DS3, 8mo, really screeeeeaaaaaming when he wakes at night - help!

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

DS3 is 8mo tomorrow, and an absolutely honey. V easy baby during the day, sweet and smiley, v laid back. Lucky me . Was a great sleeper as a wee one - slept through for several weeks between about 6 and 12 weeks of age. I knew it probably wouldn't last, but didn't think it would get as bad as it has .

From being a brilliant self-settler, he has turned into a baby who can self-settle at 7 when he goes to bed, but who catapults instantly into hysterical screaming when he wakes in the evening/night, which he does severally most nights. Even if I am sitting next to him shushing and stroking him, he is still beside himself - screaming as if being tortured .

He was in with me until 6.5mo (DH in spare room) and then went into his own room. Always started off in cot, but ended up in bed with me - which I was fine with. However, his sleep has gradually deteriorated, so that even co-sleeping now doesn't seem to help, and I am starting to feel a bit desperate.

He is now in his own room, and things haven't improved at all. Every night, I end up on a mattress in his room, sleeping with him - again, this would be fine if it meant that he slept well, but he just doesn't. He often thrashes about or moans and fusses - seems almost to be in pain, but surely can't be: has been checked by GP for ear/throat infections, is given Calpol etc if teeth are bothering him, is v happy and sunny most days - can't be in pain only at night, surely? It's as if he circles for hours (literally - often up to 2 hours to resettle him) on the edge of sleep, but can't quite drop off and gets v frustrated. Any tips on how I can help him?

He is not hungry. Is a v big boy, but generally eats well and usually refuses boob if offered at night. Will have a sip of water, but not madly interested so that's clearly not what he's waking for. Is not too hot or cold. Has started crawling and often tries to sit up or gets up on knees when he wakes up - but why all the screaming?? Help!

[UKSky]

8 months is a classic sleep regression time with all of the development he's got going on at the moment.

Whilst it's horrendous for you it should pass in a few weeks. I took the easy option of either bringing DD into bed with us or letting her fall asleep on me. It took about 4 weeks to pass and then she just started sleeping on her own.

Does the screaming happen at the same time each night? it could be night terrors which, whilst awful for you, do him no harm at all and he won't even remember them.

[MogTheForgetfulCat]

Yes, that sleep regression seems to have segued seamlessly from the 4 month one! Screaming does generally happen (for the first time in a night) at the same time - or at least in a fairly small window. Co-sleeping seems to have been helping better in the last couple of nights, which is an improvement - for a few nights before that, it seemed as if even that wasn't helping any more, which made me feel a bit anxious . Here's hoping it passes - his development certainly isn't slowing down, he is now trying to cruise, so may have to wait until he masters that before he settles a bit more...