My 9 month baby girl has started "sleep waking". She has always been a great sleeper and a great napper. She goes to bed at 7pm and now wakes 3-6 times during the night. Usually, I can get her back sleep giving her the paci and rubbing her back to calm her down. But, at least one time during the night she stays awake for an hour (at least). I give her the paci (expecting her to fall back asleep) but then she is standing up in her crib, smiling, looking around as if she is ready to start the day. Help! How do I get her to go back to sleep? I have trouble with the "cry it out" method. I am willing to try it - but if she gets really upset, I usually go in. Any other options to help her sleep through the night again? I have read that this may be part of seperation anxiety - but she is goes to day care each day usually without problems. If it is an issue of her being overtired, I should mention that she still takes 3-4 good naps per day. Thanks for any advice!
Thanks to everyone for responding! Now, I have a new question though. How do I reduce her naps? At her 9 month check up, I asked the pediatrician if she was taking too many naps. They said it was fine because she shows signs of being tired and sleeps through the night (until about a week ago). During the week, she takes a 1 hour morning nap and a 2 hour afternoon nap. Then, she sleeps about about 45 minutes when she gets home from daycare. On the weekends, she usually adds a short late morning nap. Prior to a nap, she rubs her eyes, yawns and starts to get a little fussy and she falls right to sleep - so I always thought she "needed the sleep".
I will work on the naps - but does anyone have suggestions of what to actually do at night? Do I rock her back to sleep? Or does that make it worse because she'll want that each time? Appreciate all of the advice!
A. K-
I personally do not have any suggestions. I sounds like you need a professional. I suggest you contact a women who they call the Sleep Lady. The website is www.sleeplady.com.
Good Luck!!!
Hi A.,
The only thing I can think of is that 3-4 naps a day is an awful lot for a 9mo baby. She should be settled in to about 2 good length naps a day by now. If she is sleeping and waking constantly throughout the day in her round of naps, then maybe she is just carrying that pattern over into night. Try to get her onto a 2 nap schedule. One morning nap and one afternoon nap should suffice and give her enough time before bed to get tired again. Babies her age need between 14-16 hours of sleep per day and if she's clocking a sizable amount of that time during the day then of course she will be restless at night. I think this is her body's way of telling you that she's ready for less naps. But this is just my opinion, you could always give it a shot and if it works, great, if not, then talk to your doctor.
Good Luck!
By nine months my daughter was only taking two naps. Morning longer than afternoon. If she took more naps, then her night sleep was affected. Maybe your daughter is under tired at night because she is taking too many naps during the day. My doctor told me at nine months, children are able to stay up for 4 hours. My daughter woke at 6:30 was back asleep by 10ish. Then down again for about an hour at 3 and back in bed by 7/7:30.
Hi A.,
Maybe she's getting to much sleep? You may try limiting her nap times during the day. Maybe just one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Hi!
I understand your concern about "cry it out". I felt that way too, but then I realized that I was actually making it worse by going in there. When I was giving up the last nighttime feeding, I just had to let him cry. It took awhile at first but less and less each night and now he might cry a little in the night but he can put himself back to sleep. It's so hard to listen to those cries, but I find that when it sounds the worst and loudest, it is nearest to him falling asleep. It's interesting because now when he cries, I can actually tell that he's listening to see if we're coming...he cries out and then is silent for a minute...once your daughter realizes that this is sleeptime, I think she'll be okay. And believe me when I tell you that he is still happy to see me in the morning (not mad at me for letting him cry). I don't think it has affected our bond at all. Good luck!
To me it sounds like she is getting too much sleep during the day. I personally would drop her down to 2-3 naps during the day.
Hope it helps!
You might try putting her to sleep a little later and when she wakes up bring her to bed with you. It is usually safe to sleep with your infant if you are concerned go to askdrsears.com for the specifics on how to sleep with your child safely. I believe everyone should sleep where everyone gets the most sleep. IF you are willing to try the cry it out method- which i know must break your heart-- why not try this. With taking her to daycare each day, sleeping with her could provide some extra quiet mommy time.
MY son is seven months old and he has been doing what you describe off and on since he was three months old. They are very similar. My son goes to bed about 7:30 and sleeps until 5:30, nurses, and goes back to sleep, usually until 8:00. During the day he takes 2-3 naps and is a generally very happy boy, BUT...he does wake up in the night and stay awake, babbling and blowing bubbles and such. My thinking is that it is ok as long as he eventually goes back to sleep, so I ignore it. I only go in, like you said, if he is in distress. My thinking is that we want them to be able to go to sleep on thier own, and this gives him some practice.
I don't think she is overtired, but she probably sleeps too much. Generally 2 naps at this age is the norm, but 3-4 is a lot. Try cutting out 2 of her naps and see if that works. Also, try not to be quick about going to her. You might find that she only fusses for a minute or two.
When my daughter was 9 months, she took 2 naps per day and was down to 1 nap per day at a year.
I think she is awake because she is rested.
Also, she might be getting confused as to night and day.
