Advice Needed to Help 8 Month Old to Sleep Through the Night in His Own Bed!

M., I have four boys of my own... And have been in the same boat you are in three times. Here's what I did.

I bought my husband some ear plugs. Then I moved a rocking chair into the boys' room. When they woke up at night, we would sit in the chair to eat. When they started to drift off, or become uninterested, I would put them back in thier own bed. Then I would sit back in my chair. since I wasn't leavign the room, the dozy child would normally be content and drift off so I could leave. The awake one, would generally be happy to play with a toy for a while and then lay down. If he didn't, after ten minutes, I would give him a kiss and leave the room (door open.) It is at this moment that your hubby might like those earplugs.

Five minutes later, if he was still crying, I would come back in and start the process over.

I tried to make all about the eating. No turning on lights, no music or even talking. Even humming to #2 would wake him up even more, and we could be up for hours.

Now, here's the trick: don't let them sleep extra during the day. At 8 months, he probably takes 2 naps a day. Set the timer, and both of you lay down to snooze for a while. This will make for a rough week (especially for you.) But being constant will win out. If he never gets in the bed, you don't have to kick him out of it. On your husband's days off (if he has any, mine doesn't) have him pull every other night time shift (and take turns sleeping during the day too.)

Clear your calendar for a week or so, and give this a try. A child that sleeps through the night is more important in the long run than almost anything you have do to during the day.

PS. If your child is eating some foods, try giving him something more filling (cereal, or entree) about an hour before bed. A full tummy make for less night time wake ups.

Hi M.,

I wish I had a more time to write..I would advise some sleep training...I highly recommend reading "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth. It's an awesome book! I followed the dr.'s methods and my boys are great sleepers.
Kudos, for breastfeeding! Good luck.

My daughter was 7 months old when a friend stayed the night and couldn't sleep b/c my little one cried 3 times night to be fed. I too was breastfeeding. This friend had a 1 1/2 at the time. She gave me the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby. Let me tell you...it is amazing. It went against everything I thought I should be doing...putting her down later so she would sleep later; going to her every cry, etc. Essentially, you need to put your son to bed earlier and let him cry. Develop a routine before bed and stick with it. My daughter likes to be wrapped in her blanket, I turn on her nightime music and she eats while I rock her. When she is done, I put her in the crib and close the door. She cried the first 3 nights for about 45 mins and it tore at my heart, but then she got the hang of it. She sleeps from 8-8 every night since then and she is 10 months old. Get the book!!!

I had great success with Dr. Ferber's book. It helps you "sleep train" your child. I tried it around 8-9 months and had GREAT success within 3 nights!!!

K.
Speech & Language Professional Services
www.SLPSinc.com

Dear M.

Try giving him Earth's Best Organic whole grain rice cereal before putting hims to bed. My baby girl always slept better on a full tummy of lite carb cereal mixed with breast milk or applesauce. Their baby food is really great to start out with. I have many other tips for baby care, if your interested in feeding him as natural as possible.

God Bless
A. Lauing
____@____.com

I don't know how you feel about the bottle but when my son was six months old I began adding baby ceral to his bed time bottle and it filled him up and he slept through the night from six months on. I would put him to bed around 8:30 pm and woke him up at 6 am