9 Month Old Stopped Sleeping Through the Night - Help!

It could be teething, but it appears that it's been happening for quite some time. I usually experience that right when the tooth was to break through is when they would wake up with the most pain and it only lasted at most several days. I would go in right away if that is what seems to get her to bed the fasted. However, I would definitely not pick her up and so everything but. Good Luck. This too shall pass. I know it seems like it will never end, but you will sleep again.

Our son slept through the night from 2 months to 6 months old. After that, he was up during the night multiple times for a very, very long time. I remember during that time when he was sleeping through the night, our doctor told us not to get too excited because that would change... and she was so right. By the time he was 8 months old, I was so exhausted that we started using the Ferber method, which seemed to work in terms of getting him to fall asleep without being rocked, temporarily at least (every time he got sick or we went out of town... we would have to start the process all over again...) but letting him cry during the night or for naps NEVER worked for us. My husband also was getting up at 5:30am at the time for work and there was no sense in none of us getting any sleep with baby up crying histerically all night. So I would get up and rock him back to sleep... This went on for a long, long time.

We eventually got rid of the rocking chair so that that was no longer an option. And once we put him in a big boy bed at 16 months old, I would just go in and hang out on the floor next to his bed when he would wake up.

Teething could certainly be the issue. Have you tried giving her motrin or tylenol before bed? If it is teething, that will certainly help. Make sure you get the proper dosage from your doctor first though.

We found that the book "the no cry sleep solution" had lots of helpful ideas and it really ended up getting us through that tough period. We had a great sleep routine to begin with, but this book really helped us follow through from a lot of different angles... I'd recommend picking up a copy...

Hi H.,
Both of my kids have gone through many sleep changes and I wouldn't worry about being headed for sleep issues. We aren't for the cry it out method either and we just hung in there and our 5 yr old is a really good sleeper. My 4 month old son started waking up more in the past 2 weeks and he just busted out 2 teeth! I was a little surprised because it is a little early, but yes - sleep can be disrupted by teeth and they can go back to sleeping through the night just as quickly as they stopped. Hang in there - S. S.

In addition to the person who suggested Motrin, I'd like to add the suggestion that you try Baby Oragel. Sure, it washes out of their mouths pretty quickly, but if it is teething she may get enough relief from the combo on Motrin and Baby Oragel to sleep peacefully. That's how we handled my daughter's night time teething pains.

Hi H.,
It is so funny that you say your nine month old stopped sleeping through the night. So did mine! I have a nine month old little girl and she has always been so good about sleeping through the night, except when she is teething. I used the baby motrin, it worked very well for her. Right now the reason she is waking up is not teething, I think it is a growth spurt and they are hungry. I have recently swithched to a bigger nipple at bedtime so she does not fall asleep before finishing her bottle and that seems to work, just make sure she burps before you put her in her crib.
Good luck!

I am blown away at how many people suggest giving drugs to a 9 month old?! How about some TLC and snuggling with Mom? Do NOT listen to those that suggest cry it out, your child will cry when they need something and ignoring that is not following your mother's intuition. We were given a sense to know what our children need for a reason, so listen to it!
I have a 9 month old that was sleeping through the night at 11 weeks up until a month ago. She has gotten 5 teeth in that time and is usually up 1-3 times a night now. I know that once she is through this stage, she will not need to be comforted and will not need me. It is so silly to think that we expect a 9 month old to be able to understand why they are in pain and not want their mom!
Try Hyland's Teething Tablets, they are all natural and can be found in your local healthfood store. They have calming agents and also help soften the skin to make it easier for the tooth to break through. PLEASE don't start your 9 month old on a path to popping pills!

Hi H.,

I read all of your responses. I don't think you need to worry too much about this being a sleep issue either. It really sounds like he is just teething. I would give a dose of a pain reliever as a preventative thing before bed one night and see what happens. If he doesn't wake up, then you can assume it's his teeth. I found that the baby motrin worked much better for teething than the infant tylenol. Personally, I wouldn't use the orajel, especially at night, but that's just me. I also wake very early and need my sleep, so sometimes I'd slip him a bottle and that's all it took. If you find that you're doing it everynight, maybe give him a bigger bottle before bed instead of in the middle of the night to rule out hunger. :) Good luck, and don't worry, this will pass!

Not all the books advocate sleeping it out.

She could be teething. She could be having a growth spurt. She could be having night terrors.

I believe in giving your baby what she needs. You say that she goes back to sleep immediately if you soothe her-- then sooth her! She needs you.

If getting up in the middle of the night is causing you guys sleep problems-- other options are to have baby sleep in your room or your bed where you would be able to respond faster- before baby works up into a cry and then hubby won't wake.

Your baby sleeps the way she needs to. You are not heading for "sleep issues". Remember that 80% of people with babies in your child's age range think that their baby has "sleep issues". Maybe it's not an issue then if it's the majority. This is normal.

We found around this age that our kids (especially our son) had many nights of waking up...teething, growth spurt, attachment, night terrors... could be many of these things and unfortunately just something you have to pray it stops soon and do your best. Maybe try giving a little tylenol at night to see if that helps.

Motrin is good...make sure they are not hungry too! I don't reccomend orajel because it is not safe for little ones if they swallow it. I am not a big fan of the stuff because it gives a false sense of soothing.