Desperate for help

[Blu3Bell]

Nearly 6 month old has started screaming through the night, every 15min -1 hour. He's not properly awake when he screams, but if I don't get up and help him settle he'll wake and be hysterical.

Until this week he slept pretty well, needs help getting to sleep at night and 4/5am mornings were standard but could settle himself back to sleep if he woke and didn't need a feed.

I don't know if he's ill or if its a phase but he's tired and grumpy all day and I'm so sleep deprived I can't cope. Please help x

Bless you. I just wanted to reply so you aren't sat alone with this.
My DS never slept (he's 10. And still doesn't BUT he's ND: the exception not the rule!).
If babe has been sleeping and is now unsettled I would say he'll likely start sleeping again.
Lack of sleep is debilitating. And not knowing why is the actual worst.
It could be a sleep regression (currently going through this with DD age 3!), teeth? Also at around 6 months babies start to learn they are a separate person to mum. So might be a touch of separation anxiety? Is co-sleeping an option? (Following lullaby trust sleep guidelines?) they don't stay in your bed forever! After DS I've had 2 DD. I co slept for both and they were both in their own cots by 8months.
Anyway. I'm rambling! You're doing an amazing job. And I hope so much you can have a peaceful day. Xxx

Teeth?
Give calpol one night and if baby sleeps well for several hours you'll know pain was keeping him awake.

Check no 2, food. Did you start feeding solids?
Some babies have not very well developed gut and struggle with food.
Go back to milk for few days and see if it helps. Boys are more likely to have that issue.

But I would bet on teething pain. All of my children were screamin in pain all night unless I plied them with calpol

@user193636 thank you so much for your reply, just reading it made me feel a little bit better!

Co sleeping is an option, I double checked all the guidelines last night just in case. Just makes me a little nervous as we never have before and he can roll now. Teething is also likely but I did give calpol and nothing changed.

Thank you again and I hope your DS gets some sleep soon x

@LondonFox there is definitely some teething going on, tried calpol last night though and it made no difference. He also hates having the calpol so takes him at least 30 mins to settle after!

No solids yet x

You're welcome. Did you have a better night? We've been up all night here! Xx

Is it possibly night terrors? Although he may be a bit young for that.

Can you try another brand or flavour of paracetamol to see if he takes it with less fuss? Or paracetamol suppositories? It may also work to do the pre-emptive strike and give him pain relief before he goes to sleep for the night, making it less likely that he’ll wake?

Good luck. Sleep deprivation is torture.

@user193636 oh no poor you! Is it something specific that sets your DS off?

Last night was every 2hrs with a 430 wake up, so still struggling but it's progress!

@TerrorAustralis I gave it half an hour before bedtime to try and give it time to kick in, never thought of trying a different flavour/brand though that's a great idea, thank you!

Sounds like teeth to me- my youngest had a stint (a very small stint) of screaming crying every 30mins one night. Just pure hell but very short lived. No advice but it will pass and your baby is so young just give them what they want, even if just cuddles.

@OnlyFoolsnMothers yeah it could well be teeth. I always go to him and stroke his head until he stops but don't pick him up for a cuddle as he's not properly awake, if he does fully wake I pick him up.

Just the autism! How he functions I'll never know (and he does. Inexplicably well on like 4 hours sleep! I'm almost in awe tbh!) but he settles ok. And I know that isn't every mums story in my position so I'm thankful 😌
You are doing all the right things! And like I said: if he's been a sleeper before he'll get the hang again. Have you got people who can look after you in the day? (Even just sit and exist in your haze!? Sometimes just another adult body in the room can be hugely helpful!)
Keep doing what you're doing. Honestly you little one is in the absolute best hands. 💕

@user193636 wow I'm definitely in awe of that!

Yeah my mum comes and keeps us company almost everyday which definitely helps keep me sane. He's been sleeping a little better but has a full on cold now which makes me wonder if that was part of the problem!

@Blu3Bell I'm so pleased that you have someone taking care of you.
And I am definitely pleased that little one has reread the assignment and started getting better!
Take care. And be kind to yourself my lovely. This too shall pass ♥️♥️