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How can I get my 8 month old to sleep through the night?

My 8 month old doesn't sleep longer than 4-5 hours at a time! Unfortunately the Cry it Out Method did not work like it did with my 20 month old. I don't know what to do!

Submitted by hthomesen

The three key things to help a baby sleep through the night is (1) set sleep schedule that includes an early bedtime, (2) a consistent bedtime routine, and (3) falling asleep independently at bedtime. If your little one needs your help to fall asleep, then start with just making changes at bedtime, taking small steps until he is able to fall asleep on his own. For example, if your little nurses to sleep, then a first step is to move his feeding to the beginning of his bedtime routine but still rock him to sleep. Once he can fall asleep easily without needing to feed, then put him in his crib to fall asleep but stay and pat him. A few days later, sit halfway across his room. Slow and consistent changes will usually do the trick. If he, however, seems to be in pain during the night, be sure and talk to your health care provider.

Answered by Dr. Jodi Mindell

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If your 8-month-old is sleeping 4-5 hours, it's probably hunger that's waking him or her up. Once your pediatrician gives the go-ahead for solid food, stuff them with it. The single-grain cereal in particular helps stretch a couple of hours. That should help, but if it doesn't, I have a pie chart of 4-5 other things it could be: http://get-your-baby-to-sleep.com/baby-wont-sleep

Submitted by dkoboldt

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I am the oldest of seven. Without realizing it, I learned how to get a baby to go to sleep from my mom. I had five children in seven years. The first two were fourteen months apart. After each one had been fed I put her, or him, in the baby basket wrapped in a baby blanket. I gave the babies a pacifier. When I checked on the baby few minutes later they'd be asleep. If they woke up again I'd check for a wet diaper and do the same thing. Buy two months they didn't want the pacifer. I moved them into a crib and covered them with a blanket. None of them ever fussed about going to sleep. When one of the daughters crawled out of bed. She would go to the stairs and slide down on her belly. We never heard her. She just stood in the doorway. When we finally did see her we'd take her back upstairs, give her a kiss goodnight and put her back to bed. Then I sat at the top of the stairs where she could see me. Eventially she laid down and went to sleep.

Submitted by raeannie

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Well, being a mother of five children, I found that I had to ensure that they went to bed at least an hour after they were fed. A child cannot sleep through the night (8-10 hours) if they go to bed on an almost empty stomach. So even if it is a warm bottle of milk before bedtime, that will help. and of course a bedtime routine.

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