Physical (pathological?) causes of poor sleep in a one year old?

[breakfastinbed]

My 13 month old DS sleeps as badly as any i have heard of (sleeps lightly, wakes frequently, cries furiously, won't be soothed by anything). Just gets worse and worse and i'm beginning to wonder if there could be something physical wrong, rather than the usual psychological explanations (attachment, separation anxiety etc) none of which quite seem to fit. Even if it was something incurable, it would be so good to feel i understood what was going on.
Does anyone know of any such condition?

have you tried a cranial osteopath? They can help with all sorts of physical problems that cause poor sleep. i've heard of some very good results.

have you tried music? my dd (who used to be a fantastic sleeper) has recently had problems settling herself, and waking a lot more than usual. i now put on baby mozart for sleep and she drifts off during the first song. If she is crying, i go in and soothe her and ask her if she can hear the music.

I have a theory (being a light sleeper myself) that if you go to sleep with noise in the background, you are less likely to wake when a noise occurs, as your ears have already got used to noise in the background...don't know how true it is, but it works for me

Have an appointment with a CO in a few weeks. Do you know what kind of physical problems do cause bad sleep BlueCow?

Your theory sounds good Toes, but sadly my DS cries so loudly he can't even hear music. (All such attempts at soothing him just seem to infuriate him more.)

over tiredness?

earrache

I would second the suggestion made for a cranial osteo

When he cries, have you any idea what he's crying for. In pain, wet, hungry, just not tired? Will he stop crying if he's distracted (eg. taken downstairs)?