Baby wakes up screaming...?

Question

My daughter has woken up the last two nights at about 10 (she went to sleep at about 8) screaming. The screaming lasted about 30 minutes each time, until I fed her again. But she was fed just 2 hours earlier, and took enough each time, so I know she wasn't starving. I think the eating just soothed her. She hasn't been pulling at her ears and they aren't red, so I don't think it's an ear infection. Anyway, she's 5 months old. Any thoughts?

To clarify - when she wakes up, I try a variety of things to calm her down before I feed her. I talk softly to her, I rock her, I burp her, I caress her face, I check her diaper, I offer her a soother, or my clean knuckle (it helps with teething). After about a half an hour, if she is still screaming (and I'm not exaturating), I give her a bottle with some Ovol drops and a bit of baby Tylenol and she finally calms down.

This has only happened twice in a row (it has happened before, but not in a while), so I will see what happens over the weekend before I call the doctor.

Answer 1

Maybe your feeding her too much before bed so she is going to bed to full and getting hungry faster.

Or you could try a little cereal in her bottle too.

Answer 2

Perhaps she's teething, I know (I'm not saying you do it) , but alot of new mom's just pull out the bottle(or the boob) when their babies wake up at night.. and this is good because when a baby is upset, the best thing is comfort and sucking is comforting.. maybe you should try a soother..

Either way... here are some suggestions as to what the problem might be .. she could wake up scared, she could be teething, she could be having growing pains, she could not be able to self soothe, she could be hungry.. if she's going through a growth sprurt.. this happens around 4-6 months.

Good luck

Answer 3

I have a 15 month old. If this behavior is uncommon for your baby it could be possible that she is just beginning to develop an ear infection. But since you said she is 5 months old, she could very well be teething. If you're sure it's not an ear infection, try a dose of infant tyelenol just before she sleeps and see if that helps. In a lot of babies teething pai gets much worse at night. However, you won't know for sure unless you see your dr. Also, some babies (including mine) wake up from bad dreams. I suggest keeping a close eye on her during the day. Good luck!

Answer 4

She's probably teething. Check with your pediatrician regarding a possible ear infection as well. My daughter starting getting ear infections at 5 months and most didn't have any outward signs (fever, ear pulling, etc).

If she's teething her gums will be hot and swollen. She also might be getting used to getting up and being with you as well. It only take a couple of days for that to become a habit. Good Luck!

Answer 5

It's probably due to teething. My son does that sometimes when he's getting a new tooth. The baby Tylenol is probably what's calming her and not the bottle. I would try picking her up and giving her the Tylenol and rocking her to calm her down a bit...good luck!!

Answer 6

If She doesn't seem to be in pain maybe she wakes up in the dark and is afraid if she is five months old this is ridiculous alright here is what to do every night this happens leave her alone i know its hard but it work she will finally get the idea that your not coming, and it will take 1-4 weeks before she stops all babies are different besides its also proven that this will help them out later in life these tend to be the kids who aren't picked on because they are tougher and know that mom and dad cant always be there for them

Good Luck!

Answer 7

Is she teething? Does she have a stomach ache? My daughter would wake up in the middle of the night screaming from a stomach ache - and the eating temporarily soothes but could aggravate. Try (if you're not opposed) Mylicon. It worked wonders for us. If she's teething you can try a tiny drop of baby anbesol.

Answer 8

My son's pediatrician told me when my son was doing that that he was experiencing what's called "Night terrors." There was really nothing much I could do for him, that he would eventually stop as he got older. And he did....
I am sure feeding her does offer some comfort-but maybe if you tried to calm her by singing softly-in very dim light. Also, babies communicate by touch-try caressing her very gently.
If that's not it-maybe it's gas-my daughter was colicky and sucking seem to help her-though I tried not to feed her-

Answer 9

She's either growing or fighting some little sickness, like a cold or something. Babies have growth spurts where they eat every few hours, taking a few ounces, even though they just ate and you imagine there is no way they can be hungry.

This is just how they grow and function. Its perfectly normal. Just be sure to feed her when she does wake up, her little body needs that extra food.

Answer 10

Dear Jwelsh,

Could be teething pain or a wet diaper. Have you tried a dose of Motrin or Tylenol before she goes to sleep?

How long do you wait before you go get her?

-j.

Answer 11

Í take it screaming is not an exaggeration. If she doesn't seem to be in pain, may be she is waking up and getting disoriented in the dark and then afraid. I'm not sure what age night terrors can start, but you may like to look into that too. What happens if you change her bed time?