btdt mamas: is 8 months just tough???

[red and lulu]

dd is 8 months and seems like a completely different child.

i guess i know that she's just going through a lot (crawling, teething, she was sick, etc.) but i just need some reinforcement that this will pass... or fair warning that this sleepless, impatient, irritable, clingy little sweetie is here to stay. she's always been such an easy going baby — not fussy, comfortable with everyone, content to play by herself for tiny bits of time. now she only wants me, never wants to be put down, cries constantly, hardly sleeps. i vacillate between being frustrated with her and feeling like an incompetent mother. and it's causing some friction b/n me and dp b/c he thinks i'm wearing myself out and spoiling her by trying to constantly keep her happy and thinks we need to start letting her cry more — which i am not comfortable with at all

this will pass, right?

[AFWife]

Yes and No.

If it's teething, development, etc... related than you'll probably cycle through it again. When DS got his first two teeth (one right after the other in one week) I was at your point. Then, I got a month of my happy, carefree baby...and now he's teething again (and I had dairy and upset his allergies) so he's cranky and clingy.

If the weather is okay I recommend lots of walks. If you have a cell phone take that with you and call friends/family while you're out. Sometimes the fresh air and change of scenery can help a lot. Also, get your DP to take you out ANYWHERE during the week if you're a sahm. Even if it's just to walk around the grocery store, mall, park, etc... You and your DS will fare better if you get out of the house. (If nothing else YOU will do better)

So yeah, it will probably pass...but it may cycle back. And, as uncomfortable you are with letting her cry, I've found that lately DS is throwing screaming fits just for the sake of screaming. So, while I don't lock him in a room and let him CIO, I don't run to him the second he starts up if he's just frustrated.

[penstamon]

I feel for you. My 8 mo DS has been going through a similar phase- his horrendous sleep has actually gotten worse and he generally only wants mommy, even when someone else was fine to play with a second before. He wants to move about and do his own thing, but then gets mad at me for being far away! He did just get his first two teeth in the past two weeks too.

I don't let DS cry if he's really upset, but I do let him fuss if he is just complaining. This phase is out of character for DS and he has had periods like this before, so I hope for both of our sakes that this does indeed pass soon!

[Norasmomma]

My DD had a nap strike at 8 months, cut in 6 teeth in one week, and turned into a total crank-yeah it was rough for us.

Oh and I highly recommend the Wonder Weeks book, it explains developmental milestones and rocky periods associated with them-good stuff, it's been spot on for DS.

[LadyCatherine185]

8 months was the WORST time for us, sleepwise and fussiness-wise. DS was always a fussy baby, but around 8 months it peaked. Once he started walking around 9.5 months, he became MUCH happier and has been a different baby ever since. Still doesn't sleep well, but, we get 2 hour stretches now instead of 30 minute ones that we got at 8 months.

[_betsy_]

8 months has been surprisingly difficult for both babies. Some babies come through it and go back to their easy self, others seem to just lessen the difficulty some but are never the easy baby they once were. Seperation anxiety tends to hit big time at 9-10 months, and that's really, really hard.

Hang in there, Mama!

[atlantafemme]

You described my DS exactly when he's cutting a tooth--which he just did for the 2nd time at 10 months. Hang it there! It passes--at least in our house.