blind_otter Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 My son turned 6 months recently and we have been experimenting with solid foods. Just rice cereal, banana, and apples so far. I am following the "4 day rule" where you just give one type of food for 4 days straight to see if any allergy issues pop up. So far, so good. He loves apples and bananas, but did not enjoy plain rice cereal with breastmilk mixed in. Anyway, for the past 3 days he has suddenly, inexplicably just NOT wanted to sleep. He will nap for 30 minutes at the most, and at night he fights going to sleep so much. The night before last I gave up and let him stay up playing around on the floor. He was hungry after a while and I fed him and he finally fell asleep - at 10:15! His normal bedtime is 7:30pm! I was hoping he would sleep late, but to no avail. He was up and awake at his normal time, 7:30am. Also, he was a very good sleeper up until this point. All of a sudden, he wakes up several times throughout the night like he's a newborn again. It's so frustrating. I can't get anything done. I don't know if he's teething (he chews on everything anyway, but I didn't get any teeth until I was 9 months old), or if he's trying hard to learn a new skill - he is very close to crawling at this point and he is constantly trying to practice. Ugh. I just needed to vent. He is not his normal, cheerful self, either. He gets overtired all the time and just gets so crabby and fussy.
quankanne Posted January 15, 2009 Posted January 15, 2009 sounds like teething issues ... you might also want to rule out ear infection, etc. is there a noticeable difference in the change of seasons where you are? That might be affecting him even if it's just a minor one! as long as he's okay entertaining himself until he falls back asleep, you shouldn't have any long-term problems. My one nephew didn't need much sleep, while his older brother had to be in bed by 8:15 or he'd just zonk out wherever he was. So the little one learned to entertain himself with toys (and books as he got older), to a point where we'd let him stay up til 10 or 10:30 as long as he was quiet in his bed. For the most part, he did well with that. But every kid varies.
Author blind_otter Posted January 16, 2009 Author Posted January 16, 2009 Gah! Last night he was up until 9:30pm. I ended up curling up with him and we both fell asleep, and Pops joined us. I woke up at 4am and the lights were still on in the house. I had to get up when it was so cold and turn off everything and change the baby's diaper. Luckily I have gotten really good at doing that fast, and in the dark (as long as the diaper is just wet). So I managed to do all that without waking up the baby. I will check him out for ear infection stuff, but I don't think that's it. He hasn't had any signs of illness or anything like that.
Author blind_otter Posted January 19, 2009 Author Posted January 19, 2009 Blech. Going on day 7 of sleeplessness. I wrestled him to sleep for a nap an hour ago. We'll see if it sticks. I feel so bad when I have to get him to sleep. Like I should be letting him be free to do his own thing. But if I do that he'll be up all hours and crabby as can be. It's times like this I feel like I'm a bad momma. Like, if I was being a good momma, he would be happy at all times and prefectly at ease and would be able to transition from sleep to wake to sleep again with a minimum of fuss. I hoped that starting solids would help him sleep. It didn't. If anything his sleep is even more disturbed.
steveraves Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 They make a baby orajel, get that and rub it on his gums and see if that helps. That's what we used with our kids.
tanbark813 Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 He's probably just stressed out about the current political climate and the downturn of the economy.
Author blind_otter Posted January 21, 2009 Author Posted January 21, 2009 They make a baby orajel, get that and rub it on his gums and see if that helps. That's what we used with our kids. I bought a tube, and tasted it myself (I taste everything he eats) and it tasted so gross! I didn't want to inflict that on him. I got some hylands teething tablets. He is doing a little better, yesterday we had a great day together. He went to sleep before 9pm, which was great. I got a lot done. He's probably just stressed out about the current political climate and the downturn of the economy. We did watch the inauguration yesterday. Maybe that settled him down.
littlekitty Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 Sounds like teething to me too BO... 6 months already! Glad you're all doing well!
JamesM Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 Blind Otter....there is one phrase I learned quickly when our children were young.... "This too shall pass." As soon as I realized it was true, it helped me cope with some of those frustrating times. Our first baby had colic until he was eight months old. He only took naps for a half hour at a time. His nighttime sleeping was from 10 or 11 until seven. Those were long days. I am not sure I have an answer as to the exact cause, but as you have learned, it simply is a trial and error situation. Try to remember what changes you did. Begin making changes to see what might cause his insomnia. I would go with the teething as a possibility. As for not giving oraljel because it tastes bad to YOU, I am not sure I agree with this. Two reasons...things that help us don't always taste good. Would you rather that his pain is gone or that he only tastes pleasant things? And yes, this stuff worked for our babies. The other thing is if you give foods to him that you like, then you limit his experiences and you create a child that doesn't try new foods. I know...we did this with our first one. To this day, he is very stubborn about trying new foods. (Crazy thing is...many times he actually likes new foods. ) You are doing good. If only they gave a set of books that told us how to care for our babies...
IfWishesWereHorses Posted January 21, 2009 Posted January 21, 2009 BO, He's also moving into another stage of growth and development. Maybe he's taken more of an interest in the world around him. When mine were infants I was pretty compulsive about a bedtime routine. I always found that a bath, warm pj's, rocking and singing in a dark quiet room for just a minute, then down for the night helped them to prepare, relax, and fall asleep. I do remember that when ever mine seemed to be going through any developmental change that their patterns seem to change.
Author blind_otter Posted January 21, 2009 Author Posted January 21, 2009 I think he did go through a developmental change. He is now able to sit by himself and play, which he was unable to do a week ago. Now that's all he seems to want to do. He does want cuddle time with me and his pops, but he needs floor time for a couple of hours a day. I've baby proofed the living room and gated him in there for the time being, until I finish doing the rest of the house. I also realized that he needs to go outside every day. During his sleepless time I wasn't going out with him as much. Now I make it so we go do something outside every day, be it the park or baby group or even just grocery shopping or a walk around the block. I hope he goes back to his early evening bedtime, but I'm not going to get stuck on it. I was getting all high strung and uptight about him having a schedule every day, but I realized recently that a routine is different from a schedule. So while I maintain a routine, the schedule has relaxed quite a bit. I feel a little less neurotic. Not much, since it's been my life's affliction to over analyze, but less neurotic is still better.
Sassy Posted January 26, 2009 Posted January 26, 2009 My son turned 6 months recently and we have been experimenting with solid foods. Just rice cereal, banana, and apples so far. I am following the "4 day rule" where you just give one type of food for 4 days straight to see if any allergy issues pop up. So far, so good. He loves apples and bananas, but did not enjoy plain rice cereal with breastmilk mixed in. Anyway, for the past 3 days he has suddenly, inexplicably just NOT wanted to sleep. He will nap for 30 minutes at the most, and at night he fights going to sleep so much. The night before last I gave up and let him stay up playing around on the floor. He was hungry after a while and I fed him and he finally fell asleep - at 10:15! His normal bedtime is 7:30pm! I was hoping he would sleep late, but to no avail. He was up and awake at his normal time, 7:30am. Also, he was a very good sleeper up until this point. All of a sudden, he wakes up several times throughout the night like he's a newborn again. It's so frustrating. I can't get anything done. I don't know if he's teething (he chews on everything anyway, but I didn't get any teeth until I was 9 months old), or if he's trying hard to learn a new skill - he is very close to crawling at this point and he is constantly trying to practice. Ugh. I just needed to vent. Blind , I am having the same issues except she sleeps well at night ! During the day she never naps and is afraid she is going to miss something.. Kensley is a power napper and it has gotten even worst as she hit the 6mth mark ! She is crawling as of yesterday and is into everything. She has two teeth on bottom and now cutting two more on top . I think her's is teething she is so fussy here lately ! Oh by the way I never gave Haley teething gel dentist said it toughens the gums and make it harder for the teeth to come in. Kensley cut her first two teeth at 4mths and a wk . She was so fussy and I thought it was the shots ,but I am beginning to think it had to do with the teeth now!! Is he drooling alot ? That is a sure sign of teething . Kensley drooled non stop till her teeth came in and didn't sleep too well . I give her tylenol when I feel it is her teeth instead of the teething gel ! Good luck hope it gets better for you. I feel sleep deprived now and sleep throughout the night. She just likes to snack alot !! LOL Don't feel bad I can't do anything till my daughter gets home from school ,cause Kensley needs all my attention too!! My h helps when he is home and daughter does when she can! It is very frustrating and exhausting . Thank God for exercising or I would be nuts . Haley watches her so I get my 45mins to and hr time !!
Author blind_otter Posted January 27, 2009 Author Posted January 27, 2009 You're so lucky you have an older daughter. My son's older brother, S/O's son, he will sit and play with Landon but he gets all freaked out if the baby cries and he runs and gets me or his pops to pick up the baby. He is too scared to carry him, but then again Landon is almost 20 lbs so that is probably a bit too heavy for an 11 year old. He's doing a little better lately, since I started the outside every day routine. He loves to sit in the rye grass. He hasn't started crawling yet, still that hot frog move. Now when he tried to get somewhere he goes backwards, which is very funny to watch, but it gets him so frustrated. We went and started a college savings account for him this morning - my grandmother gave my son a bunch of money for Tet (Vietnamese New Year), and S/O's parents gave him a bit for Christmas - plus the interest rate on a minor savings account is pretty good right now at my bank. I cuddle him as much as I can now, I will miss these times when he gets big and stinky like his older brother.
amaysngrace Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 Hi B_O. Yep sounds like maybe it is teething issues. The gums take some time to get hard before the first tooth pops but the gums hardening can be painful. But you probably already know that. You can always wet one of his washcloths and freeze it and let him suck on that. Also too do you give him a bedtime bath? Babies settle down pretty well when you bathe them at nighttime. Oh there is a whole new world in front of him to explore. I'm kind of jealous in a way. I miss my kids being babies and toddlers.
2sunny Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 try watching the diet too BO- fruit is great as they get older - but the natural sugars may be putting him into energy overload if his system is not used to processing different foods yet (which obviously it's not). maybe stick to the cereal and some pureed veggies first. if you introduce the sweet stuff first - sometimes they don't favor some of the veggies like green beans or carrots or yams after that. try several until you find a few he likes and isn't allergic to. fresh air outside each day is vital for BOTH of you - a push in a swing or a walk around the block can do wonders to clear your mind and gain a new perspective. a soothing routine at bedtime is critical as well as a bit of mental stimulation throughout the day - age appropriate - of course! i always loved reading to my boys. they love hearing Mommy's voice and i love to see progress where they begin to recognize different parts of a story or started to point to the pictures on the page. the teething would normally make my boys grumpy, unpredictable and irritable. teething signs were: drooling and no sleep and the poop always got kind of watery (sorry...TMI) but i'm not hearing that from you... so i am going off of the info you provided and trying to brainstorm from my experience of long ago. thanks for taking me down memory lane!
EnigmaXOXO Posted January 27, 2009 Posted January 27, 2009 I cuddle him as much as I can now, I will miss these times when he gets big and stinky like his older brother. Little boys are the most adorable. Especially before the age of six when they still have those chubby little cherub cheeks and big doe eyes! There’s this new baby product on the market getting big raves for helping wee ones (and their parents) to fall asleep. They're called Lulabubs, they fit on the four legs of a crib and gently vibrate like the motion of a car... supposedly without making any noise. Have you heard of them?
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