My daughter has been an EXCELLENT sleeper since 14 weeks old, she's now 37 weeks old and the last 3 nights (including tonight) she won't go down at night. The routine is the same, she doesn't have a temperature, she's acting fine during the day (though a little clingy and eating a bit less). She is teething, but has nothing popping up yet. Should I just attribute this to teething? She stands up in the crib, but can't get back down, so she wails and hyperventilates until we go relieve her, and then she doesn't want us to leave. We've tried rocking her to sleep, etc. She used to just go in the crib, roll over, and fall asleep on her own. This is so not her style! Should I chalk it up to another normal change during the first year? Or is there something I should know to help us out here!?!?!? Thank you!
Thank you, Moms! Today I took her temperature and it was 100.1 so gave her Tylenol and then at bedtime she was MUCH better! She fussed for maybe a minute, if that, and then rolled over and fell asleep. No teeth, but I'm still chalking it up to teething! We shall see! Thank you for your first-hand experiences, support, and words of wisdom!
She may just be getting sick. I know my kids don't eat as much when they're getting sick and have a tough time eating. Just another suggestions to add to the other good ones people have made.
I would chalk it up as another change she's going through... and will probably reoccur in her 2nd year too. My 16 month old had a lot of mid-night wakings about a month ago, and now she's sleeping perfectly again.
Just when you think you got them figured out, they go and change on you! ;-)
Sleeping patterns change constantly thru the first few years, but this I would contribute to teething. Try giving her some Infant Motrin and Orajel or Hylands teething tablits just before bed. It may help, or if she is like my son, you may just have to wait it out for a week or 2. My son does that for a week or 2 just before he has a tooth pop thru.
During this time, I generally have to rock him till he is asleep, and then lay him down. Any other time, he nurses, lays down, rolls over, and goes to sleep.
Just hang in and get through this -- if she's teething, she may be able to be distracted during the day, but at night, in the dark, doing nothing but going to sleep, the incoming tooth may bother her . . . the fact that she's eating less and is clingy says something -- she's either beginning to come down with something or the tooth is enough of an issue to bug her, but not enough of an issue to cry over. I would hang in with her, give her what she needs, let her cling, help her to rest, even if it changes your schedule. Don't worry about spoiling her or making habits you don't want to undue late. Do what it takes to help her get to sleep.
That sounds like my daughter to a T. Gabby couldn't figure out how to get back down from the standing position and someone recommended for us to get a sleep sack bc in a sleep sack they can't stand.. worked like a charm! If she's teething i'd recommend infant motrin, Gabby is a very tough girl but when her teeth (or lack of) hurt her I would always give her something for the pain. and motrin is 8 hours so it lasts thru the night. Good luck!
Babies can have some pain about a month before the teeth actually come through so you could be right about the teething even if you can't see anything. My son used to have a similar problem - he would roll over onto his belly and not be able to get back. I was going in there 4-5 times a night to flip him back over! It lasted for about a month or so and then he figured it out. Can you help her practice getting up and sitting down when she stands holding on the the coffee table or some other furniture? I think this is just a normal change during the first year - as soon as you get nice and comfortable with their schedule, they change!
Every book I've read on 'sleep-training' says that 9-12mos is the most difficult time to change/improve sleeping habits, because of the large motor skills being developed, their need to practice this in their sleep and the increase in light REM sleep.
They actually change alot with sleeping in their first 2yrs - hope that doesn't discourage you :)
GOOD LUCK!!!
M., My son goes through this everytime he has an ear infection and he's now 2. but for whatever reason at night he gives us trouble and it starts and ends with the ear infection. I had him to the doctor the other day (actually his brother's appt). they checked him out and sure enough. Hopefully that is not it, but just some insight. BTW- he pulled on his ear once before this started and showed no other signs (fever)
My kids did this when they were getting ear infections. They don't always have a fever in the beginning so you don't realize they have an infection. It may also be attributed to teething. Good luck. If it continues i would say get her ears checked...
Hi M.,
Teething is so painful for little ones. Ask your ped about Prescription for Hurricane gel for the gums.
Use it on her gums when she waits up in the middle of the night. Cutting teeth make their ears hurt as well as the
gums.
Good luck. D.
This sounds like a really unfortunate combination of not knowing how to get down when she pulls up (btw, the crib is a great place for her to learn how to get down--nothing bad will happen if she falls, which she'll have to learn how to do eventually) and the beginning of separation anxiety. I personally, being a fan of crying it out, would just let her figure it out on her own. (With the caveat that you should be working with her when she's awake to learn how to get back down when she pulls up)
