6 mo. old keeps waking up, crying--help! why?

[barcelona]

My 6-month old has been a perfect sleeper since he was born but suddenly today had a really hard time taking a nap and now tonight, keeps waking up, incredibly upset, won't nurse and just cries. Then he just sort of passes out, then wakes up minutes later, upset again. I don't know if this is teething or something else. Any ideas?

[Alisse]

Has he been having regular BM's? Does he express discomfort when you press around on his tummy?

Any temperature? Rubbing of face/cheek/ear?

If you're suspecting teething you could try some tempra or other painkiller then see how he feels tomorrow and check out his gums.

[barcelona]

thanks for your reply.
we had a weird night, and his wakings became less, but continued, with no feeding (so odd!) throughout the night. he woke up this morning with a runny nose and cough (continued from yesterday), so i guess he was just feeling poorly, poor little guy. i don't notice anything with his gums or teeth.

thankfully, happily, he has slept better today, and tonight--so far, so good!

anyway, i appreciate your lending your ideas and help. it was comforting last night when i was so worried. hopefully it won't happen again for my little guy.

[Hannah'sMommy]

If he's had signs of a cold, there is a chance he could also have an ear infection. This sounds like my DD when she's had her ear infections (waking up crying, not nursing well during the day, etc.) Watch to see if he pulls his ears or if he continues to not nurse well.

[~Charlie's~Angel~]

I second the ear infection possibility. When DS2 got one around that age, he made the WORST BLOOD CURDDLING SCREAMS youve ever heard in your life. I seriously thought someone was going to hear him from the next house over and call the cops! The poor kid sounded like someone was dipping his hands in acid or something, it was AWFUL! Took him to the doctor first thing in the morning (after a very restless nite for both of us) and ear infection.

[texaspeach]

thirding ear infection. ds was just dxed with one. he had no fever but was fussier than usual in the evenings and finally didn't want to nurse or lay down on his left side. it took me several days to figure out what was going on.

[hartfelt]

to the OP, my dd is doing the same thing. she's 5 months. she has been a great sleeper since birth, we cosleep and nurse all night. she has woken a lot in the past, but just to nurse and we both drift off to sleep together, peacefully. for the past two weeks she has been screaming throughout the night at different times. she isn't really awake either when she does it. i have to get her upright and she seems to go back to sleep. this happens anywhere from 1 -6 times a night. we took her to the doctor the 2nd day it happened and they said that she was fine, no ear infections, couldn't find anthing wrong with her. she is crawling and trying to sit up and i think she really wants to walk. i just read in the sears book that some babies have frequent nightwaking when they are going through these milestones. i just don't understand why she is crying. when she is awake she is so happy, and into everything. rarely fusses unless she is ready for a nap. i haven't left her since birth, we have no family near us and we are together 24/7. i have a great realtionship with her father and there has been no trauma or emotional stress in any of our lives to cause her night waking. i just wish i knew how to help her. i love her so much. i hope you figure out what is going on with your LO. i know its hard.