Screaming babies - how do we stand it?

[snickers]

I guess everyone has added a similar message at one point or another, but have just spent an exhausting hour trying to get DD back to sleep. She used to go to bed great, no worries, all by herself. I think we are entering a new phase in her development (just started crawling, pulling herself to stand. Her daytime naps seem to be slipping to one, an hour to hour and a half in the morning, going down between 10.30 and 11.30. Doesn't seem to want to go down in the afternoon (and the car doesn't even send her off anymore). Is therefore dog tired at bedtime, and is usually asleep before her bottle is finished. But now when she wakes, she really SCREAMS for attention, and I always find her standing in the cot now, meaning I can't just leave her and hope she drifts back off, cause she has woken herself up well and truly. Then I go through the worry of "is she ill" (no temp, dose of calpol jic... calms down straight away when picked up) "do I leave her to cry" (screams like I've never heard her scream before - really angry and very upset sounding, and again - standing in her cot) "Do I rock her to seleep" (can work, but am I making a rod for my back blah blah?)... In the end rocked her until she was pretty much almost asleep again - and put her down and so far so good.

Just want to hear from someone that I'm not alone, this is normal and hopefully, she'll get back on track again? Maybe?? Makes you so worried and upset doesn't it?

It's late and I know how you are feeling. I always wondered with ds whether it was nightmares or not. I know people say they get nightmares when they are young but I can't figure out why. I'm sure someone can tell me why on mumsnet.

ds still does it now but that's because he's recently decided he needs to get into bed with us from about 3.00 in the morning and leaving him just doesn't work.

snickers - I'm sure most people can relate to what you are saying - it does pass and there are no right/wrong ways to deal with it in terms of a definite cure. We went through a phase of sleeping in the nursery and gradually reduced the time we stayed and allowed him to cry - it did improve and he has been a fantastic sleeper ever since

Good luck - hope you got some rest last night

snickers, it is probably just a passing phase. But it might be worth taking her to the gp to check for ear infections. My friend's son had similar symptoms and after about a week she brought him into her doctor for a regular checkup (in the usa) and was told that he had a bad ear infection. After 2 days of antibiotics he was sleeping through the night normally again. I think sometimes ear infections only hurt when the baby is lying down.

Hi Snickers. Sometimes when I read your posts it could almost be writing it word for word! My dd is 9 months in couple of days and is ddoing almost the same thing. I find it hard to leave her scream like that even though its worked before. She really wails now - really high pitched scream. It could be separation anxiety cos that happens around this age (so I am told).
Otherwise I wait for teeth - of course its probably not this but I always seem to think it is! Good luck to you, lets hope it is a phase

My ds does this sometimes (6.5 months). He starts off with a really pathetic whimper & it quickly gets louder & louder till it's full on wailing. If I pick him up & cuddle him he quickly calms down. With him, I think it's because he doesn't like the feeling of waking up too quickly.

Snickers, I'm not sure how old you dd is, but my ds has just gone 2 and suffers from something called 'night frights'. He seems to have had these for some time (at least 12 months old) and just wakes up screaming at one end of the cot. He is often claming and shaking a little. We cuddle him for 10 mintues or so to settle him back down and that is usually it for the rest of the night.

I also agree with SophiaAmes as my ds also gets regular ear infections - this also causes a restless night with crying as well.

oh yes - often been there - everything fine for weeks on end then suddenly huge screaming hissy fits - at least you don't get dirty looks of the neighbours (I'm guessing?); I live in an apartment with v thin walls and surrounded by v caring but also v keen to add their tuppenceworth neighbours. After every screaming session I always get a grilling the next day about what was wrong with ds; Double stress