Waking up crying, no idea what to do

CrazyMary77

My LO was a good nighttime sleeper. She would be asleep typically by 6:30pm and wake once or twice a night for feedings. For the last 4 nights, she goes to bed at her usual time, then wakes up about 45 minutes later, crying hysterically. I tried CIO last night after picking her up to be sure it wasn't gas pains. I've never tried CIO before with her. I got through 3 minutes of waiting, then 5 minutes, then started on 10 minutes of waiting, and I couldn't take it. She was crying so hysterically, choking, I felt horrible. Started to sound like she was scared. It takes her a while to calm down when I'm carrying her. She's still visibly tired, nodding off, droopy eyes, but cries if I put her back down in her crib. Last night DH and I took turns carrying her and trying to sooth her for an hour and a half, until she fell asleep on DH's shoulder and resumed her sleep in her crib.

I wouldn't think much of it if it happens once in a while, but since it's happened 4 nights in a row, I'm wondering what it is. She's not in any physical distress that I can tell. I fed her 45 minutes prior, and she won't take more, so she's not hungry. I believe it has something to do with her sleep, like a nightmare or problems with going through her sleep cycles, but I don't know how to help her. Anyone experience something similar? Any suggestions?

LisaLisa1980

My advice is to not CIO as it could just escalate which would result in just waking her up even more. When this happens to us I just pick him up & feed/rock to sleep.

MrsWindyCity

Has she been sick lately? Maybe an ear infection? The only way we ever knew DS1 had an ear infection was when his sleep got terrible.

Have you tried Tylenol? Maybe she's teething.

poppyc8

our LO does that only when i feed him to sleep. i think it might be because he wakes up and is surprised he is in a crib alone and not on the boob:(  so the past week we tried new routine of bath, feed, book then my husband rocks him and puts him in the crib that way he is more aware of the fact that he was not still nursing.  this has worked for us so far and we are crossing our fingers it will keep him from the 45 minute later crying. 

LisaLisa1980

oo yaaa.. if she's teething get some hylands teething gel. she'll calm down within seconds!!

CrazyMary77

kdc2007 said:

a couple of nights her crying was really bad so I pulled her into bed with us. she went back to sleep right away. so many things going on in their little bodies.

We were about to put her in our bed until she fell asleep on top of DH and we decided to take a chance putting her in her crib. Luckily it worked!

As for CIO, I was trying it out to see if it worked but I realize it's not the right situation, especially the way she was crying as if she was scared.

CrazyMary77

She has been spitting up a little more lately than usual, making me think something was wrong, but she doesn't seem to be in pain. I think if she had an ear ache she would be crying throughout the day, no?

I checked to see if any teeth were coming out, and I don't feel anything. I can still try the hylands teething gel and see if that helps. Maybe something is brewing underneath!

My mom said it could be something with her sleep cycles and recommended that I journal her patterns. She said to take notice if LOs eyes are open or closed when she starts crying, which I didn't really take note of because it's dark when I go in to pick her up. I used to get petite mal seizures as a child. I was older than LO when I had it, and I don't want to get scared about it yet, but my mom said I went through something similar due to the seizures, so I need to watch her and keep track of her patterns more closely.

kgs0505

I'd Probably Try some tylenol. she might not be teething, but growing a lot hurts, so maybe she's sore. good idea about journalling patterns.

MrsWindyCity

CrazyMary77 said:

She has been spitting up a little more lately than usual, making me think something was wrong, but she doesn't seem to be in pain. I think if she had an ear ache she would be crying throughout the day, no?

I checked to see if any teeth were coming out, and I don't feel anything. I can still try the hylands teething gel and see if that helps. Maybe something is brewing underneath!

My mom said it could be something with her sleep cycles and recommended that I journal her patterns. She said to take notice if LOs eyes are open or closed when she starts crying, which I didn't really take note of because it's dark when I go in to pick her up. I used to get petite mal seizures as a child. I was older than LO when I had it, and I don't want to get scared about it yet, but my mom said I went through something similar due to the seizures, so I need to watch her and keep track of her patterns more closely.

Not necessarily. DS1 had several ear infections and he was totally normal and happy during the day but awful at night. Laying vertically makes your ears hurt a lot more.

HZ2012

How old is she? My guy is 4 months and starting with the sleep regression. Won't nap and wakes up at night for no reason. He has been sttn since 6 weeks. Could it be that?

watermellens

This happened to us last week too. I think he was going through a growth spurt, but he would wake up 45 min after falling asleep every night for 4-5 nights in a row. I'd nurse to get him back down, which he would fall back to sleep within seconds (he wasn't actually getting any milk).

jlpev

Sounds like the 4 month wakeful period which with my son also included a growth spurt. DD is only 3 months but I know its coming!!
You might try tylenol. Teething can start months before a tooth can come in.

Crequito

This sounds like what happened with DD when she was teething.  I couldn't really feel anything coming in so I just figured she was going through a fussy phase and then one evening she chomped down on my finger and I felt the sharp points of 2 teeth - yes 2 teeth came in at the Exact. Same. Time.  Then I realized no wonder she's been fussy lately! Get the gel, and you can also get the teething rings you put in the fridge.  DD loves those.  Good luck!!

VPGIRL06

my LO does this on and off. Not sure what's going on. Sometimes it's probabley over stimulation, or their little baby brains recreating something terrifying-just go in and rock her.  if she's going to sleep and resuming normal sleep patterns, i'd say it's just something that needs to resolve itself. DD gets up and doesnt even cry after 45 minutes after bedtime, just scooches around then falls back asleep.