Ideas to get 9mth old to sleep through!

*Twinkle*

my 9 month old girl is my 3rd child, my other two were 'textbook babies', i fed them, changed them, played with them and they slept! little legs tho is a different matter so i'm asking you parents how can i get her to sleep through the night?
She goes to bed 7 to 7.30, she will sleep solidly til about 11pm then i'm in an out of bed all night with her, she will demolish 8 oz of milk during the night and then just be restless, wimpering and crying, not screaming though. we get up at about 6.30 ish and by 9am she will go back to sleep for 2 and a half, maybe 3 hours cos she is so tired!
i am shattered, i dont want to let her cry it out as my partner has a new job where her has to be up at 4.30 am so i dont want to disturb him, or the other kids.
She has never really slept through the night at all and i dread night time now.
i am currently expecting again and i really hope i can settle her before the new baby comes or i'll be a zombie!:eek:
all ideas welcomed please

bravobeastie

been a while since my 2 were that small so sorry if this sounds like a daft question, is she on solids yet? If she 'demolishes 8oz of milk' it sounds as though it isn't filling her up and she's waking up because she's hungry

euronorris

Your OH could wear earplugs, which would allow you to give the 'crying it out' method a go.

But, I'd be inclined to try and keep her awake as long as possible during the day (ie, try not to let her sleep for 2.5-3 hours in the morning), so that she will sleep through the night.

Óthers on here have a wealth of experience though, and will be able to help, I'm sure.

bravobeastie

also if she's restless, is she getting trapped wind?

*Twinkle*

yep, she's on solids and trying to keep her awake is a no no, she would sleep on the washing line!
once she wakes up at dinner, thats her lot til it's bedtime so she has say, 7 good hours of being awake.

bravobeastie

what are her sleeping arrangements like? is there a night light or is just dark? Would having something that 'smells like mum' in her cot help if she's waking up and missing you?

masonsmum

My little one just turned one in May and I was like you as my first had been a textbook baby with sleeping through and when my Health Visitor came to see me for his one year review I broke down in tears as I just could not get a full nights sleep.

So she said when my little one was waking through the night he should not be hungry with what he was eating during the day, she said maybe try a supper so some nights if I felt he hadnt had enough I would give him some cereal or toast with his last bottle.

But the Health Visitor said as long as I went to him and lifted him or gave him a bottle he would continue to carry on so we started CC (controlled crying)
One night it took, he woke at 3am looking for a bottle so I went in, gave him his dummy lay him back down and tucked him in, of course he cried and i left the room only returning every ten minutes to repeat the process and he eventually fell back over around 4.15am.

And that was it, he has slept right through ever since and that was 4 weeks ago. Hope this advice helps, it certainly makes a difference just to get a full night sleep - sending hugs xx

*Twinkle*

i agree, she shouldnt be hungry in the night and i think she takes the bottle just to settle , i give her it so she goes back to sleep, i know i should stop this but i am tired an i'll do anything for a bit of unbroken shut eye, lol.
ive read about controlled crying and would try it but like i say, i have 2 other kids i dont want disturbing and my partners job is very physical and 10 hours most days so i feel he needs to sleep as well,she is still in our room at the moment, i am however going to try it this weekend but keep the suggestions coming.
i take her for walks most nights before her bath in the hope that the sea air will tire her but she's a little rascal and nothing so far is working x

mummyroysof3

i sympathise as my 3rd is 3 now and still doesnt always sleep through..no suggestions though sorry xx

MrsC2be

What about introducing a bed time nursery song.. Play it before she goes over with her bottle and when she wakens during the night, put it back on so she knows that its still bed time - i would advise to only play it at bed time and not nap times cause this will cause her confusion... ? Like a musical mobile that hangs over the cot, but maybe in a winnie the pooh toy type... ? This will double as a cuddly toy.

I would try letting her stay up an extra hour at night and getting her some proper bed time supper. Maybe weetabix, or toast? This will make sure that she is not hungry..

*Twinkle*

i am going to try a supper tonight and see how that goes, she does have a toy with a light up tummy that plays a song,i always put that on for her but 9 times out of ten, as soon as i put her in the cot, she's out like a light. i guess i've just got a restless little girl