What could have happen?

Question

My 4 month old has never been a great sleeper, but we were on a pretty good schedule. Now that I have returned to work, I dread night time! She is waking up at all hours and very fussy. I try feeding her, checking her diaper, patting her, giving her the pacifier, and rocking her. NOTHING seems to help!!! Last night, I gave her some tylenol as a last result and then finally just let her cry for a bit. She finally fell asleep after 15 minutes of crying. It made me sick at my stomach, but I could not think of anything else to do. She is not always fussy when she wakes during the night. Sometimes, she smiles and giggles like she is ready to play! This is really starting to drag me down. What could have happened?

Out of the past 2 weeks we have had probably 4 good nights.

Answer 1

I know how tiring this can be my son was a nightmare, but the more stressed you become about it the worse it will get. maybe you should try the screaming technique like you did last night make sure you keep the routine the same for her supper, bath story and bed i know she is only 4m old but they still like to be read too or you could sing a bed time song, letting her know IT IS BEDTIME, when you walk out of the room say."its bed time good night xxxxx see you in the morning" then leave the room if she is still crying after 5m go back in and say the whole thing again "its bed time good night xxxxx see you in the morning" it should take about a week of the same routine, well it took 8 days with my son, and yes I did cry for him because i felt bad but I had to get him sleeping. he was better in the day because he had slept well.



if she is attending a nursery or childminders while you at work ask them to give you a record of her sleep patten while she was in their care,



Golden rule don't start it if you don't intend to continue doing it because that would be unfair to your baby, and yourself.



hope this is helpful Good luck and make sure you catch up on your sleep whenever you are able.

Answer 2

A baby's sleep schedule changes throughout infant-hood. Has she learned anything new lately? The excitement from learning a new skill such as sitting up can keep a baby up at night causing her to be overtired and fussy. Naturally, sleep schedules can change, so even if you do get her back on track in the next few weeks, something naturally can trigger a new sleep pattern. The best thing to do is have a routine and stick with it. At bedtime, a bath and story and tuck in will give her comfort. And when she wakes throughout the night for feeding, do not let her fall asleep in your arms. Put her back in the crib, sing a song and go back to bed. Gradually reduce your time in the room with her if she can not take you leaving so soon.



Please consult your doctor before administering drugs at bedtime. It has long term adverse effects on a child. If you only thought that she was in pain, then it should not have been given. (You must KNOW, and only use as a last resort.) Teething usually does not warrant the use of medication. Sleepless nights are a part of being a mom, especially throughout the first year.

Answer 3

Sounds like you're a great mom, with working and trying to do everything possible to soothe your baby at night. It could be because her teeth are starting to grow way under her gum surface, and it may wake her up. Or, maybe there is no real reason. Some babies take a year or more to sleep through the night.



You could try not to let her sleep in the evening, at least 5 or 6 hours before bed so she is a little more tired during the night. Maybe you could sometimes take a short nap when you come home from work as well, if someone can watch her. You could take her into your bed at night too, maybe she needs you close by for comfort. In the end, try to take it one day at a time and remember that this will not last forever.



I can somewhat sympathize because my baby who used to be a great sleeper, and he now wakes up three or four times a night, takes a bottle and goes back to sleep. I find it's not easy AND I'm not working. Funny, right?



PS - This McMom lady seems to have issues. Giving a baby Tylenol once because nothing else works doesn't count as "drugging" your baby. I guess not all of us live up to her high super-mom status.

Answer 4

First of all, ignore MC MOM, she is obviously just looking to be abusive she is probably very unhappy. You are doing a great job I am sure, and you are looking for ways to improve the quality of your child's life. Good work. Ok, as for my advice on your situation - go buy the book "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems...(etc)" She gives loads of great advice on how to help your child sleep through the night without having to let them "cry it out". Why is she waking? Could be any of the things others have mentioned, teething, the change in having you return to work, learning a new skill. The main thing is as she adjusts over the next few days is to not fall into any accidental parenting routines that will hinder her ability to fall asleep on her own. I won't get into them all here, but really, go check that book out you will be glad you did. My son is a great sleeper because of it! Good luck.

Answer 5

Check on her to make sure she is okay. Then close the door and let her cry. After a few nights, she'll learn to put herself back to sleep. Also, try teething tablets. You can usually find them at a grocery store. They are all natural and help with teething pain so the baby can rest. You can give like 1-2 an hour. They have doseing directions on them.

Answer 6

Don't let them worry you...my son had a spell like that. The one thing that works wonders is called Hylands Homeopathic Colic tablets. Although it may not be colic, it says its good for other symptoms like teething, gas and fussiness. They're teeny tiny tablets that dissolve on their tongues. The immediately stop crying since they have something in their mouths. The other wonderful thing is that they're natural with no side effects. You can find them at Wal-mart for cheap and there are 125 tablets. Give that a try before the Tylenol-it will work out!

Answer 7

i'm sorry for the previous responses...seriously...you did NOTHING wrong. i would have tried Tylenol as well. its not "drugging" your baby...its just a pain reliever its not like tylenol is going to knock a baby out. that is ridiculous!



as to your question, it could be a number of factors. when my son was about four months old his sleep schedule changed a number of times. it could just be a rough patch. like previously stated...teething can definatly keep a child up. just hang in there and don't let the other answers get you down. being a parent is tough when people pass judgment on everything you do. the first time i needed to give my son medicine i called my sister who is a NICU nurse and she assured me that there is nothing wrong with giving your child pain medication if you are worried that your child may be hurting. she told me not to worry if he wasn't hurting and i gave it to him because she said it "certainly wouldn't hurt him"



so yeah.



hang in there!

Answer 8

She misses you so she is making up for the time without you the only time she can!



PS Yeah giving tylenol is reasonable to help rule out pain. Its not like its going to make her sleep!





Waking at four months is also pretty normal though, but this article is mostly about breastfeeding so I didn't put it up before (because even if you are breastfeeding she's getting bottles or cups during the day I would have to imagine) plus yahoo is blocking links to kellymom because I link to it a lot... uh because its one of the best sources of breastfeeding info



http://ncane.com/pxi



Or you can go to kellymom DOT com and the article is called

"Wakeful 4 month olds"

Answer 9

i had this with my boy and im afraid the more u pick her up and fuss her the more she will do it! check her nappy, and see if shes hungry, if shes teething give her soe teething gel on her gums. then put her down do not talk to her at all she needs to learn that nite time is no playing no cuddles no rocking or patting and talking, this may sound harsh but it works honestly, for the 1st few nights she will cry herself to sleep, but shes crying but there is nothing wrong with (u know there isnt as youve just checked)she just wants attention, well she can have that in day time, the important thing is to set boundrys and establish day and night, it will be hard letting her cry trust me ive done it and cried myself also, but itl be so worth it once shes sleeping through. also dos she have a feed right before bed, maybe up the amount shes having to fill her up during the night more! good luck i know how hard it is be patient and calm and just think of them full nights of sleep youl be getting, whn she awakes in the morning, give her loads of fuss, cuddles talking and singing then she will start to establish day and night, keep her calm for an hour before bed maybe book reading time ect. gooood luck xxx

Answer 10

Well.. My aunt is going through the same thing... The best thing to do is to let them cry a little and after about 10-15 minutes and they still cry walk around with her...



GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 11

She is 4 months old! That is what babies do.

Just because she slept well for a few months doesn't mean she always will.

I would never give my children sedatives or medicine to make them drowsy!

You are just going to have to persevere.

Answer 12

is she teething? that will definitely keep a baby up at night.

Answer 13

"I gave her some tylenol as a last result and then finally just let her cry for a bit..... It made me sick at my stomach"



I'm not surprised, I would be disgusted with myself if I not only neglected my child's needs by ignoring their cries but also drugged them to sleep when the going got tough.



"What could have happened?"



A number of things.

Babies are expected to not sleep well in the first few months of life, -- you were not dealing with something more dramatic than the rest of us have dealt with with our babies.



Either keep cuddling and reassuring your daughter when she is unsettled at night (why not try bringing her into your bed?) -- or find a way to make your family get by without you having to work.

But do not neglect and drug your baby again, that is sick.