Why would my baby start crying in her sleep?

[Pippaandpolly]

She started sleeping through (7/8pm to 6/7am) about a month ago and we were guided by her, she dropped the feeds etc. She was about 14 weeks when she did it and she then did the same every night since, until about a week ago. She's started crying every couple of hours or so but while asleep-she's not waking up. I've tried giving her a feed and she's not interested, we've checked for poo and that's not it, there doesn't seem to be anything the matter at all. What's particularly odd is that since she was about 2 weeks old she hasn't cried overnight-she'd wake up and snuffle around to let us know she was ready for food and then go straight back to sleep afterwards. So suddenly being woken by full on crying every few hours is heartbreaking!

We go and give her her dummy and she immediately settles.

Is the problem the dummy? Should we start weaning her off it to encourage her to self soothe? I'm so flummoxed because she's never needed to soothe before this-she'd have the dummy to go to sleep in the first place but it'd quickly fall out and she wouldn't notice or care. We only gave it to her in the first place because I'm paranoid about SIDS and she doesn't have it during the day.

I hate hearing her 'upset' even though she's not awake and it's also hard to readjust to broken nights!

Any ideas?

It could be anything. A tummy-ache, a bad dream, a cold/virus, hungry (if not hungry enough to wake up fully) or maybe the start of teething. If she settles with the dummy I would keep that in your amoury rather than rush to ditch it.

Cogito I think it was you that helped me with my tax issue the other day-thank you on both counts! (Want to come and hold my hand on a general basis? Everything is stressful at the mo!)

It's because it's been every night for about a week that I'm so surprised I think. She also doesn't do it while napping during the day, though I guess she's not asleep for over 2 hours.

Teething is a possibility though. something new for me to figure out! Does any parent ever feel more than one step ahead?!

Nope! Never. And just as you crack one problem, a whole new one pops up to flummox you. :) Teething can start around six months and you can tell with signs like chewing their fist, flushed cheeks, extra drool (lovely) and disturbed nights.

She has all those signs but I'd assumed it couldn't be teeth as she's only 4.5 months. Maybe she's just 'lucky' and getting them early...am going to go and investigate inside her mouth!!

Yes it really could be anything. If the baby is about 6 or 7 months old it is quite likely to be teething. It can also be as simple as he/she dropped her dummy and can't reach it or foot stuck in their baby grow... anything! :)

DS got his first two teeth at 18 weeks, and the 2nd at 20 weeks so its by no means early!

Early teethers seem to deal with it better IMO - we dodn't have any problems with actual night waking becasue of teeth until he was 12/13 months and got all 4 molars and then all 4 canines together!

No idea but my DS2 did exactly the same thing at the same sort of age for a couple of weeks and then stopped again.

Babies are strange sometimes.

My dd got her first teeth at 14 weeks, so definitely worth thinking about that. Also, bear in mind that baby teeth can move in the jaw without becoming visable, so baby might be experiencing discomfort without the teeth being obvious.

With DD it usually precedes a noisy expellation of wind . Otherwise I don't know. She's a wee bit young for night terrors. Could well be teething as others have said - poor little thing (and poor you!)

Hey pippa!
Lucky you for the few weeks of good sleep at any rate!
What happens if you do nothing for a few mins? Does she wake up with the crying or not? I just ask because DD has done that a fair few times during naps. She just starts howling but is actually asleep in my arms. So I just keep holding her and making ssshh noises and often she just stops crying after a min or two and is still asleep.
Very odd I agree.
Could also be the teeth, or the wretched 4 month sleep regression. That's all to do with so much mental development going on at this stage that it throws them all out of kilter.
We are there + a bad cold just now so the nights are aaawful!

She could be dreaming.

Oh don't worry, my 8 month old has been doing that for a while. He squeals and screams in his sleep sometimes, we've just learned that if it doesn't wake him up then it's nothing to be worried about. And at least we know he's still breathing!

I concur with the teething as well. Mine has 6 teeth so far and bright red cheeks at the moment to indicate a few more potential chompers. She'll be fine, try not to worry! Ashton & Parsons, possibly Calpol if required.

My DD has inherited my sleep disorder, so she will often get emotional and cry during her sleep, and get quite active if she is having an intense dream. With me it gets worse during times of stress, with DD it seems to coincide with mental growth spurts and brain development, so I guess the child's equivalent of stress. Do you or your partner have any type of sleep disorder, sleep talking, etc.?

Mine does this sometimes and it is often wind, a big fart or winding him seems to help, having said that he giggles a lot in his sleep and sometimes wakes himself up laughing which makes it hard to get to sleep but easier to listen to. He started teething at 3m which has contributed to the crying I think.

did you see anything pip

Hi everyone especially Spilt can't see teeth yet but her gums do look a bit stretched if you know what I mean, and I can see paleness underneath in a patch on the bottom gum so am guessing that might be a tooth. She's been doing it during naps today too-she goes to sleep then wakes up after 15/20 mins screaming the place down, then goes back to sleep after a cuddle. Have been googling and discovered the 4 month sleep regression so am hoping it's that and will therefore go away soon!