9 Month Old Baby Won't Sleep

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9 Month Old Baby Won't Sleep

by Sara
(Fort Wayne, IN)

My 9 month old daughter has never been a sleeper but it seems as she gets older she sleeps less and less at night. She wakes up almost every 2-3 hours wanting to eat.

I've tried giving her less food, giving her water, giving her a pacifier, a bedtime routing, letting her cry herself to sleep. Nothing works. I NEED SLEEP!!!! What can I do? Any advice. Any other tricks?

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9 Month Old Baby Won't Sleep

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May 04, 2009

9 Month Old Won't Sleep
by: Baby Help Line

I can imagine how tired you must be. Here are some things you can try. Try to limit her naps in the day time. Try not to let her nap after 5:00pm. Give her a warm bath before her last feeding. You may want to try some cereal before her last feeding. I would put 2Tbls of cereal in 8oz of formula for my sons last feeding. You can also keep her room just a little cooler than normal this sometimes helps little ones sleep. If she is still waking up very often then you may want to tell your pediatrician.

Best Wishes, LIZ

May 13, 2009

9 month old wont sleep all night
by: Anonymous

I have a 9 month old & he will not sleep at night. He wakes up we leave him to cry but he just keeps crying until we bring him into bed. We would just love for him to start sleeping all night.

May 26, 2009

9 month old baby girl won't sleep!
by: 1st time Mommy

My 9 month old will not sleep through the night she gets up 4-5 times a night. We have tried to let her "cry her self to sleep" but all she ends up doing is throwing up on herself in frustration. I have tried cereal, cooler room, letting her fall asleep herself...everything! I don't know what to do!

May 27, 2009

Separation anxiety
by: Baby Help Line - Paula

Hi,

You know, at the age of 9 months old, many babies tend to have quite a strong separation anxiety. They have figured out that they are their own persons, separate from their moms, and that really scares them.

Hence they want to be close, be carried, be in the same room, and become incosolable if left alone in the bed.

Using the cry it out method is very likely to just make things worse at this age. Instead, trying to respond to this little person's needs, by really letting him or her be close is a much more effective way to make teh anxiety go away.

There have been studies showing that babies that are held a lot become independent faster. I guess they gain the security they need to face the world again.

I know it is exhausting! I was about to snap when my daughter woke up every hour at this age. Take turns to cudle your baby, consider co-sleeping part of the night if necessary and remember to let dad help out at night too.

It will pass! ANd faster if you try to respond to the little terrorist's needs. ;-)

Hope this helps a little bit!

Paula

May 28, 2009

Speical way to make your baby sleep
by: Anonymous

I have a 9 month old baby too. She always wake up at night time before but she sleep better now after
I give her one more pillow. You can try wear a t-shirt for a day ( of course don't make it so dirty ). Take off your T-shirt, put the pillow
inside and put next to your baby. It's work for me but I don't know can help you or not. Wish you can have a good sleep soon!

Jul 12, 2009

Babies are not designed to sleep like adults
by: Claire

Thank heavens for people like Paula offering sensible advise.

Babies are not designed to sleep through the night (which technically is classed as 5 hours, sorry to disappoint those that are wanting the magic 7pm - 7am)

My first baby woke every 2 hrs until he was almost 2yrs. we bed shared and I was far more rested than many of my fellow Mums who paced the floorboards or who tried cry-it-out only to then have to calm down a very upset baby.

My second baby (9mths old) is a much better sleeper and only wakes a couple of times a night. It's his nature nothing I have done. I too bed share with him as it's wonderful and gives him all the closeness and security he needs to develope into a happy and secure person.

Accept that your baby needs to wake for comfort, reassurance, food or just to practice a new skill and embrace what ever makes your baby happy. Accept that sleeping through the night at such a young age is a myth, stop putting so much pressure on yourself to achieve the impossible and you will enjoy what little sleep you get so much more.

And if the woman down the road boast her baby sleeps all night, take it with a pinch of salt, when you dig the reality is often quite different.

Aug 30, 2009

Bed Sharing
by: Sandra

I bed share too and was starting to wonder if I was doing the right thing. I can't imagine leaving my child to cry it out. what purpose that serves other than to give my self more sleep (supposedly) is beyond me.
After reading the posts, I know that I'm doing the right thing.
My 9 month old started doing better by going about 3-4 hours, but now he is back to his old antics. I guess I have no choice but to deal with it.
All a part of being a mom.

Sep 05, 2009

any ideas??
by: Emma

hi,my 9 month old hardly ever sleeps..its hard work trying to get her to nap during the day and in the night she wakes every 2hours and sometimes she wont drink her milk or water so it makes it more difficult for me to try and get her back to sleep which takes up to an hour sometimes(this is a killer at 2am)she has never drunk more than 4oz of her milk and it can take her half an hour to drink this she is lovely but very frustrating.
i put her to bed about 6 after a bath she has her milk and drifts off so as i leave the room she screams until she gags so i have to bring her down stairs.once she finally falls asleep she wakes all the time and from 4:30am that's it i have no hope she doesn't go back to sleep and i have to get up and wont sleep again till like lunch time!she shares a room with me as i only have a 2bed house and my son has the other room i didnt know if is the problem and she has got to clingy to me??
any ideas
thanks...a very tired mummy

Sep 08, 2009

My 9 month wont sleep
by: Bridie

I am so pleased i found this page!
i thought it was just me suffering from a baby that wont sleep. Hes 9 months now, i think his teeth are on the move so at the moment he sleeps from 9pm to around midnight, then im up every hour with him. I think it is a little bit of seperation anxiety as well because as soon as ive picked him up he settles back down, until i place him back in the cot that is!!! But is it bad that hes NEVER slept through (more than four hours......)
Ive never been so tired. But hes my little man so i forgive him as soon as i get a gummy smile :) xx

Sep 21, 2009

9 month will no longer sleep by himself. HELP!!
by: Anonymous

I am so happy to have found this site, I could cry. I have a 9 month old son, who has suddenly decided that he will not sleep in his crib, and that he can't sleep without me snuggling him. These last few weeks have been so hard. My husband and I co-slept with him until he was about 6 months. He seamlessly transitioned to sleeping in the crib. We could lay him on his belly, turn the lights out, shut the door and he would go to sleep all on his own. When he turned 8 months he learned how to stand up in the crib, this is where our problems began. We would lay him down, only for him to stand back up. However, when he grew tired of standing, he would lay himself down and drift off to sleep. Now, we lay him down, and he stands up and wails (this happens nap and bed time). Just to see if we could wait him out, we let attempt to cry himself to sleep. This didn't work. It's like a battle of wills with this kid. He cried for nearly 2 hours! (I of course when in periodically to try to calm him down, but refused to take him out the crib) After 2 hours, we gave in. The moment I took him out the crib and laid him in bed with me, he was fast asleep. It has gotten to the point now where if I move to get up, he get's up too. For example, he was sound asleep the other night, snoring and all. I got up to use the bath room. When I shifted to get out the bed, he shifted in my direction. When I got up, with eyes still closed, he sat up too. I am at my wits end. For the life of me, I can't understand what has happened. He has gone from sleeping by himself, to my not being able to move without him waking. I need HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sep 21, 2009
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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I am so happy to have found this site, I could cry. I have a 9 month old son, who has suddenly decided that he will not sleep in his crib, and that he can't sleep without me snuggling him. These last few weeks have been so hard. My husband and I co-slept with him until he was about 6 months. He seamlessly transitioned to sleeping in the crib. We could lay him on his belly, turn the lights out, shut the door and he would go to sleep all on his own. When he turned 8 months he learned how to stand up in the crib, this is where our problems began. We would lay him down, only for him to stand back up. However, when he grew tired of standing, he would lay himself down and drift off to sleep. Now, we lay him down, and he stands up and wails (this happens nap and bed time). Just to see if we could wait him out, we let attempt to cry himself to sleep. This didn't work. It's like a battle of wills with this kid. He cried for nearly 2 hours! (I of course when in periodically to try to calm him down, but refused to take him out the crib) After 2 hours, we gave in. The moment I took him out the crib and laid him in bed with me, he was fast asleep. It has gotten to the point now where if I move to get up, he get's up too. For example, he was sound asleep the other night, snoring and all. I got up to use the bath room. When I shifted to get out the bed, he shifted in my direction. When I got up, with eyes still closed, he sat up too. I am at my wits end. For the life of me, I can't understand what has happened. He has gone from sleeping by himself, to my not being able to move without him waking. I need HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Sep 28, 2009

9 month old won't sleep AT ALL!!1
by: Anonymous

Ok, my 9 month old baby girl has never been a good napper, but pretty decent at night (from 12:00am-7:30am) Anyway, last night was the worst.. Up at 4:00am no napping all day no matter what, And refusing sleep, just finally went to sleep at 11:45am. I can barely stay awake for 19 hours without crying and she has been playing ALL day, no fussiness, nothing.. I'm going to call my dr tomm... but VERY concerned.

Oct 01, 2009

my nine month old baby won't sleep
by: First time mom

My baby does not nap very well throughout the day and then wakes up more than four times during the night to suck on my breasts. On top of it she cries for everything and has my senses frayed when I am home with her all day. She naps for only twenty minute approximately.

I have decided to wean her as of today since I also teach and this breast sucking all night is draining me. Tonight I also allowed her to cry herself to sleep. Her daddy and I took turns reassuring her and she has been asleep for almost two hours now.

I wonder what I am doing wrong with her?

Oct 09, 2009

9 month old baby should need more sleep!
by: Sharon

I now know that I am not crazy! Who finally has answers? I read a lot of issues, but I saw no responses on how to deal with it. I am so tired and do not know how to convince her that she and mommy needs sleep!!

Oct 13, 2009

I'm in the same boat
by: Anonymous

Thank goodness I am not alone. My little guy became a wonderful sleeper at just 3 months of age - we could put him down awake but tired and he would magically drift off on his own. Of course when he was very small he would nap on me and I would enjoy the snuggles.

Lately he is just the opposite. He is just 9 months now and the last few weeks have been horrible with his sleep. I think it's a combination of a few things - teething, growth spurt, separation anxiety and the fact that he is very mobile (crawling and standing up). Poor guy, so much going on. When we put him down at night he crawls right over, stands up and screams. It's almost like he just wants to keep going or is afraid of missing anything.

I too tried to let him cry for a while but that just escalated him to such a state. He's so overtired at times that doesn't help matters either. For now I have resorted to many more hugs, some occasional naps on me (though he is getting far too heavy for that) and disturbed nights. I'm assuming that this won't be a permanent thing and as with most of his scheduling - the ball seems to be in his court.

Oct 20, 2009

Mine wont sleep either!
by: Anonymous

By two weeks old she was sleeping in her crib in her own room. I would get up every 2 hours to breastfeed and she would fall asleep in my arms. Then we started bottle propping. From about 3 weeks of age on, she has needed that food in her sleep. My daughter from then on (now at nine months) eats a 9oz bottle with 3 scoops of cereal and 2 scoops of formula maybe a total of 2-5 times a night, and they are bone dry when i go back in there. she sadly requires pure silence as well. Her hungry cry is very distinct. She also does 20+ diapers a day as well as feeds 4 jars of food and a bottle every hour and a half throughout the day.

I am convinced that I am in a position similar to yours. I figure once she's a bit older and can understand me saying the word "sleep" and all that it entails, she will obey. As for right now, this is it. There is no crying it out. There is no rocking her (she hates being cuddled and rocked. shes more of a bouncer). Any noise when sleepy including my own voice infuriates her. Any touch no matter how soothing she tried climbing up my arm to scream/cry 'hunger' right in my face. Shes fiercly independent, but if she needs that bottle and diaper change she'll tell me. Age and being able to understand further how to do as she is told is the only logical choice i see. According to her physical therapist she is very tiny but has muscle development typical of a child four to six months older than her.

Another note: Mine is walking, babbling 'da da's and has 4 top teeth and three on bottom. 1st time mommy

maybe once all the teeth come in? *crosses fingers*

also have brought up the frequent hunger and urination to the pediatrician and have been waved off as if its no concern; but i know better. am sure that as a child develops and grows more, these phases will play themselves out.

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Oct 20, 2009
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Submitted by: Anonymous

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By two weeks old she was sleeping in her crib in her own room. I would get up every 2 hours to breastfeed and she would fall asleep in my arms. Then we started bottle propping. From about 3 weeks of age on, she has needed that food in her sleep. My daughter from then on (now at nine months) eats a 9oz bottle with 3 scoops of cereal and 2 scoops of formula maybe a total of 2-5 times a night, and they are bone dry when i go back in there. she sadly requires pure silence as well. Her hungry cry is very distinct. She also does 20+ diapers a day as well as feeds 4 jars of food and a bottle every hour and a half throughout the day. I am convinced that I am in a position similar to yours. I figure once she's a bit older and can understand me saying the word "sleep" and all that it entails, she will obey. As for right now, this is it. There is no crying it out. There is no rocking her (she hates being cuddled and rocked. shes more of a bouncer). Any noise when sleepy including my own voice infuriates her. Any touch no matter how soothing she tried climbing up my arm to scream/cry 'hunger' right in my face. Shes fiercly independent, but if she needs that bottle and diaper change she'll tell me. Age and being able to understand further how to do as she is told is the only logical choice i see. According to her physical therapist she is very tiny but has muscle development typical of a child four to six months older than her. Another note: Mine is walking, babbling 'da da's and has 4 top teeth and three on bottom. 1st time mommy maybe once all the teeth come in? *crosses fingers* also have brought up the frequent hunger and urination to the pediatrician and have been waved off as if its no concern; but i know better. am sure that as a child develops and grows more, these phases will play themselves out.

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Oct 22, 2009

My baby won't sleep
by: Anonymous

My almost 9 month old daughter won't sleep at night, we have a night time routine and she goes to sleep just fine after I rock her. She will sleep for a few hours, and then wake up like its party time. I giver her the pacifier but never a bottle. It take a while for her to go back to sleep. I've tried letter her cry it out, but since she shares a room with me and my husband. The letter her cry it out really does not work for us. I don't know what else to do. I need sleep.. HELP!!!

Oct 25, 2009

In the same situation
by: Cynthia

Hi to all,

What a wonderful page with lots of support. My son is almost 9 months old and I have been struggling with his sleep patterns for months. I am a single mother, first baby, and he has been sleeping with me since day one, except during daytime naps when he sleeps in his crib. I went through the 8 week colic phase which is how the co-sleeping got started. He just didn't want to be left alone. I have been contemplating trying those sleep suggestions that all these baby books offer and have tried a few times to let him cry it out with no success. He can outcry me and I can't watch him suffer like that. These books never give you the real life situations that we encounter.

After staying up yet again until 2am last night while he fussed and played and wanted to be carried, I have decided that I am going to stop reading all this advice on how to make your baby get into a sleep pattern and let him be the little person that he is. Our babies need us and we should be there. Have I not spent many late nights out at a club partying the night away or pulling an all-nighter studying for an exam, but was still able to get up and go early the next day, all day? Absolutely, so why when the most important person in the world needs me, am I so concerned with how much sleep I'm getting? This just doesn't make sense. Yes, I'm exhausted and yes I'm cranky and sometimes depressed, but this is motherhood. One day he won't need me anymore and I will miss those days when I was his whole world. I want to look back and remember that I was a loving mother and did not leave him in his crib to cry himself to sleep when he needed me. Have we not all cried our self to sleep as adults at some time? How did that feel? Not so great. That's how our baby must feel.

So to all those fellow mothers in the same situation, let's be there for our children and treasure every moment. Stop listening to all those parents who tell you that their baby goes to bed at 7am and sleeps through the night. And stop thinking that we are doing anything wrong. We are not. One thing that really helped me was a website that talked about high energy babies. It had lots of great information about these types of babies and how to get through these trying times. I will try to find it and post it on here.

I hope this has helped someone out there. Finding this page has helped me immensely. I will be thinking of all of you the next late night and will know that I'm not alone in my struggles. Love to all.

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Oct 25, 2009
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Submitted by: Cynthia

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Hi to all, What a wonderful page with lots of support. My son is almost 9 months old and I have been struggling with his sleep patterns for months. I am a single mother, first baby, and he has been sleeping with me since day one, except during daytime naps when he sleeps in his crib. I went through the 8 week colic phase which is how the co-sleeping got started. He just didn't want to be left alone. I have been contemplating trying those sleep suggestions that all these baby books offer and have tried a few times to let him cry it out with no success. He can outcry me and I can't watch him suffer like that. These books never give you the real life situations that we encounter. After staying up yet again until 2am last night while he fussed and played and wanted to be carried, I have decided that I am going to stop reading all this advice on how to make your baby get into a sleep pattern and let him be the little person that he is. Our babies need us and we should be there. Have I not spent many late nights out at a club partying the night away or pulling an all-nighter studying for an exam, but was still able to get up and go early the next day, all day? Absolutely, so why when the most important person in the world needs me, am I so concerned with how much sleep I'm getting? This just doesn't make sense. Yes, I'm exhausted and yes I'm cranky and sometimes depressed, but this is motherhood. One day he won't need me anymore and I will miss those days when I was his whole world. I want to look back and remember that I was a loving mother and did not leave him in his crib to cry himself to sleep when he needed me. Have we not all cried our self to sleep as adults at some time? How did that feel? Not so great. That's how our baby must feel. So to all those fellow mothers in the same situation, let's be there for our children and treasure every moment. Stop listening to all those parents who tell you that their baby goes to bed at 7am and sleeps through the night. And stop thinking that we are doing anything wrong. We are not. One thing that really helped me was a website that talked about high energy babies. It had lots of great information about these types of babies and how to get through these trying times. I will try to find it and post it on here. I hope this has helped someone out there. Finding this page has helped me immensely. I will be thinking of all of you the next late night and will know that I'm not alone in my struggles. Love to all.

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Oct 25, 2009

I'm there too
by: Cynthia

Hi to all,

What a wonderful page with lots of support. My son is almost 9 months old and I have been struggling with his sleep patterns for months. I am a single mother, first baby, and he has been sleeping with me since day one, except during daytime naps when he sleeps in his crib. I went through the 8 week colic phase which is how the co-sleeping got started. He just didn't want to be left alone. I have been contemplating trying those sleep suggestions that all these baby books offer and have tried a few times to let him cry it out with no success. He can outcry me and I can't watch him suffer like that. These books never give you the real life situations that we encounter.

After staying up yet again until 2am last night while he fussed and played and wanted to be carried, I have decided that I am going to stop reading all this advice on how to make your baby get into a sleep pattern and let him be the little person that he is. Our babies need us and we should be there. Have I not spent many late nights out at a club partying the night away or pulling an all-nighter studying for an exam, but was still able to get up and go early the next day, all day? Absolutely, so why when the most important person in the world needs me, am I so concerned with how much sleep I'm getting? This just doesn't make sense. Yes, I'm exhausted and yes I'm cranky and sometimes depressed, but this is motherhood. One day he won't need me anymore and I will miss those days when I was his whole world. I want to look back and remember that I was a loving mother and did not leave him in his crib to cry himself to sleep when he needed me. Have we not all cried our self to sleep as adults at some time? How did that feel? Not so great. That's how our baby must feel.

So to all those fellow mothers in the same situation, let's be there for our children and treasure every moment. Stop listening to all those parents who tell you that their baby goes to bed at 7am and sleeps through the night. And stop thinking that we are doing anything wrong. We are not. One thing that really helped me was a website that talked about high energy babies. It had lots of great information about these types of babies and how to get through these trying times. I will try to find it and post it on here.

I hope this has helped someone out there. Finding this page has helped me immensely. I will be thinking of all of you the next late night and will know that I'm not alone in my struggles. Love to all.

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Oct 25, 2009
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Submitted by: Cynthia

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Oct 26, 2009

Wonderful!
by: Baby Help Line - Paula

Cynthia,

What a wonderful comment! And for a single mom to be so strong and say hey, this is motherhood and this is my child needing me; I'll cope. Your son is very lucky to have you as his mom.

It can be sooo exhausting and everybody has to feel their own limits, but at this age - 9 months - many babies are fussy and poor sleepers. A lot is going on with their development and with separation anxiety.

It will get better, and probably sooner without any cry-it-out methods, especially at this age.

So hang in there!

And do come back in a couple of months and let other mothers know that it DID get better!

Take care,

Paula

Oct 30, 2009

not sleeping either
by: vicki

Well its good to know that there are so many other mothers who are dealing with the same problem! My son started sleeping all night at around 3 months, and would sleep anywhere between 10 and 12 hours! But halfway through 8 months, he has stopped sleeping! He's getting all 4 of his top front teeth in at once, and I'm hoping when they come through, he will start sleeping better! He has always went to bed at 7, and still does, but now we can't get through 4 hours without him up and crying! I tried to let him cry himself back to sleep, but listening to him scream isn't letting me sleep either! I've been putting him in bed with me and my husband, and it helps a little, but he still wakes up crying every 2 hours! I think the best help right now would be a post from someone with an older baby who experienced the same thing, just to know how long this lasts! I'm starting to get used to it, but it reminds me why this is my last baby! Good luck to everyone!

Nov 03, 2009

Before 12 months...
by: Baby Help Line - Paula

Hi Vicki,

Well, two of our kids both did this (very fussy at night at around nine-ten month old. And both stopped before their first birthday, with a little help from us. The help mainly comprised of not letting them feed at night, but rather sleep with dad.

You can read a little bit about what we did here:

You can read a little bit about what we did here. Check ot the tip about letting dad help.

If you browse around the baby sleep help questions, you'll find several more posts with tips regarding this.

Good luck!

Paula

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Nov 13, 2009

problem and solution ...maybe
by: Anonymous

I have a 9 month old baby girl..she has been waking up for a pacifier for i dont know how long..i have been rocking her to sleep but lately when i go to put her in the crib she wakes right up turn on her belly and thens stands up. This is very fustrating and i get very little sleep.
I tried letting her cry it out but shes doesnt calm down she starts crying so hard and hyperventilating and it takes even longer to get her to bed. So im trying something new...
I put her in the bed and like always she turns and gets up so i have her her blanket and walked out. Then i let her cry for about 15 minutes then i went back in her room gave her her pacifier layed her back down and put my hand on her stomach and rocked her and made the shhhhh sound after 5 minutes she was sleeping..hope it helps someone else

Nov 20, 2009

my 9 month old baby girl wont sleep!
by: Anonymous

i like this site! i need help, my girl slept from 7pm-7am from 6 wks old till 6 months. NOW IM PAYING FOR IT.

she naps for 20 mins max in the day a couple of times. and at night- nothing, she goes down at 7pm ish and up at 11, 1,2,4 and then 5.05am is IT! we are up dressed and downstairs. we are going to bed at 8pm these days and at end of tethers in night, she seems to pop and her put her knees underneath her alot- shes 9 months, could it be colic?