So, this is rather lengthy, but here goes. My baby is about 4 1/2 months and two weeks ago he got a high fever. We brought him into the doctor and it turns out he had an ear infection. He went on amoxicillin for 10 days. Well, starting when he first got his infection he would not sleep at ALL at night unless he was breastfeeding and fell asleep in my arms. No matter how carefully I would put him down he would immediately wake up and scream, but i figured it was just because he was in pain. At this time we were also giving him infant tylenol. Neither his antibiotics nor his tylenol seemed to help him sleep so, after a couple of days we decided to try Gripe water. This worked like a charm for about 3 days and then all of a sudden he was back to waking up 4-6 times a night again. Well, now it has been 3 days since he has been off his antibiotics and he is still waking up several (4-6) time a night. We have tried gripe water, gas drops, tylenol and nothing is working. He doesn't seem sick at all but we can not get him to sleep at night. So, my question is, does anyone know how to get him back to sleeping at nights again? Before he got sick he was waking up once (or twice on a bad night) a night. Anyway, I have a couple of guesses why he might be getting up, maybe someone could help:
1. He just got used to us getting him whenever he wanted during the night
2. the antibiotics destroyed his natural flora and now he is having bad gas/upset stomach
3. He is still not feeling 100%
So, if you have any ideas, PLEASE let me know, I can not wait for more sleep! Thanks!
When he wakes up I just nurse him until he goes back to sleep, usually 10-20 minutes.
:( It can be hard! It could be all three, especially if the gripe water helped some. Even at that age they learn the pattern of mommy getting me when I cry and don't want to go back to the old routine. You could try some probiotics to help his stomach. What do you do with him the 4-6 times he is waking now? How does he usually fall asleep?
Hi...I wanted to respond to your question. My youngest child seemed to have ear infections off and on til he was 6 years old. Seems like he would go through what you described about your baby and then get better and then we would start all over again...and again....and again. It seemed non-stop and always turned into an infection. The doctor asked me one time if my son would respond when I call him by name and I was surprised when she asked this question because when I called him by name many times he would never look up at me and I was beginning to think..."Does he know his name yet?" although that was when he was quite young. The reason the doctor asked me that was because when she tested his ears, she said that when he didn't have an infection he still had a large percentage of fluid running though his ears and that he was like having a deaf child. That made sense since I did have so many problems trying to get his attention and calling him by name and him not responding to me until I did a tap on his shoulder. Anyways, what I found helped him so much was when I made a visit to the health food store and talked to the nutritionist there, they suggested to me to get and use Wally's ear oil...especially since the ear drops that the doctor gave me in prescription never really helped and my baby waked up at night screaming a lot like your baby. I bought it and it really was the best investment...it is natural and forget asking the doctor about it, they usually never have heard of it. But I just put 2-3 drops in the baby's ears (always both ears, even if there was one infected...to make sure both ears were calmed and soothed) and did that every night and also once or twice during the day if needed and really bad. After a couple of days, then I just put it in the ears at night, and did that till he out grew it when he was 6 yrs. old. For years now every since we all use Wally's ear oil..my whole family whenever the need arises for any reason. But nothing works like this...Believe me. Good Luck...it is a heartache when your child is sick and in pain and can't even sleep.
My guess would be he got used to being picked up and fed whenever
he woke during the night. It does not take long for them to get used to the
good things in life LOL. I would just try comforting him when he wakes
up screaming.
Updated
My guess would be he got used to being picked up and fed whenever
he woke during the night. It does not take long for them to get used to the
good things in life LOL. I would just try comforting him when he wakes
up screaming. If he is just whining just let him be maybe he will go back
to sleep. It takes a while for them to get back into the swing of things.
You may have to let him cry a bit. Good luck.
Updated
Babies change their patterns often during the first year. We get used to them doing some for two weeks and think it's gonna stay that way but most of the time it doesnt. I doubt the ear infection is really the culprit, he's probably doing a growth spurt along with getting ready to teethe. If he sleeps while you are holding him then you have the answer, sleep while you are holding him while he is sleeping OR do what some moms do and put him in his room and let him scream himself to sleep.
I doubt he's in pain, some of them just cry to cry..... it's instinctual for lung growth and function.
You read a lot about co-sleeping and this is why parents do it, so they themselves can rest. Some babies dont require it and some do. They are only little temporarily and wont be sleeping with you when they are 21, so do what your family needs to do to survive. Your baby is giving the cues to what he needs.
Just remember that this is temporary and part of raising a baby, crazy times, but do what ever you have to do to remain un-exhausted.
I'm so proud of you for getting up with your little one, following your mothering instincts and helping him get back to sleep. Sometimes it takes a long time for fluid in the middle ear to go away after an infection so he may be having some issues with pressure when you lay him flat. You might try elevating one end of the crib slightly. Please keep nursing him on demand even during the night for your breastmilk is important to helping his body heal.
Around 4 months of age my boys began having trouble sleeping at night due to emerging teeth. Both kids had their first tooth in just before 5 months. Teething pain is real, more bothersome in some kids than others, and should be treated with lots of love and comfort. I know you desire sleep, but sometimes a solid 6-8 hours is just not realistic with an infant under a year. Please don't try to get your baby to sleep/self soothe by letting him cry it out. He needs you, not isolation. Letting him cry at this age/stage only tells him that he can't depend on his parents for comfort. Parenting is a 24/7 responsibility and night parenting is just as important as day parenting. I'll pray today that you have patience through this difficult stage. I have 3 children, and all 3 woke frequently at night until 18 mos-2 years of age. I just got up and took care of them. It was hard, but I have no regrets as I look back at all those nights I rocked and nursed. My oldest (the most difficult) is a fantastic sleeper now, so I know that things can change as the child matures.
Parenting is hard, no doubt about that. There's a lot of books out there and people with a lot of advice. The best advice I received is to stop reading books and listening to people and start "reading" and listening to my baby. R., midwife mom of 3 little ones.
Prop him up so he sleeps more upright. it will help. When they lay flat, it hurts- so this will help. Best wishes!
M
Have you done a follow-up doctors appt. for the ear infection? I'm just wondering, because sometimes, even with a course of amox., children don't quite shake them.
I say this b/c we just took my son into urgent care yesterday for a sinus infection. One significant thing the doctor mentioned was that some infections require a longer dose of antibiotics, even up to 30 days. Yep, that got my attention!
I agree with previous posters that pediatric chiropractic therapy is a legitamate therapy for ear infections.
I would also caution parents of new children that this dependency is a 'learned' behavior. When our children are in pain or discomfort, they need us more than usual. My son is nearly four, and for the past several days, he's been like velcro-- even when he seems to be 'feeling better', he will ask us constantly to hold him. I think this is a very deep, profound need (not a 'want') we as parents must address. At four and half months, your little guy is still a teeny thing. At this age, we adults have the ability to adapt to the child's needs; they do not yet really have the ability to adapt to the adult world, so nursing when your little guy needs it right now is the best thing you can do to offer him a sense of security.
You are likely right, too, that his little tummy is still sore from the antibiotics. I know adults who have a hard time tolerating them and need to eat solid food to temper their affect. Imagine being a baby without the option to eat crackers or take them on a full stomach after a meal. Poor little guy. And if you are not taking probiotics, please consider doing so. It will be good for both of you!
Best,
H.
Take him to a chiropractor!
That's what we do with our kids. (Now almost 6, 3 1/2, and 4 months.) Any time they are coming down with something or have an ear infection, we take them to get adjusted. No antibiotics needed! Give it a try. Can't hurt and will hopefully help!
Here's the real deal....
Ear infections are usually caused by yeast, which is why an antibiotic causes an increased risk of another ear infection by 33% according to medical journals.
If you are breastfeeding, make sure you are keeping dairy to a minimum and no sugar (see candida diet). Perhaps taking PB8 - an AMAZING probiotic you can find locally - and even maybe give it to your baby. His intestinal flora is destroyed by the broad-spectrum antibiotic, so replenishing the flora will allow his body to absorb the nutrients out of the breastmill better and get him sleeping faster.
I also use vitamin A and Herbs for Kids Echinaces/Goldroot for my kids....as well as PB8, which I open the capsule and dump the contents into their mouths.
My first baby got 3 ear infections and I stopped feeding him dairy, and they stopped. He can have dairy (no allergy), but it's in moderation and not everyday. My other two, I never gave them any milk, yogurt, etc - sometimes cheese and neither one of them got ANY ear infections.
Quick story:
My first son got an ear infection at 3 year old, so I took him to the chiropractor to be adjusted. His middle ear was red (I used an otoscope to see for myself before I took him) and he was crying and going on about his ear. I got him adjusted, gave him PB8, vit A with D, Echinacea/Goldenroot and looked about 5 hours later in his ear and there was NO readness and no swelling in this ear drum (tympanic emembrane). GONE. 5 hours.
http://icpa4kids.org/Find-a-Chiropractor/
PS: The tylenol can be hard on a baby's liver, so the PB8 will help his entire digestion get back in order.
Dear mom, the ear infection may not be cleared. My 2 year daughter had her only ear infection about a year ago and it took weeks and 3 different prescriptions to get rid of it. I would take him back to the doctor to confirm it's gone or make sure he doesn't have a new infection. And I would bring him into your bed to sleep to make it easier for everyone. You won't even have to wake up when he needs to nurse.
It's quite possible it did not clear or there could be some fluid still causing discomfort. He could also be teething Tylenol did not help my youngest with teething pain.
Start him on a probiotic, as well as yourself! Give him time. He is still very young to be sleeping entirely on his own. Many babies go through sleep changes around this time anyway. Read The No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantley. This and several other books on infant sleep are available at http://www.inspiredabq.com
