Sorry about being missing in action the past few days – I’m trying to recover from the torture that my wee 4 month old is inflicting upon me in the form of sleep deprivation. The other day I tried to make toast by sticking bread in the dishwasher…. It was a little soggy :frown: Sierra’s been waking up (actually she isn’t awake) screaming a blood curdling cry a few times a night. It’s horrible! And the worse part is she’s not even really awake! And when I pick her up she cries harder! I don’t know what to do – I go in, rub her back until she settles and if that doesn’t work I gently wake her, then soothe her back to sleep with the boob. Anyone have any experience with this? Is this teething? She’s not drooling like a damn dog (sorry Cosmo Dawg – but you do drool incessantly – you’re not nicknamed spitzoid for nothing). She’s also not cramming her hands or anything else she gets in her hands into her mouth either. Can babies have nightmares? And what could be scary to a 4 month old?
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Hi Sweetie! I’m not sure if a 4 month old can have dreams or nightmares, but I suppose it is possible. Another possible reason for Sierra waking up at night and crying is that she may be teething. The next time she awakens and cries, give her some baby ora jel and see what happens. She might also be too cold, or not in a comfortable sleeping position. About the only thing I can suggest is to change her position, rub her back, check her diaper and check to make sure she is warm enough. Apparently from what I’ve read on the internet, it is quite common for a baby Sierra’s age to wake up and cry at night. All the experts say, not to pick her up and comfort her as she will expect that all the time. That’s fine for the “experts” but they don’t have to listen to her scream in the middle of the night!Don’t hesitate to call your doctor if you feel she might be ill. Love ya, and I hope Sierra settles down to a regular 10 – 12 hour night time sleep soon.
I echo what oma had to say. Sierra maybe teething. And I noticed as well when my little guy goes through this growth spurts, it throws his sleeping habits out of whack.
Although Sierra may not pop out her first tooth for 2 months (or so Becca got her first tooth at 5 months), they could be rubbing against her gums and causing her pain. Maybe try giving her tylenol before putting her down for the night? (if you have used it before and the dr is cool with it). If not, dude I hear ya about wanting to sooth her and she is pretty young to be left to her own defences….Hard on you to be up all night….maybe on the weekends hubby could go in? Maybe Sierra just needs a little reassurance?
Good Luck! Hugz!
chelle
She could definitely be having nightmares. I read that doctors have monitored REM sleep patterns of babies in the womb that indicate the baby is dreaming.
I don’t know what she could be having nightmares about though, that’s a tough one… scary crib mobiles… a scary boob… beats me.
Kinda sounds like night terrors, although we didn’t see that in our son till he was older. I’m sure babies can have nightmares though. Teething, nightmares, yes I think both could be happening. Sorry I don’t have any ideas how to fix it. Maybe just having Mommy near helps.
We’re fighting a similar battle although it doesn’t involve screaming. Mia’s just waking herself up constantly trying to get her hands in her mouth. Next up, teething. I think just when you think you’ve figured them out, they go changing on you. Good luck!
Teething and nightmares/terrors could be the cause. Another clue for teething is an elevated temperature but no more than 100 from what the pediatrician told us. The pediatrician also told us to try baby orajel first because if it’s teething, it will help and if the baby is still crying it is something else. Ryan has been drooling like crazy but no teeth yet even though he is 4 months too.
It very difficult to not pick up the crying baby in the middle of the night, since it is sooo easy and it works. I have been doing the middle of the night (currently 2-3 am feeding) and after I feed him and put him down, I’ll do the pat the back, etc. If he crys again then I will check to see if I think it is gas… if not, I pat his back and tell him that daddy is here and everything will be okay. I then go into a cycle of comforting him and letting him cry for periods of time… however long it takes. It was worse the first night, but has been getting better since and that has let me with getting better sleep at night. My wife takes him at the 5am feeding since that is when I get up, she’ll feed him in bed, but she gets horrible sleep after that since Ryan is a flailing baby…
Poor Sierra and Poor Cosmogrrl.
I don’t have any experience, but I have also heard that babies do dream. Hopefully she’ll pop right out of it for the sake of both of you. 
Maybe the little sweetie is teething. Oma is right, mommy’s always know best and just comforting her might be the only solution at this time!
Gotta go, mine is crying!
I have no idea about this one, I just hope you get the chance to have a big sleep and that she gets over whatever it is soon.
I think teething signs are usually a bit more obvious, like crying, chewing on stuff, fevers, diaper rashes, etc.
Man oh man do I ever know what you are going through. No sleep is definitely the worst part of becoming a parent.
I am in complete agreement with Jon- those are night terrors. My kids had them at around 11 months. DO NOT pick them up!(or touch them)They need to come out of it on their own. I have read extensively about them after our pedi mentioned them.
Waking them up or touching them exacerbates it and sometimes heightens the nightmare.
Infants sensory neurons are immature and cannot handle sensory overload which leads to the terrors. Staying by their side and softly saying “shh, shh, it’s OK, mommy’s here” will help”
Sounds like you have your hands full to say the least little lady, try to get some sleep!
TGIF U3.
sorry I was MIA as well and missed this…sort of sounds like night terrors to me. My oldest has them…they started while he was still in his crib but I think he was about a year old or so. Let me tell you these things are a real treat! And they only get more fun as they get older!
Hi there,
I found your link in the comments of Joyce’s ‘Tending Violet’ journal. Thought I’d stop by, as my daughter is about 3 weeks younger than Sierra.
Sorry to hear about the sleep problems. I also read your breastfeeding story – way to work hard to make it work for you both.
I’m lucky to have had an easy time with the breastfeeding.
Take care.