8 month old won't sleep past 5 or 5:30am?

Question

Any suggestions as to how to get him to sleep later? He's tired again by 7:30 or 8am. He goes down for the night by 7:30pm and is exhausted by then. Usually takes at least 1 and usually 2 good naps during the day (AM and PM) and he isn't hungry right away when he wakes in the morning.

Answer 1

DO NOT put him to bed later without making up the extra sleep somewhere. An over tired baby will not sleep as well or as long as a well-rested one. It sounds strange, but it's true. There is a chemical (melatonin) secreted during sleep that helps to regulate a baby's sleep cycles. If they don't get enough sleep, then they won't sleep as well. So, if you're going to put him to bed later, you'll have to make up that sleep during the day, whether it's longer naps, or a short cat nap in the evening.

My baby (six months) doesn't nap well (2 forty-five minutes ones if I'm lucky), and is usually tired by 5pm. Instead of keeping her up until six, when she's cranky and miserable, I let her take a cat nap of about 45-60 minutes, and then when she wakes up we do dinner, bath, etc. and I put her down between 7pm and 730pm. (Yes, she usually doesn't have more than an hour between her last nap and bedtime. Shocking!) I don't know your baby's exact schedule, but if he's completely exhausted by 730pm, perhaps you could do something where you give your baby a "cat nap" around 6/630, wake him forty-five-sixty minutes later and put him to bed around 8-830. His total sleep wouldn't necessarily change, but the times when he sleeps (and, hence, wakes) might change. It might be worth a shot, although it will take probably three days to a week before his circadian rhythms readjust.

If he absolutely won't cat nap, you could try to slowly move his nap times(and any other "set" activities, like feedings, baths, etc) a bit later (about ten minutes later for a few days, then ten minutes more, etc), until he's used to napping an hour later, then, hopefully, going to sleep a little later and sleeping a little later.
The goal is to NOT change the amount of sleep he's getting, esp. since you've said he's exhausted by the time he does go down.

If you're feeling really brave, try putting him down at 7pm without changing anything else. Strange as it sounds, my baby often sleeps later when I put her down at 7pm than at 730pm if she seems tired. If he starts waking up earlier, I'd stop and try something else, obviously, but your baby might surprise you

Good luck; I wish I could give you the magic cure, but every baby is different, and I know there's no perfect answer I could give. I hope some of this might help.

Answer 2

We had the same problem with our daughter (now 12 months). We let her take a cat nap after we pick her up from daycare - 15 minutes to 1/2 hour at about 4:30-5pm. This is usually when we are picking her up from daycare anyways, so she slept in the car on the way home and then while I was starting dinner. This left her refreshed but not completely rested. Then we still did the bedtime routine at 7:30pm. She sleeps in until about 7 or so most mornings.

Remember that an 8 month old still needs sleep about every 3 hours.

Answer 3

You've got to read HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS, HAPPY CHILD by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. It is the BEST sleep book.

In the book, he says to not wait until the child is tired before putting them down for the night. Maybe try to put him down a little earlier. He states that a child who sleeps better will sleep longer. It is so true. I have used this book with my daughter (now 5) since she was 5 months old and it is a wonderful method. Tried and true. It works.

Answer 4

Try darkening his room. But sometimes 8 to 10 hrs. is all they need. You may have to suffer until he kicks one of the naps. I can tell you this...once he starts to walk, he'll be more tired and may sleep for you. Give it two more months. Good luck. Unfortunately, it may not get easier until much later.

Answer 5

Try keeping him up as late as you can and do this for at least a week. He will eventually get in the habit of sleeping in late. Also, make sure between his naps he only sleeps a total of 2 hours during the day.

Answer 6

Change his schedule. Try to get him to go to bed at about 9. And it's okay for a baby to wake up for an hour or two and take a nap. My son does that sometimes, too.

Answer 7

Put him to bed later around 8:30-9:00!!! Good luck!!

Answer 8

Try to keep him awake later at night. Even though he's really crabby, it will help him sleep later. And try to wait till a little later at night to feed him also. Most babies get extremely tired after just eating. Hope this helps.

Answer 9

try making his afternoon nap an hour later and putting him to bed at eight thirty good luck .

Answer 10

try 2 keep the child up 4 an extra hour and half the at night if your child has start to eat cereal give that a half hour be4 you hem or her to bed