Can you help me with getting my 8 1/2 month old to sleep through the night?

Question

My 8 1/2 month old daughter wakes during the night, hysterical. The only thing that will calm her down is a bottle. (I know this because I've tried to console her for over 2 hours before giving in.)I've tried to feed her 'dinner' (food) and a bottle just before bed, to fill her up to sleep. But if she goes to bed at about 8:30, she is up before 1. If I give her a bottle, she will go right back down until about 5. After another bottle she'll sleep to about 8-8:30. I've just weened her from breastfeeding to bottle, could this be the problem? Or could this be caused by a growth spurt? How long will this last? Any suggestions for what I can do?

To clarify, she does wake at other points during the night, and cry out a little bit before going back to sleep. So I know she can self soothe (at least somewhat). This is an occassion where she will not calm down until she gets food, like she's starving. Even if I hold her and rock her she won't relent. And previously (like last week and before) we didn't have this problem. She would sleep straight through from about 8-8:30 until about 5:30 or 6.

To clarify, I give her a bottle before I put on her pajamas and let her unwind a little bit. So she doesn't use the bottle to fall asleep. And she does wake at other points during the night, and cry out a little bit before going back to sleep. So I know she can self soothe (at least somewhat). This is an occassion where she will not calm down until she gets food, like she's starving. Even if I hold her and rock her she won't relent. And previously (like last week and before) we didn't have this problem. She would sleep straight through from about 8-8:30 until about 5:30 or 6.

Is anyone ever 100% educated on babies? This is my second daughter, and the first is a thriving 2 year old. I don't feel 'dumb'.
I've never heard that feeing a baby is dangerous. I'm not talking about taking her straight from the high chair to bed. I have just pushed back dinner time to about 7ish with a bottle to follow at about 7:45. I put her up in bed (awake) at around 8:30.

Call me silly, but I can't help but feel defensive after your response Chrissy.

I believe my daughter is either 1) getting teeth or 2) in a growth spurt
I was trying to get opinions from others with this experience on how long this 'phase' will last. My first daughter didn't go through this phase.

If anyone cares...I spoke with my doctor today: In response to Chrissy saying that it is dangerous to feed a baby at night, she said that is flat out wrong.

Answer 1

my daughter is 8 months old. she's sleeps through, but she does scream sometimes. an 8 month old's stomach should last through the night. It sounds like the bottle is comforting. are you sure she's not teething? this can cause the sudden uncontrollable screaming you're speaking of. Since is is recently weened, try just giving her water in her bottle. We did this for a while and it worked. if she knows she only gets water, she'll eventually stop. This is, of course, if this is the problem. But it sounds like teething to me and the bottle is comforting her pain.

Answer 2

Well some children like to drink bottles at night. I know they say they shouldn't but some children don't care for what they say. It very well could be a growth spurt. make a routine like give bath and feed before bed and also give a bottle. If she wakes up give her water or juice ( try to anyway) if she is a water or juice baby it shouldn't be a problem. If not give her milk. It cant hurt her. I have a 2 1/2 year old that get water in a bottle ONLY at night if he wakes up. For bedtime is the one time we haven't totally weaned but he has absolutely perfect teeth. Not one cavity or nothing. So that is some sort of proof that it wont hurt her to have an extra baba if it comforts her. Hope it works out for you. How are her naps maybe it is time to shorten them or give her one less nap. maybe she is sleeping so much during the day she is waking at night more. I had that happen with my 2ND child and cutting nap times down helped tremendously

Answer 3

I hear ya! Man did I go through that with my last son. Here's what I did with both of my boys. Have you heard of the cereal bottle? They make a bottle that allows the child to eat cereal through a nipple.... he may just be getting his fill on formula. If you can't find the cereal bottle, then make your own, put a slightly larger hole in the nipple, add a little cereal to his formula, it will thicken the formula a bit, hold the baby upright, as not to choke. Before they came out with the cereal bottle, this is what I had to do. It helped them feel full longer, so they slept a little longer.

Click on this to find new cereal bottles on ebay. At least then you will know what they look like.

http://cgi.ebay.com/sassy-6-sets-infant-...

If this isn't working then the baby has just developed habit to getting up through the night, you may have to make sure her naps are during the early part of the day and she is active at night, send her to bed with a nice and full belly and a clean diaper, if she crys and crys and you know she's fine, play the waiting game, let her cry it out and fall back asleep, she may be in habit that if she crys long enough, you will come get her and feed her.
Good luck, I hope you get some shut eye soon.

Answer 4

No matter what you do a baby that young is not going to sleep all threw the night in less they want to.

When you have a baby you do not get to decide when the baby sleeps and when it wakes up, the baby does, any doctor will tell you that.

As for feeding the baby food before going to sleep that is dangerous. Any doctor will tell you NEVER to feed a baby food of any kind before going to sleep.

I really think you need to read some baby books because you do not seem 100% educated on babies and how to deal with them. Do not feel dumb if this is your first baby, everyone makes mistakes on thier first.

It is always good to ask doctors every question you can think of and read as many baby books as possible.

Answer 5

Sounds like she has learned that she needs a bottle to go to sleep. (yes, learned) It is normal for babies this age to wake during the night. The problem is that if they don't know how to soothe themselves they can't go back to sleep without whatever their "sleep routine" calls for...in your case, a bottle. When you put her to bed for the night, don't give her a bottle. If she needs a bottle, give it to her earlier and keep awake for a short bit. Then, put her in her crib while she is still awake. This will seem like torture for you for about 2-3 nights... she has been learning something different for 8 1/2 months. But she will catch on quickly. Close her door and don't go back in for at least 10 minutes. Yes she will cry and scream. This will be harder for you than her. (I cried the first night I did this). Do NOT pick her up when you go back in and only stay for less than a minute. Rub her back, tell her you love her, and tell her it's time for sleep. then leave. When she still doesn't go to sleep, wait for 15 minutes before you go back in to soothe her. Each time you have to go back in, add 5 more minutes in between. Do NOT pick her up. The first night it could take as much as an hour or more before she falls asleep. But the 2nd night you do this, it will take much less time. My 4 month old learned this in 3 nights. On the third night she was asleep in under 7 minutes with no crying. After that it was a piece of cake to put her to bed each night and she never woke me in the middle of the night. She learned how to go to sleep on her own so she was able to go BACK to sleep if she woke during the night. Yours will learn too. Just don't give in, because she will learn that if she keeps on she will eventually get her way. This is a valuable lesson for you BOTH to learn now. It only gets harder the older they get. They keep testing and if they learn that crying or whining gets them what they want.. guess what... you'll be in for a LOT of temper trantrums.... get a head start now by teaching her to go to sleep on her own. And you will learn that a few difficult minutes NOW, can save a LOT of them down the road... Best wishes on some better sleeping at night for you both.

Answer 6

you must appear at how so much he sleeps throughout the day what's ti you supply him to drink throughout the night time and what do you supply it in do you speak to him while he wakes do you allow him out of the room or cot he sleeps in there are quite a lot of matters you might must difference deoending at the solutions take a look at preventing the beverages at night time all toegether i do know a few men and women are quite towards dummys but when it support there's no damage in them if he crys opt for him up calm him down then directly again into mattress no lighting on no speakme no factor be as uninteresting as you'll be and considering that you're so worn out you're typically uninteresting to him besides make certain he has a enormous drink earlier than going to mattress that means you already know he has had a drink and doesnt want an extra take a look at the step up milks might be he's hungry take a look at a few supper earlier than you weatabix or porriage hot custard there are quite a lot of matters you might take a look at you must tick them off while you see a difference seek tracy hogg the babay whisperer she has a few well hints to support get youngsters napping goodluck

Answer 7

If the bottle is working give it to her. You want your child to be comfortable. My eight year old never took a bottle at night, but still woke up at least once. My one year old does take a bottle at night and still wakes up. If it calms her and gets her back to sleep quickly try keeping a bottle warmer in the nursery. Then you have it on hand. Definitely check her teeth. THat could be a contributor.
From one sleepless mother to another. Good luck!

Answer 8

If she calms after a bottle than that is probably the problem. She use to it. You will have to let her cry it out, it's not easy to ignore he cries, but after two nights she will learn that crying isn't going to get her a bottle anymore and she will sleep thru the night. But she also might be cutting teeth..check her mouth.

Answer 9

you are right about her getting her teeth... you could put a teething ring in the crib (one that she will use) or try giving her a little more warm cereal before bed... if they are hunger pains this will coat her tummy a little better.
She could miss falling asleep next to your warm body. Babies don't like to feel their cold sheets after laying on mommy's warm breasts. She could be acting out to let you know she prefers the breast

Answer 10

I'm having the exact problem. I agree with victrona...