My 6 month old is driving me batty! Everytime he gets sick, the first time it was ears and this time a head cold. Both times he needed to sleep upright. Every time we let him do this we can't get him back in his crib to lay flat again. I am exhausted.
I hate the screaming method, and I do go in and comfort him without picking him up. Got to bed at 5 am this morning and I am at work now!
HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007-03-21 03:28:29 · 22 answers · asked by qpook 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Welcome to parenthood.
2007-03-21 03:33:00 · answer #1 · answered by EGOman 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your baby is crying from sinus and ear pain. He is also crying because he cannot breath. Use a humidifier, saline for the nose and get used to the rough nights. You cannot force a sick child onto your sleeping schedule. Unfortunately, this behavior does not improve with age. I just spent a rough two weeks with a sick 4 year old. When she gets ear infections she throws up at night, has nightmares, etc. I hardly slept for two straight weeks.
If baby is healthy and is still screaming at night because he wants you, you are doing the right thing. He will get over it in a few days. BUT be sure he is healthy. Trying to get a sick or teething child to sleep through the night by "crying it out" is a total waste of time. It is just not going to happen.
Can dad help? You and he could set up "shifts" during the night with the sick child so that you can get a few hours of sleep before work. I totally sympathize with your problem. I worked full time when my first child was a baby. Actually, nights like you are having were part of the reason I decided that full time work was just not for me.
2007-03-21 03:47:40 · answer #2 · answered by anne p 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We've all been there. It will get better. There is no quick fix. For us, a co-sleeper worked well. Baby sleeps better knowing Mom and Dad are right there at arms length. As for the head colds, the next time, try a vapor plug in. IT goes right in the power socket and it emits a vapor that helps clear up nasal passages and helps baby sleep better. Also, a humidifier works good too. A steam treatment helps. Turn the shower on and close the door to let the steam build up. Take baby in the bathroom for a minute or two. Works really good at breaking up all the junk in their chests.
Good luck.
2007-03-21 03:32:55 · answer #3 · answered by Spare me your bull 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think that you are being too tough on yourself. So your baby isn't really fond of sleeping in his crib or laying flat when sleeping. I think you should just be a bit more relaxed and not so by the book. If the baby doesn't want to sleep in the crib or laying flat, don't make him. Maybe he has an impediment with his air flow or maybe he is just more comfortable sleeping propped up. Just let him sleep in his car seat. And just pick him up if he cries and comfort him that way. You might be able to soothe him to sleep and lay him down flat and it goes quicker if you just pick him up and rock him. Somtimes new parents get so by the book that they forget to just relax and do whatever is easiest or the most natural. He's a baby, you aren't spoiling him if you pick him up and you aren't spoiling him if you let him sleep the way he prefers. You are just making life a little easier.
2007-03-21 03:35:45 · answer #4 · answered by Whiskey Tango Foxtrot 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
OK, first. Get someone to take him for a bit and get some sleep.
Second, strap him into the carset and let him sleep in that in his crib. No biggie.
Third, this baby is too young for the cry it out method!!!!!!!!!! So good for you for not liking it.
Fourth, he might be waking up because he is hungry or thirsty. Babies tend to need more nutrition after being sick.
Fifth, take him to the doc and find out why he is getting sick repeatedly.
Sixth, hugs, Hon!
Seventh, no offense but if I was upset and my hubby came in to comfort me but refused to hold me, I would be pi**ed. Hold him for a while, rock him, get him back to sleep. He needs you to meet his needs. He cannot do it on his own. He needs to know that when he has a problem someone he loves and trusts is going to come and comfort him. Yep, it is an hour of your sleep but it is teaching him valuable trust lessons for later in life. Go to bed earlier so that you can get up with him and get enough sleep.
All the best to you!
2007-03-21 03:47:07 · answer #5 · answered by Tired Momma 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes when a kid gives you no choice you have to choose the screaming method. You cannot be a good mother when you are that tired. He will be fine. Get him into a good bed time routine- warm bath, story, bottle or nurse whatever you do, tell him something like "Good night, I'll see you in the morning" and turn out the light and shut the door. It might take up to 2 weeks to get back onto his schedule- my daughter did.
Bottle fed babies get sick more often than breast fed, and if your son goes to daycare that ups his chances of an infection as well. Obviously you can't change at this point, but is something that you will get through.
2007-03-21 03:33:53 · answer #6 · answered by not too creative 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
how have you propped him upright? has he been sleeping in his car seat placed in the crib? or did you prop up the crib mattress?
our 11 month old has had the 5 or 6 "daycare" colds in a row (and shared them with mommy - how nice!) and as a result, we had to put a standard size pillow under the head of her crib mattress to elevate it slightly. maybe try the car seat in the crib, then move to just a pillow beneath the mattress and see how he does. also, maybe he still has the ear infection issue - that can cause them pain when they lie flat. have your pediatrician check this out just in case.
2007-03-21 03:35:13 · answer #7 · answered by SmartAleck 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You poor thing. My little girl is 2 now, and I went through the same thing. She wouldn't sleep through the night until she was 1 1/2 almost. She'd wake up crying wanting to get up, or sleep with me. I had to just let her cry. Your doing the right thing by going in to comfort him without picking him up. I know it's hard, and you can't get any sleep. Things will get better over time I promise you. It may take awhile but don't give in. This is a critical time, and if your baby thinks that all he has to do is cry to get his way he'll do it.
2007-03-21 04:02:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
try elevating the head of his crib(a few blankets under the mattress.) keep it like that always. i do that with my 11 mon. old since she is pretty much always sick. now if u have been having him sleep in a seat,then u need to stop. it will take a couple days for him to be used to sleeping in his crib again but then u will be all set.
2007-03-21 03:38:39 · answer #9 · answered by Stacey 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have a car seat that clips into a base fore the car. It is curved on the back, my son loves this thing. When he wasn't sleeping well, I put him in the car seat and put the whole thing into the crib, then we could rock the carseat until he fell asleep.
2007-03-21 03:32:00 · answer #10 · answered by the_smeltzers 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nicely i'm particular that you meant six years old and not in any respect months. in case your daughter is interested in faculties now then sturdy for her! do not brush it off even inspite of the actuality that she's so youthful. that's advisable to inform her "enable's problem about effortless, center faculties, or maybe severe college now" and then tell her to carry off on faculties. If she persists then attempt getting some options about diverse faculties and note what pastimes her. earlier doing so that you may ask her what she should be, then seek for faculties which have sturdy courses for those careers. sturdy success to you and that infant!
2016-12-02 08:38:54 · answer #11 · answered by allateef 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋