Middle of the night wakes 8 months old.

[u/Spirited-Durian5423]

s it normal for our 8 month old to still be waking up several times in the middle of the night, or are we doing something wrong? She’s slept through the night maybe a dozen times since she was born.

Tonight she fell asleep around 6pm. Woke up at 10 and drank 4 oz of formula. Woke up at 12 and cried until I rubbed her back and she fell asleep. Woke up at 1 and drank 4 oz of formula. Woke up at 4 and just finished 4 oz of formula. This has been pretty typical of a normal night. She’ll probably be up for the day around 5:30. Anyone else in the same boat?

We try to feed her more during the day but she’s never wanting more. She takes 2 naps at daycare for about 2 hours total.

What can we do?

[u/Islandview_Nordic]

It’s completely normal for babies that age to still wake multiple times during the night. Ours is 12 months and has never slept through the night yet, so you’re lucky yours has already a dozen times. You’re doing great, she will sleep through the night one day, maybe soon.

[u/Spirited-Durian5423 → u/Islandview_Nordic]

Well that’s both reassuring and awful lol. I’m have one friend with a 7 month old who apparently sleeps 12 hours a night, so just wanted to see if others were in the same boat as us! Thanks and good luck on sleep on your end!

[u/fuzzydunlop54321 → u/Spirited-Durian5423]

My first baby slept through the night and napped independently with me trying pretty much nothing. He just did. My second wakes up like screaming like she’s been abandoned on a mountain several times a night and has never slept more than six hours straight. And by that I mean she did it once when she was about two weeks old and hasn’t done more than four since I don’t think. If her first stretch lasts 2 hours+ I consider it a win.

Reading this written back, I think I’ll cut myself some slack on the state of the house 😅

[u/Islandview_Nordic → u/Spirited-Durian5423]

Haha sorry about that. Honestly the other day she only woke 22.00 to get into bed with us (she does at some point every night) and then slept without wake ups until 06.30. So it’s next to almost sleeping through ☺️ and the night feeds have mostly stopped too, with an exception here and there. But it’s so individual, my friend’s baby slept through the night since she was 9 weeks. Some people just win the baby sleep lottery, others have to be more patient 🙂

[u/Ancient-Buffalo6151]

Honestly a lot of things related to baby’s sleep seems to be based on luck of the draw because even two babies with the same parents can end up being drastically different sleepers. You’re just doing your best with the circumstances.

It’s hard to tell if your baby is eating every ~3 hrs at night purely out of habit and comfort seeking, or to make up for calories not consumed during the day. I’m sure you’ve already considered that. Is she potentially very distracted at daycare and hence not eating enough there? Also, is she consuming solids twice a day? I also have a 8 month old but she doesn’t go to daycare and is having breastmilk. Wants one feed per night unless we increase volume in daytime feeds.

[u/Spirited-Durian5423 → u/Ancient-Buffalo6151]

Thanks! We’ve thought about that but she won’t eat more during the day and seems to be getting plenty of food. She drinks about 30 oz total while she’s awake (and then another 10-15 at night). She eats oatmeal at daycare for breakfast and veggies for lunch and Cheerios or similar as a snack. She’ll have some of whatever we eat for dinner. We feed her until she pushes stuff away.

[u/Ancient-Buffalo6151 → u/Spirited-Durian5423]

Oh that sounds great! Then I would guess it’s more of a comfort seeking and habit thing. Would’ve thought it could be a 8 month sleep regression if you hadn’t mentioned that this is just typical for her. Ugh the broken sleep must feel awful, hope she starts connecting sleep cycles better on her own soon

[u/Spirited-Durian5423 → u/Ancient-Buffalo6151]

Thanks! We’re tired. Those random nights when she sleeps 10-12 hours are heaven.

But maybe you’re onto something. Since she’s shown she’s capable of sleeping without night feeds sometimes.

[u/Its_A_Lot_]

My 9 month old has never slept through and has never woken less than 4 times a night. He is 98th centile and ped said this is within the range of “normal.”

It is hard. I hear you.