My 1 yr old baby refuses to sleep though he's tired and sleepy. Gets hysterical when we try to make him sleep

Question

What are the options?
Can sedatives like Phenergan be used freely?

Answer 1

I would *not* suggest using Phenergan. For one thing, one side effect is apnea--cessation of breathing. It would be *quieter* than listening to him scream, but I still wouldn't touch it if it were *my* baby!! Furthermore, drugs don't actually induce *sleep*, they cause unconsciousness. Your son will still be tired after "waking up" from a drug-induced sleep and find it even *harder* to sleep!

Babies and young children often don't know how to fall asleep. They need to learn. And they *don't* learn well while screaming.

You didn't say what you have tried to get him to sleep. The best and easiest way to get a baby to sleep is to nurse him. In addition to just comforting him, human milk has sleep-inducing compounds that help him relax and fall asleep.

Another thing that may help is to lie down *with* him in a darkened room and sing or rub his back. Or try walking or rocking with him in your arms. Some babies will sleep best in motion.

Answer 2

I do not recommend using Phenergen or any other medications to put a child to sleep. That is risky and could be seen as negligent. Here's what I do recommend:

Your baby has obviously associated sleep as being a bad thing. It's important to change that and have him see it as a good thing. First, I wouldn't force him to sleep. When it's obvious that he is really tired and can fall asleep at any moment, I would lay him down and proceed to read him a book,rub his back or just hum a tune. If he falls asleep peacefully, he will start to see that sleeping isn't such a terrible thing. That good things come with it. It will take a few tries, try to be patient. Soon enough it will work.

Visit these sights for more help. Parenting (Magazine) and BabyCenter.

I hope this helps. Good luck and best wishes with your precious baby!

Answer 3

I would not use drugs to begin with. Make sure the sleeping routine is the same each day. Take him to bed around the same time, play the same music, sing the same song, and then tuck him in and leave. Let him cry. The first night will be horrible for he will cry and drive you crazy. But don't go to him. Eventually he will sleep.Do this again the next night and he will learn that crying is no use, he has to sleep for mum and dad wont pick him up anymore and give him some more attention. You have to be strong to be able to give this 'tough love' but you are doing him a favor as he needs his sleep - and so do you.

Answer 4

Please don't use sedatives on a baby! Hold him close and sing to him. Some babies have painful gas. I used to hold my children belly down on my arm so the warmth helped to ease the discomfort. A warm bath can soothe before bedtime. If this is an insecurity issue, you might have to let him scream until he discovers that he can't manipulate you. Read him stories. The sound of your voice will make him drowsy and it will provide a good time for bonding with your child. Avoid TV before bedtime. Flickering images and disturbing content may stimulate his mind so he has trouble falling asleep.

Answer 5

sounds like he is overtired... i know - when they are like that , they dont want to sit down, lie down, be held, have a pacifier.... My daughter (age 2) can have a tantrum for half an hour - fast asleep! i would not use a sedative, however tempting. my best method so far was to put her in her bed (screaming!) and offer to sing her a song. i cannot tell you how many times i have sung over her screams, but she eventually got tired of listening over her own voice, and quietened down. i was then able to talk to her soothingly until she fell asleep...

she did actually go through a stage where we gave her sedatives on order of the doctor, but it just backfired - she was more cranky and more unreasonable than ever, and it completely killed her routine...

you could also try taking him out of that situtation (room, crib etc) and play with him a bit and then try again. only one of you should be with him - he may be overstimulated if both of you are in the room. keep it dark and cool....

good luck

Answer 6

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Answer 7

why would you even think of sedating a 1 year old??? are you insane???

Try natural remidies -- a warm, soothing bath or shower with you. A big meal before bed time (rice cereal or oatmeal stick to the ribs) -- a nice warm bottle -- bedtime books -- a dim room while you rock him and sing to him softly...
I could go on and on all day with remedies -- I can't believe you even fathom the thought of sedation for a 1 year old -- just wind him down, fill up his tummy, and if all else fails -- put him in his crib, and let him cry himself to sleep... Don't pick him up, but go in and pat his back every 5 minutes or so.. let him know you are still there, but he needs to learn how to soothe himself to sleep

Don't drug your kid!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

I don't like the sedatives idea, either.

When our son wouldn't calm down I'd hold him over my shoulder and slap him on the back like I was burping him. I'd slap him hard in a slow rhythm, like once every 4 seconds. This never failed to calm him down. Then when he was quiet I'd put him down on his side and tap him on the back more lightly. I tried this on a couple of other cranky babies in my time and it worked on them too. If you're brave enough to find the right level of force, I think it will work on most babies.

Answer 9

I have never put my daughter on a routine. I have always had a wierd schedule so I usually don't go to bed until about 2:00am. I usually let my daughter play and burn all her energy off before putting her to bed. Sometimes she fights it but usually if I let her play long enough she will fall right to sleep. Please don't try sedatives on your child. He is WAY too young for that. If you continue having problems getting him to go to bed, then consult your pediatrician.

Answer 10

Put him in his car seat, in the car, and drive around until he falls asleep.

Do not give a baby sedatives.