RP for night nesties: desperate for night-time advice

WYEngTeacher · December 2009

Sorry if my text is big; I c&p'ed from my earlier post and don't know how to fix it. Also sorry if you already saw this earlier today. I only got 2 replies and am specifically looking for input on my motrin concerns: DD has slept horrrrrrible for the past 5 nights in a row now. We're talking she has been up for hours, crying or just unable to sleep, every night. DH and I are like zombies. She gets up every hour or two for the first part of the night before she's up from 1:30 or 2 until like 4. I am just at a loss! I figure it's teething b/c there have been big white bumps on the side of her gums for over a month now where her canines are coming in, but I feel like there's no end in sight as they still don't appear close to actually cutting through. I hate giving motrin all the time, but I've given one dose a night each of the last 5 nights. Is that really bad?? I don't know how many nights in a row is too much, and I worry that it will lose its effectiveness if I keep giving it (or that she'll become dependent). It generally helps her eventually get back to sleep, but not always, and it certainly doesn't help her stay asleep - so while it seems to help sometimes, it doesn't even make that much of a difference.

She seems okay during the day - a little extra needy and easily angered (lots of tantrums these days) - but it's not like she's crying in pain. I just don't know what to do. I've let her cry a bit during some wake ups, and sometimes this works and she goes back to sleep quickly, but other times she just screams and screams until I give in and rock her. Generally, she only will settle if we rock her and she just seems to want us with her for comfort. One night I took her to bed with me and she really TRIED to sleep for an hour and a half, but just couldn't seal the deal so I eventually took her back to her crib. It was almost like she's suffering from insomnia! I kept drifting off to sleep myself, but she just kept tossing and turning. Is there ANY new advice? Should I just totally cio, or would that be cruel since it's probably her teeth? Do we just have to endure this indefinitely until they eventually cut through - and how long, btw, DOES that take? Also, opinions on the motrin concerns? tia ETA: She really has NEVER sttn in her life. Around 6 weeks ago there were like 2 weeks when she unbelievably started to sttn maybe half of each week (like every other night or so). I was so excited...but like I said, that lasted all of 2 weeks before I noticed these canines starting in and she began waking again. The past 5 nights have just been particularly horrible.

KEH0804 · December 2009

Give it to her!!! The recommended dosage (which is still what you should give) is only 60% of what they can take. Give it to her, as often as the directions allow. You won't hurt her!!! Sorry, hope you sleep soon :-(

Stilts · December 2009

Are you sure nothing else is going on? No fever (even a low-grade temp), no changes with her appetite, no runny stools, constipation?

Honestly, if this is out of the ordinary behavior for her I would call the pedi and have them check her ears for an ear infection and see what else they say. DS has a full mouth of teeth and save for a few minor incidents here and there he never gave us much trouble when his teeth were coming in. Every LO is different but I would bring her in anyway, just to rule out anything else. Then while you're there talk to the dr about other things you can do to ease the teething pain, if that's what it is.

GL, I hope things get better very soon for you!

ABE2006 · December 2009

I would give it to her. She will not become dependant on it. Maybe give the pedi a call too. That's what they are there for and I think it would give you peace of mind to ensure there's nothing else wrong.

And as for cio, we completely let DD do this at her age now. I can usually decipher the distress cries and the cries for attention. If I do end up going in to her room, it is no-nonsense. I tell her it is time for bed and she needs to go to sleep and lay her down in the crib. Not mean, but also not giving her a glimmer of hope that I might let her out of bed.

vanillacourage · December 2009

I would take her to the doctor to be evaluated for an ear infection. Has she had a fever? Supposedly fever + irritability when laying down are signs, when in tandem, of an ear infection.

What have naps been like this week?

KatieLG04 · December 2009

My DS who has been a great sleeper since 6 weeks old has been having an awful time at night with teething. I am giving him a pain reliever before bed, he gets by the rest of the day ok. He is taking good naps for some reason though. For DS, I know he is teething though, he is getting a whole mouthful of teeth right now (he only has 6 teeth at 20 months, so this was bound to happen). I can't wait until this is over!

mrsdiamonds · December 2009

Give her the motrin. DS had a horrible time with his canines. He got all 4 at once. They are just now about halfway in...in took awhile. We rotated teething tablets, teething orajel (the night formula), and motrin. We used a lot of teething biscuits too. GL!

BlessedMommy723 · December 2009

I would also suggest taking her in to the pedi. DD has not ever consistently sttn either, so I understand your frustrations. I just don't see this amount of frustration/pain/unhappiness on her part being caused by teething alone. DD has never cut just one or two teeth at a time, it has always been 3-4 at a time and at one point it was 8... she wasn't this miserable. I think it would soothe your concerns to have the pedi look her over and maybe make other recommendations for you to try if it is just teething.

FWIW, I actually bought my DD a kid's electric toothbrush. The vibrations really soothe her when she is teething. She chews on that toothbrush constantly and loves it. I know you can't use this at night, but I just wanted to pass this along for during the day. My cousin recommended it to me and I've had nothing but success with it

Good luck. I hope you all can get some rest soon.

1MusicMaker · December 2009

vanillacourage:
I would take her to the doctor to be evaluated for an ear infection. Has she had a fever? Supposedly fever + irritability when laying down are signs, when in tandem, of an ear infection.

What have naps been like this week?

I would also take her in to get checked out.

BabyCakes3 · December 2009

I just scanned your post but are you sure she doesn't have an ear infection?

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RP for night nesties: desperate for night-time advice

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