My 9 month old has always slept great through the night. In the past few weeks she has woken up for a deep sleep crying. We go in her room, give her her pacifier and goes back to sleep. I'm not sure if she is teething or what. Should I let her cry it out or continue giving her the pacifier? She doesn't know how to look for her pacifier in her bed. In the past, she would fall asleep and let go of her pacifier without a problem. Any tips would be great!!!!
Thank you very much for all the great advice. I did what most of you told me, just comforting her and not letting her cry for too long. Last night went much better than the others. I also spoke to my dr. and she thinks it has more to do with development than teething. At 9 months, they are more aware of their surroundings. Thanks again!
Letting her cry it out will simply teach her that you're not there for her and the world is a scary place.
That's always tough to go through when you and baby have been used to sleeping through the night for awhile. Teething is very likely, but she could also be about to hit a major milestone. Mine woke up a couple of nights before she started crawling and then again before she started walking. You could put a few pacifiers in her bed so if she loses one she has a good chance of finding another. Also, you didn't really say how hard she is crying. When mine wakes up, I'll take my time getting to her room unless she is really screaming. Several times I have quietly opened the door and peeked in and my daughter has been crying but she is laying down and crying in her sleep. I tiptoe back out and she whimpers awhile longer and then she is fine. Don't know if that is the case with you. In times where my daughter is fully awake and screaming, I will do the Ferber method (not the full-on crying it out) but I do it for shorter periods than when I would use it at bedtime. I know it's tough but remember this phase, like every other one, will pass - good luck!
She might being going through the phase where they start waking up again in tne middle of the night or what they call a night terrors (it is not nightmares but just something they go through even into toddler years but it is not as frequent). Both of mine went throught that at 9 mos and then again at 12 months. It could also be teething as well. If you have the book what to expect the 1st years - look in the 9 month section and that can give you some ideas to see what she can be going through and what solutions there might be.
It does sound like she might be teething. Besides the newborn stage of sleeplessness, teething was the time my friends who are moms and I have had a hard time with. Our babies really need us there beside them through it though. Even the rough and tumble little ones, who handle their bumps and bruises with little to no complaining, find teething to be hard to take. Also, it could be about three months before that first tooth shows, but you will know if she is in fact teething by how much she drools and her need to chew on practically everything during the day. If you haven't already tried it, many moms have found that wetting a washcloth and putting it in the freezer really helps their baby out (after they get used to the new sensation of it). I wish you and your baby speedy teething!
