Help with sleeping problems

**happyday** · 16-05-2008 19:26

Hi All
I have an 8 month old daughter who is a terrible sleeper. She has never slept through the night (I go to bed everynight hoping!). She only sleeps a max of 20-30 mins 2 x day and at night she wakes every 2 hours. I think its because she doesnt know how to self settle. I have tried Tizzie Hall's Save Our Sleep technique but to no avail. It was also very traumatic as i didnt enjoy listening to her scream for 18 mins!! we tried for 4 days but she got worse rather than better...i couldnt go near her room without her getting upset.
Has anyone had/got similiar problems????
Thanks

**LadyGrey** · 16-05-2008 21:16

i had similar problems. my dd is now 9 months old and has only just started sleeping better.. after lots of help from our CHN and my friends IRL and girls on BH.

i would suggest going to see your CHN. the thing that worked the best for us was resettling during her day sleeps if she woke up after less than an hour.

also when is her last milk feed for the day? are you giving her a roll over feed at 10pm? thats helped us also.

believe me, you're not alone!! i think its more common than not too have a bad sleeper!!

HTH!

**nicoleE** · 16-05-2008 21:31

Come to the Sleep/Settling section and you will find that you are not alone.

My 7 month old DD sleeps about 30 minutes about 3 times a day and is currently waking every 2-3hrs (didnt used to be that bad) overnight.

I also suggest you read Elizabeth Pantley's 'The No Cry Sleep Solution' if you would like to try some gentle techniques to helping them self settle and sleep without controlled crying.

**ZooKeeper** · 16-05-2008 23:10

My DD went thru a stage from about 5MO until just short of 11MO of waking nights every hour or two, and really short unreliable day sleeps. it was horrible, and still aint brilliant but now she is sleeping better nights and one good nap per day thanks to lots of extra food, lots of extra active fun and direct engagement, solid peaceful home routines, heaps of fresh air and bushwalking, really putting almost everything else in my life aside to get it right. worth it though as she's heaps happier and easier to settle except at 4am. she's just short of 12 MO btw.

not getting good daynaps from her was worse than the nights in a way as i could never get anything much done. now she often naps for two hours straight from late morning, it is bliss!