Screaming, crying baby at night (almost 5 mo old) - help!

holyteeths

My son was sleeping so well for a time - going down easily at 8pm, waking sometime between 2-4am to nurse, then sleeping again until 8am.

 THEN, he got an eye infection, then his 4 month shots, then he got a cold (that just seems to have ended), then he got an eye infection in the other eye, then it was Christmas!

During this whole time he was sleeping horribly, but we assumed it's because he was sick and couldn't breathe.  Now that he's seemingly healthy, I thought he would go back to his old pattern.

 He's going down easily at 8pm still, but he wakes up almost every single hour and wails.  It's not a cry I'm used to.  He's crying really hard and almost nothing consoles him - not bouncing, rocking, just holding, pacifier, diaper check, reswaddle - the only thing to put him back to sleep is to nurse.  So we go through the routine of trying everything only to have me nurse him.  (My poor boobs....)

I just don't know what to do.  I always thought that the 4 month wakeful indicated a baby that woke up in the night to play, not necessarily scream his head off, so maybe this isn't that?   Also, I don't see any teeth coming through, but who knows.

Another thing that's changed recently is that I've been putting him in his crib, swaddled, for naps, whereas before I was holding him in my arms unswaddled.  He certainly seems to nap better, but I'm afraid this is just another possible reason he's not sleeping at night anymore.

I know this is incredibly long and if you read it, I thank you!  Any theories, suggestions, or advice is much appreciated.  Thanks. 

cabo_kate

We had a similar situation - he was sick during the "4 month wakeful" and sleeping like hell but I figured it was a combo of the two things. 

Recently he was having a few nights here and there where he was waking all the time just WAILING and whimpering and crying big fat alligator tears and I had no idea what was wrong - turned out it was teething. His first bottom tooth poked through on Sunday.

Do you feel any bumps or see anything in his mouth? Maybe try some Tylenol if he's wailing like he's in pain and see if that helps? 

Jenn925

I'm sorry I don't have any advice, but I do have sympathy.  My 4.5 mo DS has begun the exact same thing.  I thought it was travelling at Christmas plus a little cold, but he is also up every hour and doesn't want to sleep in his crib.  I'm hoping someone posts some words of wisdom!

rosesandpeonies

Sounds like the four month wakeful to me my dd wakes up multiple times a night crying but she isn't hungry.  how long does he nurse for?  Is he only nursing to go back to sleep?  If he is nursing a normal amount than he is probably hungry and got his feeding schedule thrown off.  If it is only for going back to sleep I would suggest maybe introducing a pacifier, some music, singing, rocking, etc.  I think that combined with not feeling well and probably some teething thrown in is what is happening with your LO. I am dealing with the four month wakeful too, and she wakes up crying a lot for no reason.

stever

holyteeths:

   So we go through the routine of trying everything only to have me nurse him.  (My poor boobs....)

DS wakes just as often and I end up nursing him. If it calms him down it must mean he's hungry. If he's just fussing I'll rub his tummy to get him to sleep, but if my DS is crying it's because he's got a dirty diaper or he's hungry.

mrsmel

this is EXACTLY what we are going through. down to the cold. i am clueless, too, but many have told me it's our special version of the 4 month wakeful.

Houseof8

Has LO been checked for ear infection?  Both of my boys did this when they had ear infections and nursing made them feel better (something about the "chewing" motion while nursing relieved the pressure in the ear).  With a history of having a cold its a definite possibility.  HTH!

kittykatlover

have you tried mylicon?

holyteeths

Thanks for the responses and I'm sorry for those who are going through the same thing!  I'm totally wrecked and too tired to get anything done around the house!

 We used tylenol a few times while he was sick just so he could get some sleep.  Seems like it helped him half of the time.  Haven't tried mylicon.  Is that for gas?

Perhaps he's in the early stages of teething?  Do babies normally cry this much over teeth if they aren't even poking the gums yet? 

petite_chou

DD was doing this too, waking all the time from completely asleep to hard crying and only nursing would put her back to sleep.  I think we've seen the end of this though, the last two nights have been great, so hang in there!

minipyro

sounds to me like what started out as a reason to wake up is now a habit. he just wakes up without wanting to. do you have a bed time routine? We give DS a bottle of BM and dim the lights and turn on soft music. He is out by the time he is done with his bottle. This was after a month of waking up every hour. He still wakes but he is getting better. I can tell it was habit because I would wake up just before he did. Just keep working at it, I think its a phase and it will pass. Just get a routine down and stay consistent! good luck!