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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

7 months, screaming all night. Please help!

27 replies

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 26/12/2013 21:00

Desperate for some advice please about our 7month old, feel like I'm at breaking point and it's affecting dp and my relationship :( plus making me short tempered with dd
Basically DS is just seven months old, and his sleep over the last three months has gone steadily downhill. Culminating tonight with two and a half hour screaming fit before bed, he wouldn't be held, cuddled, rocked, fed, or anything. He's had Calpol and bonjela but still screamed and screamed. The last few weeks have been like this at night, he wakes about every hour and a half screaming. Not just grizzling but immediately into a full on scream. I've been thinking its teeth but can't see anything obvious in his mouth. Prior to this he's had stages of going into his cot sort of awake and going off to sleep in his own, but that's a distant memory, usually is fed or rocked to sleep. I won't do cc or any version of, which is all the HV can suggest.
Just feel desperate, the nights are so grim, and had been keeping the blues at bay with a bit of exercise early in morning before DC's got up but that's out the window as he's up screaming from before 6, so starting to feel quite low. DP doesn't tend to help at night (works long hours though off this week) and happy to co sleep but doesn't seem to help.
DS is on antibiotics at the moment for his chest and is rattly and snotty so I know that's not helping poor baby. I just don't know what I'm doing wrong, hate it so much when I can't comfort him.
Sorry for long blurble. Thanks in advance for any advice!

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Badvocatyuletide · 26/12/2013 21:16

That sounds very hard.
Could he have reflux?
Is he ever sick at all?
Temp?
Any change to routine/upset recently?

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 26/12/2013 22:44

He's had a temp recently with his chesty thing but I wonder whether that's another sign it could be teeth.
He's not a sicky baby but I did wonder when he was smaller about reflux,as he's never been a good sleeper or very settled. Have been back and forth to gps but no answers , think they think I'm an over protective, wittering mother!

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Iwannalaylikethisforever · 26/12/2013 22:46

Hi Ellie.
I wouldn't try cc sounds like your lo is too stressed already
I have been "suffering" v similar to u. My lo is 9 months.
It hurts emotional and physically all the pushing away fighting wriggly whilst screaming the whole time, inconsolable! Cc made worse. I was at end of patience at times too and could literally feel the happiness leave my heart. Sorry if this sounds obvious

Can I ask your bedtime routine ? Does lo fall asleep on their own or with you? If they fall asleep with you then wake and you are not there it maybe frightening without the concept of time and having been asleep.
My lo wakes screaming instantly I laid on bed near cot so when he woke I was there immediately. I know it's not ideal and can be lonely but I think trust needs to be built as they feel afraid and alone, maybe. Or perhaps bad dreams. My lo seems v annoyed I be awake, hence all the pushing away, they wanna to sleep I think! But do not know how!
Google gradual retreat sleep training. Of course baby cries but my lo not as hysterically as leaving him. See what you think, keep a diAry for patterns and how sleeping in daytime? Huge empathy my life is the same ATM . Dread night times!

Badvocatyuletide · 26/12/2013 23:08

Perhaps check out Elizabeth pantleys no cry sleep solution?
You could also ask for infant gaviscon from the gp...

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 26/12/2013 23:26

Thankyou for your replies both of you :)
I have heard good things about Pantleys no cry sleep solution, think we might have a go at that, but I might wait until this ?tooth has appeared!
I wanna I'm sorry you're having crap nights too. Routine in evening is play, then bath, then cuddle and feed, he usually falls asleep feeding or being rocked. I know what you mean with the fighting and pushing away, I know he wants to sleep he just fights it. It makes sense that they want to know we are close at night poor babes they are only little.I wouldn't do cc as don't agree with it. Very frustrating then that that's all the HV ever suggests.

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Iwannalaylikethisforever · 27/12/2013 08:06

Hope you got some sleep, it's so horrendous not sleeping.
We do combination of things similar to no cry, gradual retreat seemed to be working for the early evening but not in middle of night. Then last week my little boy got ear infection and chesty cough cold etc and I just couldn't not pick him up, no amount of soothing, rubbing singing etc stopped him cry, I could hear his throat was sore. So b feeding laying down, he is very sleepy after feed so put in his cot and go pick him up quickly as I can every time he wakes, just lay with him and he usually drifts back to sleep. Then I put him back in cot, repeat as much as necessary until morning. I know people will say its madness, I'm making a rod for my own back ect etc but with a baby that's inconsolable this is better than screaming for hours. A few times I've been tempted to join in with the crying, no joke. Crying makes him worse as it stresses and wakes him more. For now I accept this. Everyone's happy and sleeping at least most of the night.
Can you sleep during the day when he naps?

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 27/12/2013 18:02

That's the trouble isn't it, they can be doing really well then something throws them off (teeth and illness in this case!) can't easily nap in the day as dd is 4 and likes noise! Hope you get a better night too!

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Twattergy · 27/12/2013 21:29

Has he recently started on solids? I ask because when my ds pushed me away at night it was when he had trapped wind at this sort of age.it woke him a lot but it was a shortish phase maybe 6 weeks, when he started eating more things that were a challenge to his young digestive system? You could track what he is eating and see if any correlation?

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 07:20

Thanks Twat :)
He started properly on solids a month or so ago, and it has certainly crossed my mind that it might be something he's eating that's disagreeing with him, that he might have an intolerance to something. Don't know where to start to address that though but food diary is a good idea, will start today. Thankyou!

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glossyflower · 28/12/2013 07:27

Bless him. He's certainly uncomfortable isn't he? I would guess that it's the solid food. What are his poos like? Maybe he's constipated or has trapped wind (can be very painful)
My DD doesn't often just scream like how you describe but when she does it means she's in pain.
What does he eat and drink during the day? How is he with daytime naps?

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 09:55

He's pooping through the eye of a needle at the minute bless him but he's on antibiotics for a chest infection. He had been having family meals pretty much but is off his food, and isn't keen to breastfeed either. Been at the docs twice in the last week or two.
Daytime naps aren't brilliant, usually has two or thee naps of about half an hour although sometimes can stretch the morning one out to an hour if I rock him a bit.
In just desperate, lack of sleep is making me so miserable! But worse than that is the fact he's obviously not happy :(

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Chocolatestain · 28/12/2013 10:57

DS had a lot of trouble sleeping when he started solids due to trapped wind. HV said we just needed to keep going with the solids as his guts had to get used to it at some point and that if we cut back we would only encounter the same problem when we started again. With hindsight, I think I should have gone with my instincts and cut right back to very simple foods in small amounts and just taken it all more slowly. All babies are different and don't fit the same weaning schedule.

There are special massage techniques (google it) that can help move trapped wind. It won't solve the whole problem, especially as the chestiness and teething are also contributing, but it may help.

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 18:32

Thankyou chocolate. He likes massage so will give that a try. I've given him just fruit and veg again today so will see efts the evening and night hold....thankyou all for your advice again

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Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 18:33

Wtf is efts? Stupid phone. Will see what the evening holds!

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5OBalesofHay · 28/12/2013 18:38

30 years ago when I had a phase like this my GP gave anti histamine for the drowsy side effect. Probably ne frowned on now, but it worked, and he seems fine.

TheGreatHunt · 28/12/2013 19:33

I wouldn't give just fruit and veg - meat and potatoes are actually better IMO. Particularly with my two who have sensitive digestive systems. Fruit can be acidic and some veg can cause wind (onions, peas, brocolli to name a few offenders).

Have you ruled out an ear infection?

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 19:41

Well he's seen two different docs in last few weeks, most recently Xmas eve, who checked g

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Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 19:41

Oop

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Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 19:43

Stupid phone! Checked him over and looked in ears, so hopefully not. I wondered ears because he doesn't seem to like lying down to feed. Seeing HV next week so will ask about food, feel like I don't know what to do for the best!

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januarysnowdrop · 28/12/2013 19:45

Sounds like teething to me. With my dds, there's never been much correlation between the screaming in total agony and the teeth actually appearing, so I wouldn't assume it's not teeth just because you can't see anything. Nurofen might be better for that sort of pain than calpol - worth a try, anyway. Hope tonight is a bit better....

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 19:52

Thanks January. He's on Calpol most days and I'm interspersing it with ibuprofen. And dentinox. And Ashton's and parsons powders. Poor baby!

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StarsAbove · 28/12/2013 20:23

DD had a phase of crying during the night and was inconsolable even though we co sleep. I read that it is developmental, I think it may be in the wonder weeks book? I think it lasted a couple of weeks. It also could have been teething or wind from weaning! I'm not sure but she is fine now - still wakes every 2 hours through the night but a quick feed back to sleep is all it takes. Hope it doesn't last long for you! It is upsetting not being able to console DC

TheGreatHunt · 28/12/2013 20:25

It could have come on suddenly.

However if he doesn't like feeding lying down it could be just a load of mucus build up which is causing pressure and discomfort in the sinuses. Can you feed him upright as possible, settle him by holding him up and prop the head end of his cot up with a brick under each leg so on a slope?

Also try taking him into a steamy room which might help too.

StarsAbove · 28/12/2013 20:59

Original poster

ElleBellyBeeblebrox · 28/12/2013 21:00

Not really getting on with my wonder weeks app, feels like I'm always in a black cloud! Have propped his cot up tonight with some books (will probably end up in with us though bless him) so will see.
Thankyou all for posting, just feeling less alone makes it a bit easier. Initial post was a bit woe is me looking back, but has been a bad evening!

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