The 8-10 Month Sleep Regression - tell me all about it - Page 3

[Terrilein]

Well, we've kinda regressed again. DS was doing better, but he got roseola and is currently not sleeping well at all again. It just bugs me that he has always been a crappy sleeper, no matter what. Not just the fact that it takes forever to get him down and that he won't sleep long, he is sooooo restless and noisy.

[LittleBirdy]

I'm starting to break down a little.  Feeling like I need to try something different, like maybe limiting night time nursing.  Right now it's an all night buffet, and the difficult part is DS is getting really tall so he's pushing my arm up over my head and it kills my shoulder.

Really my big question at this point is at what age is it okay to ask them to give a little?  I mean I'm obviously not going to go from cosleeping/unrestricted access to the boob to you must sleep alone in your crib and CIO but after 5 solids months of sleeping in 2 or 3 hour chunks I am so tired.  I work FT and it is beginning to affect my job performance.  I need to find some balance.

[ContentMama]

We are seeing some progress and some regress! Last night was rough. DS was up at 4, harassed me for about 2 hours, I tried everything other than getting up. Finally at 6 we went downstairs. And then he slept 6:30-9 (in the crib).

I have started to work on using the crib and ncss method of getting him to fall asleep on his own. We are a week into it and seeing some longer sleep chunks and I am able to put him down much sooner.

Then when he gets into the bed with me he is up every 1-2 hours. So I think I may work towards crib sleep for the whole night. Whatever works to get us both more solid sleep at this point and doesn't involve leaving him to cry is what I am going with! I'm starting to get resentful and angry about being woken up all night. And for some reason he cries every time he wakes up so I am continually startled all night :(

[LittleBirdy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ContentMama 

We are seeing some progress and some regress! Last night was rough. DS was up at 4, harassed me for about 2 hours, I tried everything other than getting up. Finally at 6 we went downstairs. And then he slept 6:30-9 (in the crib).

I have started to work on using the crib and ncss method of getting him to fall asleep on his own. We are a week into it and seeing some longer sleep chunks and I am able to put him down much sooner.

Then when he gets into the bed with me he is up every 1-2 hours. So I think I may work towards crib sleep for the whole night. Whatever works to get us both more solid sleep at this point and doesn't involve leaving him to cry is what I am going with! I'm starting to get resentful and angry about being woken up all night. And for some reason he cries every time he wakes up so I am continually startled all night :(

What exactly is the NCSS method of getting him to fall asleep on his own?  I have actually read the book but I don't remember - I think cause I read it when DS was younger so I was focused on the methods for younger babies??

[expat-mama]

I haven't posted here in a while. I've just been trying to deal with it all and live in complete denial that my nights are still pretty miserable.

Sorry to hear you are still suffering too, Terri and Littlebirdy.

DS had Roseola a couple of weeks ago too Terri. I was comletely taken off guard with it- I thought he was teething, but the fever was so high and then the rash appeared. I had no idea what was going on I just gave him tylenol for the fever and before I knew it he was better. Then I looked it up and found that it was Roseola. But yeah, those nights sucked.

Now DS really is teething so our nights are beyond terrible again.

When DS is not teething or sick our "normal awful" is him waking every 1-2 hours from 7 to 11 and then he wakes at 1:30, 3:30 and 5 like clockwork. At least he is predictable.

To make things worse (who knew it could be possible?) DS now fights every attempt that DH makes to take some of the pressure of me and soothe him to sleep. He only wants me and will ONLY nurse back to sleep.

We had some luck a while ago with only nursing DS down a couple of times a night which was so nice for me for DH to be able to help. But it seems that DS has caught on to our tricks and will just scream and scream until I come nurse him. Most of the time I don't even let DH try anymore because by the time he gives up DS is so worked up that it takes forever to nurse him down again.

DS is also soooo much more restless in his sleep now- we have to put him in his crib or he wakes himself up because he is rolling into us or into the wall at the top of the bed or we have to stop him from rolling off the bottom. He moves around and shifts so much he goes from one end of the crib to the other several times a night, flipping his own position too. Wherever he is, he usually ends up sleeping with his butt in the air which is pretty cute.

He's also been babbling (often yelling!) in his sleep or as he wakes up which is...amusing...jarring...annoying...and cute. Sigh.

DS is 10.5 months. Can I still call it the 8-10 month sleep regression??? Especially since he's been like this since 6 months old.

It can't go on for much longer...can it? I've given up hope that our summer holiday will be any sort of vacation at all. Just a continuation of my daily hell...in a different place.

Anyway, still here with you.

[Terrilein]

expat-mama - I totally hear you! That could almost have been my post except that my DP isn't here during the week to help out and on weekends he actually CAN get ds to fall asleep. I do put ds down in a pack'n'play in our room and bring him to bed when he wakes up. But he never settles back down. He spent all night tossing and turning again. I try putting him in the sidecar and he wakes up, fusses and crawls over to me. And then switchnursing until I swear he's sucked me dry. He did have a dirty dipe which I changed at about 3 am, but he still didn't settle down. Now I've just gotten dd off to school, I've got my coffee going and ds's gone down for a nap really early - before 9 am and we got up at 7:30 am. I should be napping with him, but now I'm up. If I'd known that he'd be going back down so fast, I would have skipped my coffee. And I'm wondering I just shouldn't cut out all caffeine for a while and see if that makes a difference. His best nap is normally his morning one - right after I've had a ton of coffee! - so I've never thought he'd be sensitive. I do drink coffee occasionally in the afternoon, too. Just a cup or two. But sometimes I'll have a Coke as well. So maybe that'll be my startup plan for the rest of the week. No more caffeine after my morning coffee (3-4 cups).

But yeah, can someone give us the lowdown on Pantley's method again? I do have the book, read it like 10 years ago, but don't have hardly any time to read it and it just feels like it meanders a lot instead of coming to the point. But maybe that's just my sleep deprived noodle.

[slgt]

Progress here! DD has gone from waking up hourly most of the night to sleeping long solid stretches - last night she slept 7:15-3:45!!! And then 4:15-6:15!!!!

The differences have been:

• We went from nursing all the way to sleep to nursing followed by walking around with her for 5-7 minutes. That worked MUCH better - nursing was just too exciting for her, and she wasn't falling back asleep.
• I started being more rigorous about returning her to her crib after nighttime feedings. At first I was bringing her into bed, nursing her/lying with her until she was asleep, and then moving her back to her crib. I think that's not working any more - if I bring her into bed any time after 4 a.m. she wants to play. This morning, I nursed her in the rocking chair and then walked her around, and she fell right back asleep.

DD was just too excited in bed with us, and I think also finding nursing too interesting. It took maybe 3 nights of hauling myself out of bed to walk around with her, and now she seems to really prefer it. She will even stop nursing on her own, and she nods of instantly when I start walking. It took a few months for me to figure it out, but she was telling us that bed was just too exciting - our movements and rhythms were waking her up, and being in proximity to milk was waking her up.

I am noticing a distinct difference in the way she sleeps, too. It took a few nights of her waking frequently in her crib, but, knowing that she is in her space, she now will settle herself down when she hits "light sleep". She doesn't wake up crying in her crib - she coos until I come get her and feed her. She also scrunches up on her belly and scootches until her head is against the edge of the crib. It's been amazing to see how quickly she learned how to be happy in her space!

There was no CIO or anything even close. For the first night or two, she fussed for maybe 2 minutes when I was walking in my arms, but then she would drop blissfully into sleep.

I think this is a variation on Pantley. Her guidance is basically, come up with a plan that involves:

1) teaching baby to fall asleep not nursing by unlatching every minute or so, until baby finally falls asleep and stops rooting and eventually learns to fall asleep without la booby.

2) coming up with a plan of gently helping baby to find comfort and security that does not involve hours of nursing and cuddling. I think she acknowledges that it may be a bit harder with baby in bed, because The Source is right there - she advocates turning over if baby is in bed, I think.

3) Consistency, consistency, consistency. Gentleness, gentleness, gentleness.

[LittleBirdy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slgt 

Progress here! DD has gone from waking up hourly most of the night to sleeping long solid stretches - last night she slept 7:15-3:45!!! And then 4:15-6:15!!!!

The differences have been:

• We went from nursing all the way to sleep to nursing followed by walking around with her for 5-7 minutes. That worked MUCH better - nursing was just too exciting for her, and she wasn't falling back asleep.
• I started being more rigorous about returning her to her crib after nighttime feedings. At first I was bringing her into bed, nursing her/lying with her until she was asleep, and then moving her back to her crib. I think that's not working any more - if I bring her into bed any time after 4 a.m. she wants to play. This morning, I nursed her in the rocking chair and then walked her around, and she fell right back asleep.

DD was just too excited in bed with us, and I think also finding nursing too interesting. It took maybe 3 nights of hauling myself out of bed to walk around with her, and now she seems to really prefer it. She will even stop nursing on her own, and she nods of instantly when I start walking. It took a few months for me to figure it out, but she was telling us that bed was just too exciting - our movements and rhythms were waking her up, and being in proximity to milk was waking her up.

I am noticing a distinct difference in the way she sleeps, too. It took a few nights of her waking frequently in her crib, but, knowing that she is in her space, she now will settle herself down when she hits "light sleep". She doesn't wake up crying in her crib - she coos until I come get her and feed her. She also scrunches up on her belly and scootches until her head is against the edge of the crib. It's been amazing to see how quickly she learned how to be happy in her space!

There was no CIO or anything even close. For the first night or two, she fussed for maybe 2 minutes when I was walking in my arms, but then she would drop blissfully into sleep.

I think this is a variation on Pantley. Her guidance is basically, come up with a plan that involves:

1) teaching baby to fall asleep not nursing by unlatching every minute or so, until baby finally falls asleep and stops rooting and eventually learns to fall asleep without la booby.

2) coming up with a plan of gently helping baby to find comfort and security that does not involve hours of nursing and cuddling. I think she acknowledges that it may be a bit harder with baby in bed, because The Source is right there - she advocates turning over if baby is in bed, I think.

3) Consistency, consistency, consistency. Gentleness, gentleness, gentleness.

I am so glad that you are all getting some sleep!  That is wonderful news.  Hopefully the rest of us are right behind you.  Just curious, is the crib in your room?  Sidecarred?  What's your setup?  I know my movements wake DS but I can not for the life of me nurse him to sleep and then set him down, he wakes every time.  I have been thinking about sidecarring the crib so that I can still roll away but he will be in his own space.  I think I need to dig out NCSS and try to read it again.

DS slept about average last night, but I had horrible insomnia and was up until 2:00 a.m.!  Boo.  How can someone this tired possibly have insomnia?

[ContentMama]

What exactly is the NCSS method of getting him to fall asleep on his own?

It's the 'get baby to sleep in the crib on their own' or something. She has steps, I think like 6 total. The first step which we've been doing is to get ds asleep and put him in the crib just when he closes his eyes. I've been timing it 1 minute after he closes his eyes and putting him down then. Usually he rolls on his side and I keep both my hands on him rocking and occasionally light shushing for about 3-5 minutes. The next step will be to do the same when he is drowsy and about to close his eyes. Haven't had the bravery or endurance for it quite yet!

Oh I just wanted to add that when I first read what to do, I was like 'there is no way this will work'. The first night I put down/picked up 8 times! And the 8th I just put him to sleep as usual. The next night it was 3 times and then I put him to sleep as usual. The 3rd night I skipped the technique totally and the 4th he actually fell asleep in the crib. Now he knows what I am doing and sometimes is resistant, sometimes ok.

[Terrilein]

Originally Posted by ContentMama 

It's the 'get baby to sleep in the crib on their own' or something. She has steps, I think like 6 total. The first step which we've been doing is to get ds asleep and put him in the crib just when he closes his eyes. I've been timing it 1 minute after he closes his eyes and putting him down then. Usually he rolls on his side and I keep both my hands on him rocking and occasionally light shushing for about 3-5 minutes. The next step will be to do the same when he is drowsy and about to close his eyes. Haven't had the bravery or endurance for it quite yet!

Oh I just wanted to add that when I first read what to do, I was like 'there is no way this will work'. The first night I put down/picked up 8 times! And the 8th I just put him to sleep as usual. The next night it was 3 times and then I put him to sleep as usual. The 3rd night I skipped the technique totally and the 4th he actually fell asleep in the crib. Now he knows what I am doing and sometimes is resistant, sometimes ok.

wow! keep the success stories rolling, ladies! I mean I know that it does get better. My dd is proof. But darn, if this isn't a long and drawn out battle.
 

[HeckedyPeg]

Originally Posted by expat-mama 

To make things worse (who knew it could be possible?) DS now fights every attempt that DH makes to take some of the pressure of me and soothe him to sleep. He only wants me and will ONLY nurse back to sleep.

We had some luck a while ago with only nursing DS down a couple of times a night which was so nice for me for DH to be able to help. But it seems that DS has caught on to our tricks and will just scream and scream until I come nurse him. Most of the time I don't even let DH try anymore because by the time he gives up DS is so worked up that it takes forever to nurse him down again.

DS is also soooo much more restless in his sleep now- we have to put him in his crib or he wakes himself up because he is rolling into us or into the wall at the top of the bed or we have to stop him from rolling off the bottom. He moves around and shifts so much he goes from one end of the crib to the other several times a night, flipping his own position too. Wherever he is, he usually ends up sleeping with his butt in the air which is pretty cute.

He's also been babbling (often yelling!) in his sleep or as he wakes up which is...amusing...jarring...annoying...and cute. Sigh.

I could have written this! It's exactly what happens in our house (bed) too! I have had little luck getting DS in the crib (which I've positioned right next to the bed), but I'm starting with naps and hopefully he can at least start the night in the crib. We have a gaurd-rail on one side of the bed and he's been pulling himself up on it, which terrifies me.

I have a copy of NCSS as well, I think I'll be reviewing it after reading all this progress! I have found that being more consistent with naptimes during the day make him more receptive to the nap and tired at night. Schedules are good things .... :)

[sk8boarder15]

Wow that 46 week one discribes M to a TEE right now!! He just started putting things in other things (super cute) but his sleep is a MESS, he's super clingy, and he's very upset a lot. But all the sudden he learned so many new things, and a big part of it, is putting things together, in things, on top of things. 

http://www.thewonderweeks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=62:mental-leap-7&catid=36:mental-development-during-first-two-years&Itemid=159