How Can I Get My 8Month Old to Finally Sleep Through the Night?

Sure being full can help sleep but you also have to teach her how to sleep. Babies don't automatically know how. I highly, highly suggest Dr.Sears Baby Sleep Book, The Baby Whisperer and The No-Cry Sleep Solution. The more you know and understand about infant sleep the better you will be able to come up with a sleep plan and teach her *how* to sleep.

If she is taking at least 2 naps a day she is doing ok in that respect.

You don't say if your formula or breastfeed. One of my breastfed babies was a champ sleeper after he was taught how to sleep. The other one wasn't a good sleeper till she weaned.

Feed her much more during the day. It's all about a full belly. Not just right before bed, but ALL day long, add snacks and meals and thicken bottles. It will take a few days of more eating all day long for her body to register the extra calories and satisfaction. If you are diligent increasing her eating, she will sleep thru. My 1st was up until she was 1 yo eating twice per night. My step sister(mother of 12) heard about it and said that is ALWAYS the solution. All of hers slept thru by 3 months, and my second 2 did as well. My 1st started sleeping thru 3 nights after I increased her eating and never woke up during the night again. She's now 5. Calories calories calories, full belly full belly all day long as well as before bed.

Hi K. :-)

I would imagine, with another child in the home, that you are not getting a lot of sleep yourself! When the stress levels are high, the body has difficulty healing itself and maintaing balance. I offer a technique which is calming to the bodymind and helps to bring a state of relaxation. You may find this technique on my website, which you can find by reading my profile.

There is a video on my website of Dr. John Veltheim teaching CORTICES. The first video teaches you about your brain and how it responds to stress, and the second video shows exactly how to do the technique, which is quite simple and takes about 30 seconds to implement.

Feel free to give it a try! There have been lots of reports of improved sleeping and decreased stress from so many people I have shared this with!

Also be sure your daughter's bedroom is very dark.. the pineal gland is responsible for sleep/wake cycles and the hormone melatonin which helps to regulate sleep. Production of this hormone is diminished when there is light in the room. I used to think a night light was important for my child, but now I know that darkness is key for a good night's sleep.

hugs,
A. R.N., Energy Medicine Practitioner

Yes, I agree to feed her more during the day. Feed her every 3 hours...if she's asleep wake her up. At 8 months you can probably plan feedings around her nap to make it every 3 hours. She can also start finger feeding now if she hasn't already. Start with puffs, cheerios, etc. Make sure she has a solid schedule b/c she needs to sleep to sleep. I know that sounds weird but if kids are over tired they barely sleep even though they are exhausted. I don't know if you bottle or breast feed, and this method may be more difficult with the breast, I don't know, but I did it with both my kids and they were sleeping through the night at 2.5 months for my daughter and 4 months for my son. I kept his routine through about 10 months when I could wiggle it a little. By 12 months they were both on a more traditional 3 meal/day and some snacks schedule. Good luck...you need sleep!

I agree with the full belly, but and feeding more and frequently during the day. But here is something to try that was keeping our child from sleeping through the night for several years. Take her to a diet that has no wheat, barley, oats. Try corn, rice, fruits, veggies(cut up small for finger food is fine, cooked soft), and of course milk, formula. Also edge up the head of her mattress in case she has reflux. If she seems to do better falling asleep with a hand on her belly, consider swaddling her again, very snuggly as this helps move along things that might be keeping her up. Also if you are tired, cranky and need sleep, enlist a friend or family member, even a sitter to get a solid nap at least once a week. The baby could not be at your house or you could not during this time as you will be kept awake and stressed. This will help you get refocused and help your baby through this time. Also no little catnaps for her as this will inhibit getting into a good nap, night sleep pattern. Hope this helps as we searched for several years and from birth she seemed to be unable to rest. She was diagnosed with Celiac disease at 1 month before her 5th birthday, I'm not saying that is what it is, but it's worth trying a gluten free diet to see.