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Baffled by sudden onset of apparently random screaming fits in previously good-sleeping 9m ds, please help

17 replies

NoRain · 27/01/2008 19:53

So we had a holiday and then some jetlag and then a few normal nights of sleep, and now he's just gone mental, progressively getting worse -

After a short period of sleep, he's started screaming and flailing - all sorts of climbing/crawling, grabbing, pushing, twisting his body.

He doesn't settle with being patted, picked up and cuddled, rocked, sung to - all things we've done ever since he was born. He sounds angry/frustrated - as though enraged to find himself awake...?

The only thing that interrupts the screaming is to take him for a walk to other parts of the flat but then as soon as we try again to settle him, the screaming starts again. Eventually he just stops, seemingly as randomly as he started, from exhaustion as much as anything I reckon.

First it was 2 hrs after he settled. The next night, 1 hr and 2 hrs after he settled. Last night, 1 hr and 2 hrs after he settled, AND 4 a.m. and 6 a.m.

tonight he's started it as soon as we're trying to put him down - a thing we haven't had trouble with for 6m. Dh has suggested since he didn't want to go to bed, we just didn't push it, but he's still intermittently crying his head off.

He had a hard time cutting his first 6 teeth but nothing like this, we are just absolutely baffled.

Any clues???

OP posts:
Wilkie · 27/01/2008 19:56

Just been through the same thing with our 1 year old. Laste 10 days, no idea why. We just continued with our usual routine - I know it is frustrating as hell but these things do pass.

We put it down to having a week of Christmas/NYE/then his birthday, the slightest things can upset them.

Octothechildherder · 27/01/2008 19:59

Ear ache
Tummy ache

Calpol

Wilkie · 27/01/2008 20:02

Oh, and I forgot to mention, (will get totally flamed for saying this but what the hell), we used Calpol Night for a few nights when he first woke - it does tend to knock them out a bit and help them sleep - after a few nights using it he settled back into his routine so we stopped using it.

Octothechildherder · 27/01/2008 20:06

But he did sleep!

My 9 month old has a bug and wakes every 1/2 hour - tis hideous! He has calpol every 4 hours and am considering nurofen too!

NoRain · 27/01/2008 20:08

Doesn't appear to be in any pain and we gave him a dose of nurofen at bathtime (6pm).
Regular Calpol dind't work last night. Does it sound like cutting molars, anyone?

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Wilkie · 27/01/2008 20:09

Octo - there is a new product called Calpo Night and it has an added ingredient which makes them drowsy. Can't recommend it enough!

Octothechildherder · 27/01/2008 20:10

Seems a bit young tbh - I would still go for the ear pain!

Octothechildherder · 27/01/2008 20:11

((((scuttles off to find duty chemist))))

NoRain · 27/01/2008 20:11

Octo

Even if he's not pulling/rubbing at his ears?

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Wilkie · 27/01/2008 20:13

9mo bit young for molars. Does he just have 6 teeth? It could be teething..

NoRain · 27/01/2008 20:14

And forgot to add, he's got a slightly runny nose. Does that ring any bells?

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Octothechildherder · 27/01/2008 20:14

head rocking side to side/ flailing/rocking/screaming etc etc all signs - ds3 has had 4 now - my older two never had one and it was a real shock when he had the first one - we were totally baffled. It wasn;t until his eardrum burst and all the gunk came out that we eventually realised!

Octothechildherder · 27/01/2008 20:15

Or maybe tonsilitis/throat infection - def something in the ENT area from your description.

Wilkie · 27/01/2008 20:15

Ohhh I had lost plot of thread thought we were still talking teeth!!

DS had REALLY nasty ear infection but HE got temperature with it.

fairylights · 27/01/2008 20:18

i would say maybe its teething.. my ds was JUST like that at 9 mo (i think i posted a v similar thread!), all the same things going on, and i was totally flummoxed as he had been such a good sleeper before. have to say that he has never slept as well since (he is now 14 mo) which has been a bit gutting and its esp bad at the mo as he is getting molars.. but i figure it can't last forever..?! The one thing that does calm ds down is sitting down in front of a mind numbing DVD like brainy baby (i am not sure it supposed to be mind numbing but it works for him!) - it relaxes him enough to be able to go to sleep. All the best

NoRain · 27/01/2008 20:19

Thanks for all this so far. We're not that suspicious of an ear infection because he's not running a temperature (other than a rage-induced one) and he's perfectly fine during the day.
I think I will go and get him checked tomorrow though

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Surroundedbysnot · 03/02/2008 19:59

If it is an ear infection, lying down might make things worse ... hence screaming at night. Flights guaranteed ear pain in my ds, we found.

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