Give up on the side-car? Nothing gets her to sleep anymore.

[Beauchamp]

I am pretty much ready to put the 4th side back on the crib and let her flop herself to sleep. Should I just give up on the side-car?

She doesn't nurse to sleep consistently anymore. And if she does nurse to sleep, it's really hard to slide her into the crib. She WON'T just be held and rocked in the chair. She pushes away when I stand and hold/sway/rock her. She'll cry and stay awake forever in the Ergo. She grabs at my hair and rolls sideway and cry when I bounce on the exercise ball. She'll flop all over the place in our king size bed and her side-carred crib, sometimes pulling up to stand and then getting all excited.

I know once I re-attach that fourth side I am going to regret it...right? I've gotta figure some reliable way to get her to sleep at night. It's DIFFERENT every. single. night. I wish I could have some semi-routine to rely on!

Anyone ditch the side-car??

[Louisep]

We went through a flopping stage and I think you should take heart...for us the flopping started when ds would no longer nurse to sleep, be bounced/ carried/ rocked to sleep. It marked the start of him falling asleep laying down. He still needed our help in the form of being cuddled and lain back down when he got up but eventually he learned the new way of things. It was a major breakthrough. We still cuddle him to sleep but now in the night instead of needing to be cuddled, he is rolling over and going back to sleep all by himself!!! I need to point out that at 7-9 months I was a breaking point mama. That time is so hard for poor sleepers. Flopping around also preceded milestones - can your LO walk? I'll bet she's either learning how to walk or how to settle herself to sleep given that your old methods no longer work. Seriously, the same thing happened to us. I'd say persist a bit longer and see what happens. Keep lying her down and cuddling or whatever she will allow you to do.

How many times a night does she wake? We're down to 2-3 from every 1-2 hours. Take hope mama!

[Beauchamp]

Well, that is encouraging! She will usually still nurse to sleep for naps, and occasionally DH has to wear her down in the Ergo. She can also (just recently) fall asleep (without screaming) in the car seat.

She can't walk without holding onto the sofa, but yes, she can hold on and "cruise" around. Sometimes the flopping "works", and sometimes she stands up, gets excited about holding onto her crib and seems to get all worked up. Or else she starts crying somewhat and I will keep trying to nurse her.

During the night I *think* she occasionally will resettle herself. I think. I am so tired that it's hard to remember the night once the morning comes!

At night now she wakes every 2 to 2 1/2 hours, and usually in the very early morning, somewhere around 5am, she wakes more frequently, anywhere from every 20 mins to an hour or two.

[rzberrymom]

Yeah, 8-9 months is a killer. This article really helped me understand what the heck was going on with my DD when she wouldn't settle, sometimes wouldn't nurse, sometimes wanted to be latched on all night, etc.

We used to just do whatever we could to get as much sleep that night--and often, as soon as we got it figured out, she'd switch things up and we'd have to try something new. If the crib works for now, I'd say go for it and just be prepared to try co-sleeping again if she goes through a phase where she needs more contact.

[justKate]

Does she flail her arms and kick to keep herself asleep? I have to hold down my sleep fighter to get her to relax. Spoon baby; place her arms along her sides; place my forearm over her arms/chest; brace for her struggling against me. Hold position for 15 min to an hour. Serves one.

I know what you're going through. I hope it gets better for you.