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| Is he teething or starting to (pre)crawl? If so, this could be why. Teething, just because it's painful and their little heads/faces are full of pressure and really uncomfortable. Crawling, because when they start to pre-crawl and crawl their brains just start to really begin to take on alot of different stimulus and information. They are building "bridges" of thought, connecting and absorbing their environment.This can create overstimulation resulting in restlessness. Also the use of different muscles can create aches and soreness as well as spasms and twitches, all of which could wake a baby. |
| posted by kelly on 07/17/2007 03:16 PM
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| My son does this once in a while. I usually just comfort him for about 5 or 10 minutes and lay him back down. I don't get him up because that extra stimulation makes it harder for him to go back to sleep. Babies go through changes, so try to be as consistent as possible. Stay in his room when he wakes up, comfort him and try to help him go back to sleep if he doesn't seem to be able to do it on his own. It may take a few times doing it, but he will start to go back to sleep easier this way. If you get him up and bring him downstairs you may start a habit that will be hard to break. |
| posted by Marcia on 07/17/2007 03:21 PM
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| He is trying to learn how to crawl, and I am not sure about teething. When he wakes up nothing seems to stop his crying unless we take him out of the room. If we return shortly after, he will start all over again. I am more stern in his bedtime ritual, but my husband is more lenient with his sleep training. I think that is the reason my son cries whenever I try to comfort him whenever he wakes up after his bedtime. I'm not sure how to deal with my husband taking his sleep training not as serious as I do. He does not seem to feel following a daily routine is as important as I do. It is very frustrating. |
| posted by kathy on 07/17/2007 04:20 PM
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You need to speak with your husband about this. It is very important that you are on the same page so that your son knows the routine is constant.
Does he usually put himself to sleep at bed time? If he does that already then you just need to stick it out. How long do you try comforting him before leaving the room? Maybe try holding out just a couple minutes longer and see if he calms down. It is hard but he will get there. It just takes patience and consistency. |
| posted by Marcia on 07/17/2007 06:13 PM
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| I would put money on the fact that he's teething Kathy! This happens each time my daughter is getting a tooth--try giving him some tylenol before bed. It should only last a few nights but make sure you stick to your normal nighttime routines. If you continue to pick him up because of this he's going to demand it even when his teeth aren't bothering him so be careful! |
| posted by Briana on 07/17/2007 08:31 PM
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| I have misjudged his teething sign before and gave him baby Tylenol daily for several days and never have seen a new tooth. Because of this my husband and I are concerned about giving him baby Tylenol without definitely knowing that he is really teething. His gums are all red and swollen, but he has not cut any tooth yet. How do I know if he is really teething and can babies be in teething discomfort without an actual tooth cutting through the gum? Honestly, I have no idea about this kind of things. |
| posted by kathy on 07/18/2007 10:38 AM
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Kathy,
Yes babies can have a tooth start to push its way up, but then it can go back down. My pedi told me that the tooth going back down can hurt just as much as it coming up. He also said that giving infant tylenol, as long as it is in the correct dosage, can be given for any length of time. |
| posted by Amanda on 07/18/2007 11:36 AM
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| You can't hurt them by giving them tylenol, just give them the correct dosage. Sometimes it takes weeks for the tooth to actually pop through, and it's the coming up that is hurting them. My daughter is going through this right now, and after 6 other teeth I'm pretty sure more are coming up. If you are concerned he might have an ear infection or something you can take him in--that's what doctors are for, so you can put your mind at ease! |
| posted by Briana on 07/18/2007 12:58 PM
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I was only concerned giving him Tylenol during bedtime because an on-call pedi, my husband, and my mom says giving Tylenol without being sure is not good for the baby.
I think it should be safe, but my husband and my mom strongly criticizes me. In addition, my mom just looks at me like I don't know what I'm talking about. |
| posted by kathy on 07/18/2007 02:08 PM
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| Just remember Kathy, you DO know what you're talking about becuase you are the mom. You know more than anyone on this Earth about your little one! Try and stay confident, which I know is hard when it's your first. I still feel like I don't really know what i'm talking about but later realize I TOTALLY knew what i was talking about. Mothers can be tough--mine gives me a hard time too as far as always checking in on me to make sure I've done x, y and z for the baby. I've learned to be careful whose advice I buy, even though she's a great resource. You know what's right to do, and if you think Tylenol helps him sleep better, then give it to him. If it makes you worry and you don't think it's right, then don't! It's that simple...I don't even know you and I know you're a smart lady just because you're a mom. Best of luck my dear, it's all good! :) |
| posted by Briana on 07/18/2007 02:19 PM
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| I always take any advice I get with a grain of salt. For everything someone suggests to me, I can usually find someone who refutes it. Generally, if I'm really concerned about something, I call the nurses at my Ped's office. If you're worried about the Tylenol, call your doctor. My doctor has a nurse line where I can get all sorts of advice re my son. If the nurse doesn't know, then she'll find a doctor to ask. This way, I don't have to go in for an office visit, but I still get the answers. I would be surprised if your ped's doesn't have something similar. |
| posted by Jaxon on 07/18/2007 03:23 PM
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To be honest, I feel like a pest when I call my pedi office. I have a habit of calling them several times a month with questions that does not seem imperative. I guess I'll try to call tomorrow about the Tylenol.
I have a gut feeling that he is uncomfortable and that is why he wakes up screaming an hour after his bedtime and sometimes wakes up middle of the night being restless. In the past when this happened, I gave James Tylenol, and he slept much better. Since he never cut a tooth when this happened, my husband and mom makes me feel like I'm overly medicating him.
Briana, thank you so much for your kind words. You helped me feel better about being a first time mom. |
| posted by kathy on 07/18/2007 08:08 PM
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Call the pediatrician as often as you need to. If they make you feel like you are a pest then maybe you should look for someone new. You need a doctor who is available and supportive.
Follow your gut- it is usually right. Try not to get worked up over every little thing. But if you think there is something wrong, don't ignore that. Do you think it could be gas? Has he ever had issues with reflux? Maybe he doesn't like being alone in the dark. Do you have a nightlight in his room or music playing softly? Sorry to go on and on, but these are all things to consider. |
| posted by Marcia on 07/18/2007 08:15 PM
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My pedi office doesn't treat me like I'm a bother. It is my personal feeling. They have always been very helpful. I can't help feeling like a pest.
James does have reflux and is currently taking medication. We also have a Pooh lamp night light on for him. If it is loneliness, how do I comfort him without getting him use to being held and expecting it all the time? I worked so hard getting him on a sleep schedule and finally got him to sleep through the night, I'm afraid to disrupt it. |
| posted by kathy on 07/18/2007 08:24 PM
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| Kathy, if it makes you feel any better, I was calling my ped's office every day for the first month and was in their office with something at least once a week. I was such a hypochondriac of a parent with my son. |
| posted by Jaxon on 07/18/2007 09:05 PM
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My son did that same thing when he got his first ear infection. I thought it was his teeth but then I thumbed through a baby's first year book i have and suggested he might have an ear infection. so i put a pillow under his mattres and he slept through the night.
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| posted by cynthia on 07/18/2007 09:21 PM
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I am glad to hear that your pediatrician's office is supportive.
If he is lonely you can comfort him without picking him up. It will take longer to calm him down this way but it will be less disruptive. Then once you calm him and help him settle down you will have to retrain him by gradually leaving earlier, until you are leaving while he is still awake. This way he will learn to soothe himself and will be able to put himself back to sleep on his own when he wakes up. Some music or a special stuffed animal can help. Maybe you could give him something that smells like you, that may calm him. |
| posted by Marcia on 07/18/2007 10:07 PM
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| While reading "the No-Cry Sleep Solution", they suggested putting a burp cloth or a small towel or something inside your shirt for a couple of hours, to absorb your smell, and then put that in the crib with your child at night. It gives them the feeling that you're still close by without actually having to be. When my son was younger (and still in the bassinet next to the bed), I would use the shirt I had been wearing that day as a blanket for him at night. It actually helped with the transition from sleeping on mama to sleeping in his own bed. |
| posted by Jaxon on 07/18/2007 10:20 PM
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| Yes, Jackie, that's exactly what I meant. |
| posted by Marcia on 07/18/2007 10:21 PM
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I hardly hold him when he wakes during his bedtime. Typically, I would put a pacifier back in his mouth and kiss his cheeks, and he will go right back to sleep in less than a minute.
Everything changed since he got over his cold. When he wakes up after his bedtime, nothing seems to calm him down. He will just cry uncontrollable for 15 minutes or more regardless whether we hold him or not. It did cross my mind about ear infection when I saw him pulling on his ear but I was told babies also do that when they are teething, so I didn't think any further because he never fussed during the day. Only time he fusses is during his bedtime.
I'll have to take his temperature and call my pedi's office to make sure it is not an ear infection first thing tomorrow morning. I will feel absolutely horrible if it turns out to be an ear infection, and I made him suffer all this time. |
| posted by kathy on 07/18/2007 10:24 PM
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Kathy,
You were told that when they pull on their ears that it could signal that they are teething?!?! My son has been doing that a lot lately and he has been getting up more at night..... |
| posted by Jaxon on 07/18/2007 10:30 PM
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| Kathy, don't be too hard on yourself. You have been trying to help him. You can't always know what is bothering him. The important thing is that you are trying to figure it out. Like I said, trust your gut. If you think he is in pain or uncomfortable get him in to the doctor and have him checked out, just to be sure. Whatever is going on, he will be fine and it will get better. |
| posted by Marcia on 07/18/2007 10:30 PM
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Hey Kathy... it's great that you've gotten such great feedback from all these wonderful mommies about this topic, and they're all right. Do what you know is right, despite what anyone else says. Also, it is very important for you and your husband to be on the same page. Talk to him about how and why parental consistency is important from a developmental point of view. Read up on it and know what to say, so that he'll know how you feel about it. About the teething/tylenol/ear infection topic, I would definitely call or take him in to the doctor. Don't worry about how often you "bug" them.. they're paid to deal with that! And paid well! A pediatrician knows all his/her parents of children under 1 on a first name basis, so don't worry, you're not alone there. Better safe than sorry, cause if it is an ear infection, you can help it heal quicker either with natural medication or antibiotic. As far as the sleep training goes, just remember: he's only 6 months old. My daughter didn't sleep through the night until, well, 2 months ago, and she's 18 months old! She still doesn't sleep enough at night, so count your blessings too. If he normally does sleep through the night, then yeah, he's probably uncomfortable and needs the comfort, and it has nothing to do with sleep training. But it's true, if you keep taking him out of the room it might start a bad habit. Just stick to one thing, have your husband agree and help you with it, and take turns and breaks! Don't forget to breathe... you'll get through it.
Amanda (mother of Kaia, 18 months) |
| posted by Amanda on 07/18/2007 10:31 PM
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Thank you all for the informative feedback. I'll keep you all posted tomorrow when I call his pediatrician's office first thing in the morning.
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| posted by kathy on 07/18/2007 10:38 PM
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I just brought James back from his pedi's office. He is teething. I was able to see 3 front bottom teeth preparing to break.
Thank god it was not an ear infection. I would have felt awful. |
| posted by kathy on 07/19/2007 11:22 AM
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| That's great! Well, all things considered....wow, three teeth at once, huh? I dont think I would sleep well either. AND, you would not have felt so bad because, again, you are doing the best you can! Girlfriend!!! You took him to the doctor, it's all good. Believe me, there have been so many times I thought my daughter was just being crabby come to find out she is soaking wet in her crib, or tangled up in something, or whatever. Give yourself a break, you deserve it. Plus, she got an ear infection about 3 months ago and you know it--she didn't sleep AT ALL and was crying CONSTANTLY. I've discovered now that she is usually teething if she's a little fussy and occasionally pulling on her ear. It's all good!!! |
| posted by Briana on 07/19/2007 11:27 AM
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I know what you mean about being all tangled up and crib sheet being soaked. I have the same problem with James. I tried to put a sheet saver so his crib won't be soaked but freaked out when I saw him all tangled up and trapped in it. I removed it immediately.
I hope you can join us this Friday at 9pm chat. :) |
| posted by kathy on 07/19/2007 11:33 AM
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| I wish I could but I will be out of town and where I'm going doesn't have internet. I think my parents are one of the only people in the world without it. Anyway, I hope to try and get in on the next one but have fun! |
| posted by Briana on 07/19/2007 11:39 AM
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