Help please 6.5 month struggling to nap today - jerking awake - something wrong?

[Worriedmammy24]

Please can someone help. My DS has a nice little routine and generally goes down to sleep in his bedside crib for day naps fairly easily. However, when I put him down this afternoon, he kept jerking awake every 5 minutes- like he did as a newborn. I got him back up as he was fighting so we played some more to tire I’m out, then I tried again an hour later and we’ve got the same thing happening!!

he is exhausted and desperate to sleep, his eyes are red raw but he keeps jerking awake- throwing his arms out wide and waking up. I’ve just picked him up and have him on me, he’s finally settled and is calm but it’s not ideal. I’m more worried than anything. Why has this suddenly started? I’m really worried something is wrong. Can anyone calm me down or give advice? I’m so anxious.

I'm astounded you've not had this issue before! My DS was an awful sleeper and this is how most of his naps went for his first year.

If unusual for your little one, maybe they're teething?

@Alloveragain3 Thank you for replying! It used to happen when he was a tiny baby but he lost the startle so early- that’s why it really freaked me out that it was happening so much on two separate occasions, out of the blue. I thought the startle reflex should be well and truly gone by now.

I feel reassured that it’s normal, thank you. I had so much anxiety earlier as it’s just so unusual. It could be teething as he’s been very dribbly this week. He managed to settle better tonight, so hopefully it won’t disturb him too much tonight. His night times are super inconsistent… I do miss sleep 🙈😂

My five month old has just had a spell of this too. It only lasted a few days and only happened at night. Baby sleep is bizarre!

i think this happens when babies are overtired for naps - they have jerkier transitions into deep sleep rather than a gentle slow transition into deep sleep. This wakes them up and they are either scared of the jerk or they are cross at not being asleep and feeling tired.

Id try to watch out for the awake windows and settle earlier.

if already like this, I’d suggest swaddling or holding their arms down (and of course monitoring if babies can roll).

I'd say that this is normal and it'll get better by itself.
Try not to worry.

Thanks for the replies! I feel much less anxious now, so I appreciate it. He kept doing it in yesterday’s naps, and could not get to sleep at all without being held, so I dug out the sleeves of his sleeping bag and I’ve zipped them back on for his arms to be swaddled in again. Hoping this at least helps him to settle and I’ll try removing them again in a few weeks.

They’ve been off for ages, with no issues, but as PP said- baby sleep is certainly bizarre!

Can your baby roll over? They shouldn't have their arms swaddled if they can roll, it's dangerous.

Yes he can roll, which is why I took him out of his swaddle in the first place, but he just cannot nap without his arms back in at the moment. He’s ok in the night, so his arms are back out, but in the day, I’ve had success over the past few days with his arms back in (or half in as he has a love to dream swaddle so they’re up). I’m always watching him on the monitor, which alerts me to any movement so it’s fine and HV agrees it’s for the best atm, until it calms back down.

Today he jolted 10 times in 10 minutes while he tried to settle for his nap - it’s really horrible to see, actually. With his arms back in, he managed to stay settled, thankfully.