The nine month old I watch has occasional nightmares, they happen every few months and result in a few days of grumpy. Well, he had one last night and since then has woken up and cried...he wont go to sleep and only seems happy in the tub, but I do not think it wise to keep a baby in the bathtub all day. He is also teething, I have given him teething medicine, tylenol, and all variety of chew-stuffs, and also let him cuddle in his favorite soft blankey of mine. Everything I try helps for a short while but then he gets upset and fights sleep again! In about 6 hours he will have been mostly awake and fussy for a full 24 hours...I know this isnt the first time he has done this and his mom has spoken to his pediatrician and all they say to do is get by until he is better, call if things dont improve in a few days. What can I do to help settle him down and make him feel better?
2007-09-09 12:32:17 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
They use teething tablets...it helps with teething but not this.
The reason HIS mom took him is because I am only watching him for a while, I am not his mother.
She talked to the doctor about the possibility of reflux or anything else like that, but when looking at the symptoms are 99% certain it is nightmares (there is a family history of nightmares, and what happens is, once every few months he will start crying/screaming, and be reacting to -something- that isnt there, and not be aware at all of his surroundings. He will then spend a few days trying not to sleep, as though he is scared to do so)
2007-09-09 12:44:37 · update #1
we have aromatherapy bubbles, soap, shampoo and lotion, all part of his normal routine.
As far as letting him cry...I am holding him right now, have been for hours...he's been crying the whole time. He does not fit his swing, I have tried songs, stories, sesame street, changing rooms, setting him down to cry and his bottle which he has barely touched all day =(
2007-09-09 12:53:14 · update #2
Have you tried aromatherapy? Try using his bathtime scents at bedtime. Have you tried letting him swing in a swing? Some babies sleep better in the swing than in their crib. Does he have a regular routine, or is it always changing? A regular routine will get him in a rythm of sleeping time. And last but not least, do you let him cry? Maybe he just has to exhaust himself.
2007-09-09 12:47:08 · answer #1 · answered by bin there dun that 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the baby is having a kind of nightmare only babies get - it's called reaching important milestones. Every infant goes through a rough phase when they are working on new things, whether its teething or rolling over, sitting up, standing, cruising, walking... 9 months is about right for standing, and it means all the caretakers are miserable if the child is performance oriented.
I think the mom did the right thing by asking the pediatrician, but there is not a lot to be done for a child who is determined to acquire a new skill. Can you get out and walk the baby in a stroller or pack for a while so he can get a nap? That might mean some sleep - although that's more work for you.
Good luck!
2007-09-09 12:47:06 · answer #2 · answered by Ethel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think it's nightmares. At that age they wouldn't comprehend things like that. Since it's something while he's laying down, maybe the parents should look into acid reflux? A friend of mines child has problems with it and gets upset whenever the acid moves up his throat. He has a medication that keeps the acid down, so now he's much better with sleeping as he's more comfortable. Just a thought of maybe what else it could be. Hope they figure it out!
2007-09-09 12:37:27 · answer #3 · answered by Chris2 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There are several products on the market to assist with this type of behavior. My favorites are those that contain lavendar and chamomile. These are soothing and will help the baby relax. Johnson and Johnson has a bubble bath or soap made with both of these herbs and have found this the easiest way to introduce them to children.
2007-09-09 12:38:39 · answer #4 · answered by Jenna A 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Has she tried Hyland's Teething Tablets. They are all natural. My son would wake up screaming while teething and after I started using these and giving the Tylenol he would sleep through the night again. The tablets disolve in baby's mouth.
2007-09-09 12:37:19 · answer #5 · answered by Ryan's mom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
poor baby...don't listen to grapelady, she obviously didn't read the question right...I also think it's something a little more than nightmares...like the reflux thingy...I would ask the mother to get a second opinion from a different pediatrician.
2007-09-09 12:46:15 · answer #6 · answered by uh... 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what you need to do is take him/her into a dark bedroom in its favorite spot and talk to him/her have them get cuddled with you and read it a bed time story in a nice soft voice.
do this while theyre supposed to be asleep and do this on those nights most of the time theyll fall asleep on your lap or theyll fall asleep just a bit after you put them in bed
2007-09-09 12:39:54 · answer #7 · answered by half-jaw 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what makes you think he is having nightmares? sounds liek seperation anxiety to me.
Why did your MOM talk to his pediatrician... why didnt you?
let him cry himself to sleep.. ben working for decades. He'll wear himself out and fall asleep.
2007-09-09 12:38:10 · answer #8 · answered by grapelady911 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they now sell lavender baby products ,which helps baby go to sleep..you may want to try that..
2007-09-09 12:36:50 · answer #9 · answered by CCRIDER69 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This sure is a lond question eh?
2007-09-09 12:37:12 · answer #10 · answered by Your Add Here! 5 · 0⤊ 8⤋