Help - Sleep problems

MyBrownEyedBoy wrote: Hi, my name is Kelly. I am mother to Logan (11 months) and wife to Aaron. I also work full time. Logan was, until recently, sleeping through the night with just an occasional whine or two. But for the last few nights, he has woken up screaming ( for 5-10 minutes) at midnight. I can't figure it out. I haven't varied his bedtime routine and have tried feeding him more. Is this normal? I can't ask my mom, she'll worry it is a sign of his heart problem. I don't think it is. Do babies having growth spurts do this? Please, any advice is welcome. I am about to pull my hair out.

mom2tripp replied: Does he show any signs of being sick, temperature?? IF not it could be teething--Tripp's sleeping pattern changes with teething. I'm not sure of the heart problem that your son has but if it worries you I say see your ped--GOOD LUCK

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: No signs of fever. Logan has an aortic valve malformation. He had two heart caths and a surgery before he was 7 months old. But the cardiologist thinks he's doing great. Maybe it is teething. All I know is it's really got him worked up.

mom2tripp replied: DOes he only cry for 5-10 minutes and then go right back to sleep? IF so, I would say just let him cry and evenutally in a few days he'll probably not wake up at all. I would imagine with that heart problem you are pretty nervous about everything!!!

mom2tripp replied: BTW--WELCOME TO THE BOARD I'm Kristi mom to Tripp who is 8 months old and wife to Sal we live in VA--hope you like it here

Jamielou replied: HI Delaney does this when she is teething or has a ear infection....is he pulling at his ears ?

Sarah&Mackenzie replied: Mackenzie did this and a lot of people told me it was just a growth spurt. She did it like 2 weeks straight and hasn't done it since. Hope he starts sleeping again!!!

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: On top of the heart stuff, Logan has had 5 ear infections and pink eye. I am pretty sure it's not an ear infection. But the teething thing is sounding more and more likely. I didn't go through this with the first 2 teeth, but that could be because he was on narcotic pain meds after heart surgery the first time around. I guess it may be time to break out the frozen washcloths and oragel.

A&A'smommy replied:
sounds like it!!! Poor guy and mom... aslo maybe ask your ped. about hyland teething tablets they are all natural and quite frankly a LIFE saver oh and they tast good. Can you give him infant motrin or tylenol? those two things also helped us!

My2Beauties replied:
OK I know a lot of people do this and I'm not one to step in on a parent's decision, but I don't know about letting a baby CIO that has a heart condition, I wouldn't do it anyways - but that is just MHO! Don't take this as anything mean - I was just saying, I don't know if that is something I would do!

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I have a really hard time letting him CIO, but lately, I have just been going in, patting him on that back for a while and going back to bed. I have to be up a 5 and at work by 6. The baby boy is making me frazzled.

KingMom replied: My son recently did this for a couple of weeks, I even took him to the doctor after just two nights b/c I was worried it was an ear infection.

Turned out, his ears were fine and the doctor told me she could tell he was teething and that a tooth could come through anytime, could be a day or two, or a couple of weeks.

She was right, a week later, Colin's first tooth came through the gum line After a few more days he was back to sleeping through the night.

If I was you, I'd let him CIO, he is old enough. If he doesn't calm down in about 10-15 min, go check him and give him something to comfort him (blanket, stuffed animal, pacifier) and tell him goodnight, make sure he is laying down though. Wait a atleast 10-15 more minutes before going back in there. He'll probably fall asleep faster than you think.

I even used a timer to be sure I didn't go in there too quickly, it's so hard, you just want to get back to sleep. I feel you pain as a working mother!

Good luck and keep us posted

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Went home after work last night and checked his gums. There is a little tooth line just visible below the gum. No wonder he has been waking up. I told his daycare provider to give him a dose of Tylenol this afternoon and to use his oragel. Poor little guy.

MommyToAshley replied:
Poor guy... I hope he is feeling better and that toofer pops through. Have you tried Hyland teething tabs? It's the one thing that really worked for my daughter when she was teething. I'd ask your doctor first though since he has a heart cond.

ETA: I just read the other responses and see that it has already been suggested. So.... I agree with Jessica's recommendation.

MommyToAshley replied: I just wanted to add: When Ashley was smaller, our ped showed us a little trick....you can shine a small flashlight on their gums to see if a toofer is coming in (this way you know before the toofer actually pops through the gums)

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: Thanks, everyone.
I talked to Logan's pharmacist. She said that Hyland's tablets should be okay to use, but that they do contain tiny amounts of 2 ingredients that can raise blood pressure. It will have to be my call as to whether I use them. I may have to just get some and see how he reacts. If they work in small amounts, I will use them, but if he doesn't seem to respond, I don't think I will increase the dose. I plan to stop off after work and pick some up.

KingMom replied: Please let us know if it works or not! I've never tried that and am interested in knowing how he does with it.

MyBrownEyedBoy replied: I tried them yesterday evening. He didn't wake up until 3 am, it has been midnight. But we'll keep using those teething tablets for a few more days. Who knows, it can't hurt.

mom2tripp replied: whitney---the hyland tablets do work or at least I think so, Tripp has some and they seem to work every time.