep crutch/ sleep association. A graduating waiting approach in which you do a bedtime routine without the paci, and leave. She protests and cries, you let her cry for 1 minute, and go back in and soothe, but don't pick her up and don't give her the paci. You leave before she is asleep. Predictably she cries again. You now wait 3 minutes, go back in and soothe, but don't pick her up and don't give her the paci. Again, leave before she is asleep. Do this at increasing intervals 5, 10, 15, 20 minutes. On day 2, you start at 3 minutes, on day 3 you start at 5 minutes, on day 4 10 minutes, etc. Most of the time it won't take more than 4/5 days. Do this each and every time she wakes up during the night.

What you are teaching her is that, she can go to sleep herself, and without her paci. You have not dissappeared, but will no longer be responsible for putting her to sleep or replacing the paci.

It will be a hard couple of nights as you sit there watching the clock, eager to just put the paci in and be done with it, but at the end, you will all sleep better and longer, and be better rested for it.

Make sure everyone in the household is on board with this plan. If you give in, even once, all you will have accomplished is to teach her that if she cries for long enough she will have her way.

Don't try this if she is sick, or if you or hubs are sick. It will be too hard on her and you won't have the resolve to see it through.

Teething can be tough, but sometimes little ones continue to wake up and demand playtime in the evening long after the pain has resolved.

Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.

This brings back memories! We used to put like 5 nukes all around my first daughter all over her crib so she would find one of them because she would wake every night looking for it. Funny looking back at it...survival at the time. :)