My 6 month old has been fussy at bedtime, waking up more often & then fussy when we put him back down???

Question

First- let me start by saying that he has NEVER cried at bedtime. We have a great routine & he usually gets into his crib, gets his "lovey" (bear), pacifier, and then closes his eyes & falls right to sleep at 9:00 every night. The past week, we put him to bed at 8:00 and he did great. (Eats dinner at 7:30, then bed & bath then wakes up at 5 am to nurse).
Anyways- 3 days ago I gave him pears & the same day we had company come in. That night he went to bed (normal time) and woke at midnight, 3:00, 5:00 and 7:00 to nurse (not eating much AT ALL, but just comfort nursing). He also would not nap all day- this has been going on for 3 days. Last night, he cried off & on for 1 hour in his crib when we put him down to bed. He's never done this. He wouldn't even nurse when I offered it & I gave him tylenol as well. We had to get him out of his crib & let him play for another hour, then re-do the nighttime routine. What is going on? I thought maybe it was the pears? Please help!

Answer 1

This is normal. You are confused because he has been sleeping so well. They do that about the age of 6 months. This will go on for about a month. You can do everything... exact same routine and so on, then this happens.

That's just how babies are. He also might be cutting some teeth. Always let him have a pacifier as current studies show it reduces the chance of SIDS.

You have to do this to really know. Rub your finger over his gums slowly and "feel" (not look) for teeth. BTW, if this is the case, which most likely it is, it can get a WHOLE lot worse :)

If he is teething then get some of those refrigerated teething rings... the more hooked together the better.

I'll tell you what... I think it is better to baby him instead of let him cry at this age. They seem to do better. Let them "cry it out" when they are over one year old.

I know what you are thinking... he's getting less sleep so he should be tired. You can't use that logic on babies. Having him play more helps.

Answer 2

I would say he is teathing,my son is 7 months old and has been doing the exact same thing for a month now!!He got his 2 bottom teeth at 5 and half months that did not effect his sleep but now it is crazy!!He had a normal bed time of 7:45/8:00 and now it is sometimes 7 and sometimes 10:30!! I do not nurse but my son wont stop crying even if I give him is soother,I have tried rocking him too and sometimes when I cant do anything I take him to the front door and stand in the doorway with the door open for him to get some fresh air for 3 to 5 minutes,this stops his crying and 9 times out of 10 when I put him back in his crib he goes right to sleep!!Go figure!If that doesn't work I put him in his swing,sooooo,I am sure this will pass,I don't think it was the pears but I panick every time I try something new on my son too and if he is off a little I think he is allergic!LOL!!I don't think it was the company either,sometimes it may tire them out for that day from the new stimulation of new faces but I think that would be all.So I would not worry,I would say teething,and just when you think you have got that routine,they change!LOL! Good luck.

Answer 3

I can relate...I'm going through the exact same thing right now. Your night routine sounds just like ours. I even let my son sleep in bed with me hoping that would work, I don't ever let him sleep in the bed. Well, it didn't work. I've given him another mid-night bottle, too. And the whole teething thing doesn't really make it seem any better. My son does have one tooth already in and another on its way.
I do think it's a developmental thing. I've read that babies around this age usually have sleeping difficulties, one of those "it'll get worse before it gets better" things. I think we just have to ride it out and tend to his needs. They could also be experiencing some separation anxiety and have just realized that we go away when they sleep. Good luck!

Answer 4

Night time awakenings have many scenerios. Is he sick? If he is sick or teething that could cause him to wake. If he is irritable and miserable during day time too check w/ his doc to make sure he doesn't have an ear infection. Also night time awakenings can be common at this age d/t seperation anxiety. I don't think the pears would keep him up for 3 nights though. Stick to your routine and he will eventually get back in to the swing of things.

Answer 5

We have a 9 month old in the exact same boat. We went through this at 5 months, 7 months, and now at 9 months. Everytime...she got a new TOOTH! Hang in there. Try giving your little one some motrin or tylenol right at bed time. This may help control any mid-night pain.

Answer 6

appears like the colic hours to me. My son might cry each and every nighttime beginning any time after 4:30pm till around 10pm, in no way for extra suitable than a pair hours yet he did this each and every nighttime till he replaced into very virtually 3 months old. the the remainder of the day/nighttime he replaced right into a splendidly chuffed little boy who infrequently cried for any reason. it is no longer reflux or she could be crying each and every time she burped. attempt giving her some Gripe water in basic terms before you nurse her at 7:30 - this might help to do away with any gasoline bubbles that have geared up up in her tummy with the aid of the day and can head off the crying spell no remember if it extremely is using gasoline. It won't harm her if the crying isn't because of the fact of gasoline. additionally take a glance at what you're eating for dinner your self, in case you consume dinner a pair hours before that 7:30 feed. you'll be eating some thing it is disagreeing along with her whilst she breastfeeds. Is there some thing which you consume or drink with each and every dinner which you have no longer have been given the the remainder of the day? Do you're taking iron or nutrition pills with dinner? some thing could be coming with the aid of on your breast milk it is bothering her. additionally - do somewhat learn on clusterfeeding because of the fact your feeding time table in the night is probable to circulate all screwy in the subsequent week or so. She'll prefer to consume much less at a time extra frequently in the night hours (and actually will consume extra for the time of that factor era then what she in many situations does) and that's thoroughly known. stable good fortune!

Answer 7

He could be teething or just not feeling good!! Just keep up the bedtime routine so he knows that nothing is different. Could be the pears or the excitement of you having company. Babies react differently to changes, just be patient and things will go back to normal.

Answer 8

Sounds like he might be going through a growth spurt. Try not giving him fruit before bed. I always fed mine some rice cereal before bed this was gentle on their tummy's and they would have a full feeling. Usually would help them to sleep all night. If it is a growth spurt just be patient he will go back to normal just takes time.

Answer 9

poor little thing i hate when babies are not feeling well and can't tell you.. but check his mouth to see if he has Thrush that may be why he isn't nursing his mouth is sore,( it is little whitish blister like things) and he may have gas built up in his tummy, or an ear ache and too it could be teething. the best thing for teething babies is keep a bottle of Whiskey on hand and rub their gums with it.. it is an old fashion thing and my family has used it down through the generation. i did on my two kids, it will not hurt them but numb the gums.. and maybe try before bedtime laying him on his belly across your lap and gently bouncing him to relieve gas.. anything is worth a try..

Answer 10

More than likely he is either teething or about to learn a new skill. Really any major change in a baby's development can effect sleep.

Please respect that your baby doesn't know that he should sleep and he is doing the best he can. He isn't challenging you or being defiant. You lay him down and he can't sleep, he can't sleep. You don't need to control your kids, just parent them -even if it is at 2am.