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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

Help - ds disturbes his sleep by....

17 replies

Pandapooch · 27/05/2010 11:50

roughly rubbing his face and ears. Hello, this is my first ever post so please bear with me. My ds is 13 weeks old and has rubbed his face and ears since he was approx 6 weeks old. He goes off to sleep quite easily in his cot but after 20 mins or so wakes himself up with the rubbing.If I gently tap his arms/stomach he stops. He then eventually ends up in bed with us. He doesn't/wont have a dummy. Any ideas on how I can tackle this problem? Going slowly mad! Please help.

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maxybrown · 27/05/2010 13:05

Does he stop doing it when he is in bed with you?

mamsnet · 27/05/2010 13:12

I'd be very tempted to either co-sleep or (can't believe Im saying this..) try a dummy..

It does sound like he needs some sort of comforting mechanism.

maxybrown · 27/05/2010 13:22

I would say co sleep! mamasnet - she said he won't have a dummy

Original poster

Pandapooch · 27/05/2010 13:42

I have tried a dummy, he just spits it out. He does stop for a while if in with me but I dont sleep very well as scared of co-sleeping! I can't win. any other suggestions would be really appreciated.

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maxybrown · 27/05/2010 13:55

Ah, I know people get scared of co sleeping, but it was the best thing we ever did. For what it's worth, I have a bright, confident outgoing 2.9 year old now. He went into his own bed (never had a cot) quite happily at about 16 months though in with us at the minute dues to moving rooms around and decorating. But happy in his bed too. Interestingly, another mnetter i chat to reguarly, put her two small boys in a double bed together in their room and the youger one has been sleeping much better since!

tryingtobemarrypoppins2 · 27/05/2010 14:13

My DS2 does this....I half thought he was teething or had an ear infection?? He is 12 weeks, DS1 didn't do this so I was almost worried it wasn't normal?? we do co-sleep although he does still do it until boob or dummy send him into deeper sleep.

mistressploppy · 27/05/2010 14:15

Could you swaddle him? DS slept really well once we swaddled him in a miracle blanket. We weaned him off it at about 4 months and he went in a Grobag. Now he sucks his thumb instead of scratching himself to bits!

Latootle · 27/05/2010 15:45

as its at night is it to do with washing powder/ comfort close to his face. put absolutely plain cotton mittens on.

Original poster

Pandapooch · 27/05/2010 16:34

tryingtobe - I too thought he had an ear infection, I might try the dummy again and see how we get on.

Mistressploppy - I have tried to swaddle him but he hates not having his hands to mess with.

Latootle - he does the rubbing thing whenver he sleeps, its just worse at night.

I will just have to keep trying different methods, something has to work.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

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Southwestwhippet · 27/05/2010 17:30

My DD (16weeks) does this during the day in her cot (we co-sleep at night). It drives me bonkers because it is almost as if she is trying to wake herself up!

Swaddling her helps as does putting her under a cotton sheet and tucking it under the cot mattress so it is quite tight over her (kinda like a hotel bed when you first get in IYKWIM).

She usually does it the moment I put her down from my arms to the cot - if I can gently restrain her and hold her hands together on her chest she will often settle into a deeper sleep where she then stops.

The other day she went to sleep holding the arm of a cuddly toy which also helped.

Not sure if any of these would be suitable at night though (as I said, we co-sleep so isn't such an issue at night) but might help in the day?

Original poster

Pandapooch · 27/05/2010 18:09

Maxybrown - I need to do some research on the co-sleeping thing, i am scared i will squash him!

Has anyones lo done the rubbing thing and grown out of it? or is that wishful thinking on my part.

OP posts:

RiverOfSleep · 27/05/2010 18:21

If you are breastfeeding be careful about having a dummy - it can hinder things as I learnt from bitter experience....
Fwiw co sleeping worked well for us on lots
of levels, it's worth considering (IMHO)
good luck, it's hard being a new mum.

maxybrown · 27/05/2010 18:29

You will be amazed at how much you adapt so as NOT to squash them! Our son was a dinky dot and even dead to the world DH was extra aware of DS in the bed.

mcflumpy · 27/05/2010 19:34

Just a thought, have a look at peke moe. We used one for our DD as she was a 'flailer' she kept punching herself in the face and waking herself up. For some reason she didn't in this. We did swaddle til she was able to burst out of it tho.

BrownPaperandString · 28/05/2010 13:56

It sounds like something is bothering him around his ear/head/jaw. Have you thought about taking him to see a cranial osteopath?

OooohWhatIfItHurts · 28/05/2010 22:23

My DS did this then developed eczema. I think he must have been itchy all along but it didn't show up as skin irritation until later.

Original poster

Pandapooch · 29/05/2010 07:20

He has had dry skin and we have cream from the doc but he only rubs when asleep/sleepy. He slept in with us lastnight and did sleep better so maybe thats the answer until he grows out of it.

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