My 8 month old was a great sleeper until recently. He puts himself down and would sleep from 7:30 - 7 or so with one nighttime nursing session. Two weeks ago he stopped sleeping. He still goes down fine for naps, and goes down great initially but wakes up about 2 hours after he goes to sleep and cries the rest of the night. We can't sooth him - we've tried Motrin and Orajel (if it is teething), nursing, a bottle, turning the lights on to let him play, a pacifier, rocking, walking, nothing works. He just cries from around 9:30 until 4am. We both work and we have a 5 yr old so we are exhausted!
Have you hired a sleep consultant? Have you paid any of the sleep trainers on the internet? Is there anyone you liked or disliked? Please, please give me your feedback - we are desperate!
Ear infection was a good idea - but we did have him checked. Perfectly healthy other than this sleep issue.
Thanks,
C.
I am no Dr, but crying that long seems like something is physically bothering him vs. a sleep training issue. Maybe it's something he's eating - a new food? Maybe teething like someone said - both my kids got teeth about this time... try some motrin before bed and see if that makes a difference. Allergies??? Good luck.
I'd get him checked for an ear infection before you spend any money on sleep training stuff. Make sure there isn't something like that causing him to wake up.
I know sleep deprivation is just torture - I so feel for you!!! I really don't have a clue what else it might be . . . other than maybe this is just a phase and he'll grow out of it . . .or it could be teething (which will pass with time) . . keep trying different things at night to help him get back to sleep. Every kid is different so for some kids the "sleep training" method works and for others it is totally the wrong thing to do. Trust your instincts and keep trying, you'll get thru this!!
I've never heard of anyone hiring a sleep consultant or going with a sleep trainer on the Internet. I imagine they'd just give you the same advice that you can get here.
It sounds like you've tried so many things in two weeks, you probably didn't give anything long enough to work. But I totally understand that when you're desperate you'll do anything. So - a few more things to try:
Have you tried elevating the head of his bed? It's possible that some of the new foods you've introduced have caused reflux and he's crying because his stomach and throat hurt from the burn. (this happened to one of my daughters) If he's in a crib, you can set the head of the mattress to the top mattress bolt thingy and the foot of the mattress to the lowest one - that will create about a 6 inch lift. I'd also eliminate any particularly acidic or spicy food for a few weeks to see if that changes anything.
Crying from 9:30 - 4 doesn't sound like a sleep training issue, it sounds like there's something actually wrong... so if none of the things people are suggesting here work, I'd take him back to the doctor to see if they can determine what's up.
Good luck!
Couple ideas that a sleep consultant would give you...
You didn't mention how long this has been going on? Two nights, a week? I ask b/c it could be a "phase" if he's going through a growth spurt or some sort of milestone. And he could go back to sleeping just fine after this. If it's been longer, then you should choose a method of helping him soothe himself back to sleep and stick with it. It will probably take a week.
Don't take him out of the crib. You may rub his back or head but no picking up. If he moves away from your touch, then don't touch him. You say, it's time to go back to sleep and leave the room. You can check up on him first every 5 minutes, then 10 minutes then 15 minutes etc. Or you can stay in the room with him for a couple minutes but do not take him uot of the crib. And there's ton of free info out there (no need to pay) but you need to stick to a method to make it work.
Looks like you got great trouble shooting advice from fellow mommas. Sleep is such an important aspect to the health of a family...everyone is on edge after days of interrupted sleep...even baby. Sounds like a sleep issue and not a health issue,especially if you got baby checked out and he naps fine during the day. Sounds like it is solely a nighttime sleep issue.
I have never hired or know of anyone that has hired a sleep consultant. I do have a book and it is my sleep bible. All 3 of my kids are fabulous sleepers and have been since 2months old. It has sooo many helpful hints on what might have gone awry with your child. Give it a try. I have many friends who have borrowed my book when such issues as yours arise and sure enough they have tried out a method and it has worked.
The book is amazing...I can't say enough good things about it. It covers a wide array of sleep issues from newborns up to age..i think 5ish.
"Sleeping Through The Night. How Infants, Toddlers, And their Parents Can Get A Good Night's Sleep" by Jodi A Mindell,Ph.D
Good luck and I hope you have blissful sleep again in your near future.
Have you tried to let him sleep a bit up right? He maybe having some discomfort for him to be crying that long. My LO is 9 months old and when this happens I give him a little bit of mylanta and that usually helps calm him down and get us all back to sleep. Then once he is asleep I lay him in the boppy so he isn't flat while sleeping.
The only piece missing is what YOUR response is to the waking/crying. I have helped hundreds get their little ones to sleep over the past 25 years. PM me if you would like to talk.
Is he teething? If so, there is a great natural teething remedy that has worked wonders for my daughter! It is called chamomilla, and you can order it online or find it at health food/natural stores.
Other than that... has he recently been vaccinated? Sometimes it takes a while for the vaccines to work through the system. If that could be it, and you want to know how we're working through that with our son, let me know.
Good luck!
