Advice needed!

Daffodil · #1 July 23rd, 2011, 10:39 AM

So more of the same...she is still waking up every 2 hours SCREAMING her head off. Escalating screaming. It takes about 15 minutes to calm her down. She is refusing the bottle at night now (making me think she's not hungry), we have to eventually turn on the lights, and bring out her toys and eventually she relaxes and goes back to sleep...then wakes up screaming 2 hours later.

I don't know if its her immunizations, molars, nightmares, new diet, milk (I switched her from cow's to goat a couple of days ago), or something else.

A part of me is wondering if I should just let her scream for awhile and see what happens...but this isn't a whining cry, its like a really huge deal cry. She gets louder, snot is dripping down her nose, she starts shaking. It actually reminds me of the crying I did when I was older than her, I was a drama queen and would cry for hours when I felt like my parents weren't being fair (probably why I HATE to cry these days, now I see how ridiculuos I was being!)... but she seems to young to be a drama queen, you know? I don't want to ignore her if something really is wrong, but I also don't want her to learn that if she cries hard enough, we will turn on the lights and distract her and start playing.

I am at a complete loss. This has been going on for a week and a half. She is fine during the day, eating normally, happy. But at night its terrible. Doesn't seem to make a difference if I give her tylenol or motrin or not. I'm thinking if its nightmares, she shouldn't be having a nightmare every night and every time she falls asleep. I don't know if I should just wait it out or if I should see a sleep specialist for her or what. I am just SOOOOO lost.

So...if this was your baby...what would you do?

cbnurse04 · #2 July 23rd, 2011, 10:50 AM

I'm sorry you're having such a tough time with sleep.

Could she be afraid of the dark? Maybe a night light would help. Or could she be too hot or too cold? Those are the only things I can think of.

I hope things get better for you soon!

#3 July 23rd, 2011, 10:54 AM

I think that if anything was medically wrong with her you would see the symptoms during the day too. Most medical problems don't just magically appear at night. If it were Caleb I would just give him some time to scream it out. Before someone bites my head off...I'm not saying let her scream for hours until she throws up. I'm talking about 10 minute intervals. I WOULD NOT turn the lights on and bring out the toys. She is learning just what you don't want her to learn..if I scream I can play. Just let her scream for 10 mintues, go into her room, give her a kiss, lay her back down and leave the room. I wouldn't even pick her up or take her out of the crib. Just let her know you're there and leave the room. It's going to take a few nights and the first two nights are going to be very very very long, hard ones but it sounds like your nights are already long.

Good luck!

sfarrow3 · #4 July 23rd, 2011, 11:02 AM

It really sounds like she can't put herself back to sleep. London sleeps through the night but she wakes up very frequently, but she knows how to self sooth and she just goes back to sleep.

preciousgiftsmama · #5 July 23rd, 2011, 11:05 AM

Knowing how they treated Ty when I brought him into ER a couple months ago, and how they tested him for everything under the sun because he was screaming uncontrollably for no apparent reason, I would take her to the dr. I do not like to wonder what is wrong with my child and since he cant talk, I would actually take Ty to the ER in the middle of the night when he is doing it so they could attempt to figure out why. But that is just me, and I only live 10 minutes from a major hospital that would do their best to help me. Anyway, I am not telling you to do that, I am just saying what I would do in that situation.

BTW how does she act during naptimes? and during the rest of the day? normal?

I feel so bad for both of you

Daffodil · #6 July 23rd, 2011, 11:13 AM

Heather, she is actually in bed with us still. She'll climb on top of me and start crying.

Tyla, I was actually thinking of videotaping her or something...but maybe I could do that. I actually didn't think it warranted an ER visit but again, I don't know if its nothing or if its something serious. What did they say about Ty?

#7 July 23rd, 2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daffodil

Heather, she is actually in bed with us still. She'll climb on top of me and start crying.

Tyla, I was actually thinking of videotaping her or something...but maybe I could do that. I actually didn't think it warranted an ER visit but again, I don't know if its nothing or if its something serious. What did they say about Ty?

Sorry, I assumed she was in a crib in her own room...I don't co-sleep and sometime I just forget that others do

... I have no idea than. If she is doing this with you in the room than I agree with Tyla that something else maybe going on. If you don't want to make a trip to the ER maybe you can just take her in and run your concerns by her Ped. Also video taping is great. When Grace was a newborn she did this strange breathing thing...everyone kept telling me it was periodic breathing. Finally I taped her and showed the doctor....she had asthma.

sfarrow3 · #8 July 23rd, 2011, 11:23 AM

Ohh I thought she was in her own bed too!

mommytokem · #9 July 23rd, 2011, 12:05 PM

Do you change her diaper at night, I know Noah will wake up screaming sometimes just because he is wet. But if that's not a problem I'd probably take her in and get her checked out.

Daffodil · #10 July 23rd, 2011, 12:50 PM

Talked to my parents and they suggested I go back to formula instead of any kind of milk for the time being and see if that "corrects" this after a week or so...I think I will try that.

Good idea about the diaper, I dont usually change her but I'm sure having a wet diaper can't be comfortable.

#11 July 23rd, 2011, 01:12 PM

I really have no advice. Im sorry. I do not want to upset you but it could be her way of showing she wants her own area(crib). Kaileigh "sleeps" all night but I do hear her up sometimes playing with toys in her crib and have checked in on her when she is moving around but she knows how to soothe herself back to sleep. Sorry nothing else comes to my mind but maybe going back to formula will help.

Jule'sMomInOR · #12 July 23rd, 2011, 01:17 PM

I was just going to suggest that maybe she can't tolerate goat's milk, either. It sounds very much like the reaction Juliana had when she was reacting to yogurt and it took me forever to figure it out. I'm not sure why it but was always so much worse at night for her, too. So sorry you and Arie are going through this!

Daffodil · #13 July 23rd, 2011, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KaiX2Momma

I really have no advice. Im sorry. I do not want to upset you but it could be her way of showing she wants her own area(crib). Kaileigh "sleeps" all night but I do here her up sometimes playing with toys in her crib and have checked in on her when she is moving around but she knows how to soothe herself back to sleep.

Haha, that wouldn't upset me, that would be great! we got her bed yesterday and I was busy trying to feed her in the kitchen when the delivery guy came and he set up her whole bed so we need to take it down and just put her mattress on the ground for now. I'm going to start putting her there for naps and once that goes smoothly, I will try to transition her at night. I just wish her reactions at night weren't so severe to make me think something is wrong. Well, hubby is going to sleep on her bed this week and I'm giong to try to give her her own space on our mattress and hopefully that'll help.

starrsgirl · #14 July 23rd, 2011, 05:54 PM

Ok, this is exactly what E does when he is/was in our bed for any length of time. Screaming, crawling all over us....slapping me. You arebalready up....I would try to lay her in her crib and give it 5 mins if you aren't opposed to that. If it doesnt work, it doesn't work.

I also second Heathers point about not turning on lights and doing toys. Agree with your DH to not speak to her or interact except to hold, comfort, back rub.

Vincent'sMommy · #15 July 23rd, 2011, 08:23 PM

I doubt this would be it but could it be night terrors? I don't know too much about it but maybe somebody else does. I just thought of it because I just read the No-Cry Sleep Solutions book and it had a section on nightmares vs. night terrors. If it is, I think I read that if you let it pass she would eventually go back to sleep, but I have no idea what night terrors in a one year old would really look like.

Vincent wakes up frequently crying still but only when he's in his crib and it doesn't sound nearly as bad as what you're dealing with. When he's in our bed we're just dealing with rolling all over the place and crying for a paci. He definitely doesn't know how to self-soothe so I'm hoping we can figure that out eventually. I'm so sorry you're having so much trouble! I don't think it could hurt to go back to formula for a bit just to see if it helps and hopefully she will do well in her own bed for naps and eventually at night. I hope you can figure it out soon!

Daffodil · #16 July 24th, 2011, 08:07 AM

Update-

So last night went SOOOOO WELLLL!!!! Omg, I can hardly believe it!! No, she didn't sleep through the night, but no screaming-at all!! She went to bed at 8 pm, woke up at 1 am. No screaming, just sat up and tried to get my attention. Of course I pretended I was asleep. She probably sat there for 5 minutes trying to get my attention before she started grabbing my face and crying. So then I gave her one scoop of formula in 4 ounces of water (she wasn't crying at all when I was doing this, so this tells me she still needs to learn to put herself back to sleep), gave her a bottle and she slept from 1-6! Gave her another bottle at 6 (I probably should have given her breakfast but I was tired) and she slept another hour and a half.

So is the milk it??? She only got formula yesterday, no milk of any kind although she did of course have cheese, and some greek yogurt. Hopefully tonight will go just as well!!

Jule'sMomInOR · #17 July 24th, 2011, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daffodil

So is the milk it??? She only got formula yesterday, no milk of any kind although she did of course have cheese, and some greek yogurt. Hopefully tonight will go just as well!!

Yay! It sounds like it to me! Good luck and KUP tomorrow!

starrsgirl · #18 July 26th, 2011, 10:08 AM

Update?

Daffodil · #19 July 26th, 2011, 11:53 AM

She's been doing great on formula... only up once or twice a night (I know, I know, but like I said, before she was up every 2 hours screaming, so this is nice, although obviously no wakings would be way better).

The problem though is she has found a new passion for formula/bottles. I don't even have the energy right now to worry about getting her off of them. Well, since my new pedi said to tackle the bottles at 15-18 months I guess I'll wait until then. I should call her and tell her about the formula and when/how/what to introduce her to next.

Jule'sMomInOR · #20 July 26th, 2011, 12:54 PM

If it makes you feel better, Juliana is up every 1.5 hours. I'm not even exaggerating, I only wish I was. She's in a regressive phase where she wants to nurse about every hour during the day and every 1.5 hours at night.

Anyway, I'm glad you figured out the problem.