7 month old suddenly not sleeping

[Rainbow82]

Actually probably not the best title as he is sleeping fine but only while being held. DS has always been a fairly good sleeper but it's like someone flipped a switch and almost over night he has suddenly started waking every hour and screaming till he's picked up at which point he's straight back to sleep but the second we put him down he's crying again. I've tried waiting 20 minutes to out him down but he still wakes. It's the same for naps too now even though he's always been great with naps. It's taking an hour to settle him then he's awake 15 mins later. Let him sleep in our arms and he goes hours. The only way he has napped today is in the sling snd im currently running on less than 2 hours sleep broken into 15 minute chunks. I'm not willing to try CC or CIO but does anyone have any advice? Or even just that it is a phase that will pass quickly? Is there such a thing as a seven month sleep regression?

 

[staralfur]

Unfortunately infant (and even toddler) sleep isn't linear. My LO is turning 4 in the spring and she still goes through good and bad phases (mostly bad ). Honestly, I've learned to just do whatever works to get through the bad spots. If you can hold him for naps, hold him for naps. If he'll sleep next to you in your bed overnight then bring him to bed with you - even if he keeps waking you won't have to get up to resettle him.

 

[Button#]

Mine's doing the same, I'm just going with it. She naps in the sling and I co-sleep when she wont settle in her cot. Mine's teething and also going through a mummy phase, this is when they figure out that you can walk away. I don't intend to do any CC or CIO, my DS went through it and came out the other side.

 

[Rainbow82]

Thanks, guess I'll just go with it and possibly give co-sleeping a go as I've definitely got no intention of CC or CIO. I'm glad to hear he will come out the other side at some point, it does seem like he could be teething again too and he is getting unsettled when he can't see me or at least OH so think it could be that too. St least it makes a bit of sense to me now, I thought that would be a bit later.

 

[gingmg]

Hugs! Its so hard. We went through the same. My son has never really been a good sleeper but our worst sleep ever- by far- was 8-10 months. He was up every hour, sometimes twice an hour for weeks on end. I rememeber thinking "if he could just go back to waking up every two or three hours, I will never complain about sleep again". It was awful. We also didn't want to CIO or any other form of sleep training either, so we just rode it out. He started walking at 10 months and it got better after that. He still doesn't sleep through the night by any means, but he doesn't wake up every hour anymore. Its so hard when you are in it but it really does pass. I didn't believe it when people told me that, but its true. Do what you have to do to survive and know that this is a phase and will come to an end.

Is he about to crawl? My son's sleep also got especially bad right before a new skill and got better after he mastered the skill. If he is already crawling then maybe teething or separation anxiety?

 

[Rainbow82]

Thanks gingmg, I'm glad to hear that it got better for you, I think he is about to start crawling, he's trying really hard and he can do a backwards commando thing and grab things to pull forward. He's getting so frustrated with it bless him. I know what you mean about never complaining about every two to three hours, I think that would be luxury now lol.

 

[kellyc1987]

I'm going through the same thing with my 8 month old. Im thinking if it could be a sleep regression or teething. He has been crawling and cruising for a while but has only just started letting go when cruising so could be trying to master that.

I'm trying to do whatever I can to get through, luckily my mum is around to help at the moment so has been giving me an hour or so to sleep in the day because he is also a crappy napper.

Tried co-sleeping last night in bed but it didn't really work out, for us sleeping on the sofa with the back cushions taken off seemed to work last night as well as walking around with him rocking him back to sleep.

Tonight I've had one waking so far but a bum pat/back rub seemed to do the trick. Fingers crossed for everyone

 

[Rainbow82]

I'll keep my fingers crossed for a good night for you kellyc, it's nice that your mum is helping, we all need some help, I'm so grateful for OH right now taking him straight after work so I get an early evening nap and getting up with him at 6 and leaving me to sleep till 7.

 

[MindUtopia]

This is exactly what it was like with us through the first round of teething. It was like someone flipped a switch. She went from waking twice a night to waking hourly and being really inconsolable. It was much better once the teeth popped through. We also had a rough time around the time she started to crawl and stand. It wasn't so much hourly waking but taking two hours to fall asleep each time and being much more fitful. It's normal and it will pass, even though every time I think it won't. It does. Hang in there.

 

[kayleigh1985]

My DS is 7 months old and I mentioned he's sleeping (or lack of) to the HV when I got him weighed last week. She said 7 months is a horrible age because they're teething, trying to move and start to suffer from separation anxiety. Her advice was to do whatever you have to do to get through it and they'll eventually come out the other side. My DS has bad nights and better nights, can't remember the last time her slept through or had a 'good' night. We often end up with him in our bed because it gets to 4am and I'm too exhausted to get up anymore. You're not alone!