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Baby Development

Sleep Regression at 8 Months: Tips and Tricks to Cope

by DP Nguyen Leave a Comment

8 Months Sleep Regression

Getting a good night’s sleep is hard enough for any parent with a baby, but the sleep regression at eight months is killer. By eight months old, your baby most likely has established a good sleeping routine, has been sleeping great for months… and then BAM, he/she suddenly decides to shake up your world by NOT napping, NOT sleeping as well as he/she used to, fighting sleep. It’s rough!

It’s very common for sleep regression to occur at 4 months, 8 months, and 18 months old. These often occur in conjunction with developmental leaps. (Didn’t you notice that your baby made some major strides in development at 4-5 months and he/she was super fussy? That’s how it was with my baby.)

At 8 months, your baby’s probably going some mental or developmental leap, plus he/she is teething. For most babies at this age, they already have one or two bottom teeth, but soon the top teeth will be popping up. All of these changes can lead to one cranky baby.

What is sleep regression?

Sleep regression in babies is when a baby who was sleeping well suddenly changes his/her habits. Your baby will start to wake up several times in the night (whereas before, they may have sleep through the night). Your child may start waking up very early in the morning. Your baby who used to take long naps might start to only have cat naps or very short naps. Sometimes, your baby fights napping all together.

At 8 months, my baby who was a great sleeper, great self-soother started to scream every time we tried to put him down for a nap. When he would nap, he’d only sleep for maybe 20 minutes at a time and then be super cranky. He’d wake up every times in the night, whereas previously he’d only wake up once. Then he’d wake up at 3am and be awake for the day. It was very exhausting for us!

The 8 Month Sleep Regression

The 8 month sleep regression can occur anytime between 8 to 10 months. At this time, there’s a lot of brain activity and change. Your baby’s brain development is going through rapid changes. Your child may be learning to crawl, pulling up, making more language connections (with “mama” and “dada” sounds). Often, many moms find that sleep regressions occur when your baby is on the verge of a milestone.

So it’s good news… you’ll just be very tired during this stage of baby development.

8 Month Sleep Regression

So what’s an exhausted parent to do when their baby is going through a sleep regression? Here are some tips that may help you cope.

Change your sleep schedule. If your baby is waking up extra early in the morning, you may want to go to bed earlier so you can catch extra zzz’s. Go to bed at the same time as your baby, even if this means you’re in bed by 8pm. This way you’re more alert in the wee hours of the morning when the baby needs you. Also, take naps whenever your baby is napping. Sleep regressions are super exhausting, so you should get all the sleep you can get.

Give your baby extra feedings. During sleep regressions, your baby is going through major developmental changes and possibly growth spurts. He/she may need more to eat to help him/her sleep more soundly during naps and at night. A full tummy always helps babies sleep better.

Keep your routine the same – Try keeping your daily routine the same. Try putting your baby down for naps at the same time you used to. And make sure your baby has a calm, soothing nursery atmosphere. You may want to use a white noise machine to help him/her sleep.

Resist giving in to your baby. Although it’s tempting to always let your baby sleep in your arms, especially if he/she won’t self-soothe like he/she used to, you don’t want to start any bad habits that will be hard to break later.

If your baby needs a few more minutes of cuddling before you set him/her down in the crib, it’s okay to do that. Just be careful about not always nursing him/her to sleep, or always holding him/her to sleep. This can cause bad habits later on.

If you were doing sleep training, like cry it out, continue to practice that.

Don’t be embarrassed to ask for help. Sleep regressions are really hard and exhausting, so ask for your help if you need it. Maybe your best friend or mom can come over during the day, so you can catch an extra nap. Ask your partner to take shifts with you. Try to take care of your emotional and mental health during this hard period.

How long will the 8 month sleep regression last?

Fortunately, sleep regressions will go away in 1-2 months, no more than six weeks. It won’t be long before your baby who was sleeping well will go back to sleeping great. Just hang in there until then.

Filed Under: Babies, Baby Development Tagged With: Sleep Regression, baby development, baby developmental milestones

Teething FAQs – Age, Signs and Symptoms, and Remedies

by DP Nguyen 2 Comments

symptoms of teething

symptoms of teethingNearly all newborns are born with a gummy grin and no teeth. (In rare cases, 1 out of every 2,000 to 3,000 babies is born with teeth on their lower gum. These teeth are called natal teeth). Teething isn’t a developmental milestone that your baby hits all at once. It can take up to two or three years before your child has all his or her beautiful full set of baby teeth – 20 in total.

Teething – which is defined as the appearance of your baby’s first teeth through his or her gums – is a frustrating experience for babies and their parents. Teething can be painful and uncomfortable for your little one, and it can turn a perfect baby into a cranky, fussy, and drooling monster.

[Read more…] about Teething FAQs – Age, Signs and Symptoms, and Remedies

Filed Under: Babies, Baby Development Tagged With: Teething, baby development, baby teething, baby teething age, symptoms of teething, teething remedies, teething signs

Baby Milestone Chart (Infographic)

by DP Nguyen 4 Comments

baby milestone chart

From the time your baby is born, he or she will undergo dramatic change in the first two years of life. Your baby’s diet will change from breast milk (or formula) to solid foods, then finger foods, and so on. Your baby’s physical development will astound you. For example, you will love hearing your baby’s coos, his or her first words, and his or her first sentence.

I found this really impressive baby milestone chart – which will take you through your baby’s development month-to-month. You will learn how your baby’s dietary needs will change, his or her physical development, language development, and cognitive development. It is amazing how much a baby will change in the first two years of life.

And if you’re wondering how expensive a baby’s first year will be, this infographic also gives you an interesting view. For instance, did you know that in the first year alone, you will spend $2,000 in disposable diapers? And $1,700 in formula (if you don’t breastfeed).

Check it out, and let me know what you think!
[Read more…] about Baby Milestone Chart (Infographic)

Filed Under: Babies, Parenting, Baby Development Tagged With: baby developmental milestones, baby milestone chart, baby milestones, baby milestones first year, cost of raising a baby, raising a baby

Babies and TV – Why TV is Bad for Babies

by DP Nguyen 13 Comments

babies and TV

babies and TVShould babies watch TV?

Experts don’t think so, but parents with babies and small children still allow their little ones to watch the boob tube. Television fascinates babies and toddlers. They love watching it, and they’ll spend hours in front of the TV if you let them. The television is a “good” babysitter; it keeps babies and little ones occupied like nothing else.

But there’s a price for allowing your kids to watch TV – their language development, social and cognitive skills may suffer as a result. Here are the main reasons why TV watching is bad for your baby.

[Read more…] about Babies and TV – Why TV is Bad for Babies

Filed Under: Babies, Parenting, Baby Development Tagged With: babies and TV, baby watching TV

Overview of the Developmental Stages of Infancy

by Guest Writer 8 Comments

Guest Post by Joyce Brister.

While the first five years of a baby’s development is a period of incredible growth and learning, every baby is different and each develops at its own pace. Understanding the rapid developmental changes can help parents and primary caregivers provide a nurturing environment for the child.  Since a baby’s future begins even before birth, how parents deal with the baby’s development has effects that can last his/her entire lifetime.

All parents worry about their child’s growth and development, especially if the birth was difficult or the child developed a disability or chronic condition.  Although each child’s rate of growth is different, the patterns of growth have common denominators and are fairly predictable.  It is the timing of the stages of development that differ, even amongst siblings. For instance, many babies are walking by age one, but it is still considered normal to be walking anywhere from 9-16 months of age.

[Read more…] about Overview of the Developmental Stages of Infancy

Filed Under: Babies, Baby Development, Guest Posts Tagged With: baby development, baby milestones

Infant Sleep Linked to Growth Spurts in Babies

by DP Nguyen 6 Comments

infant sleep

infant sleepHas your baby started to nap more often? This may be a sign that a growth spurt is on its way. A new study has confirmed a longstanding theory – infant sleeping patterns are related to growth spurts in babies. This theory has never been proven until now.

According to a new research study in the recent issue of Sleep, babies who start to take more naps, or sleep for longer periods of time, are more likely to undergo a growth spurt within the next two days. So, if you think your baby has suddenly gotten bigger overnight, you might be right! [Read more…] about Infant Sleep Linked to Growth Spurts in Babies

Filed Under: Babies, In The News, Baby Development Tagged With: baby growth spurts, infant sleep

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