Could his ears hurt?

[MeredithK]

I need some mom opinions, please. DS (6 months) has always been a good nighttime sleeper. About 3 weeks ago, he started waking more often. We got to a point that it was hourly with crying. I figured it was teething, but his 2 first teeth are all the way through now.

He's still waking every 1-2 hrs, crying or fussing. He kind of tosses and turns trying to get comfortable. He seems to be fine during the day although some diaper changes are difficult. He's nursing ok. His naps are on me and he lays on his side which seems fine. He's been pulling on his ears a lot, but I know that doesn't really mean anything. No fever either. I don't know why I am just worried that something is hurting.

He has a WBV next Tuesday so I'm trying to decide if that is soon enough for a check or should we go sooner?

Oh- and we've tried Tylenol, Motrin, and Camilia, nothing has helped.

Thank you!

[Hannah'sMommy]

It sounds like he could possibly have an ear infection... pulling on ears and frequent waking/crying/fussing are signs of one (of course among other things). Our DD didn't have a fever with her first ear infection (and it was in both ears). And for her second double ear infection she was pulling only her right ear and sleeping terribly.

I hope he feels better soon!

[Katie T]

I agree it could be a ear infection. It could be other things, but if your mommys gut is telling you he may be in pain listen to that and just get it checked out. With DD1 I would just get this gut feeling she had a ear infection, her behavior would change just a tiny bit and I was always right, but every time I brought her in I thought this would be the time I'm wrong. lol

It is worth a check and if you find out everything turns out fine you eat least know it isn't his ears or throat. YK?

Some kids do go threw sleep regression at that age but I still vote for getting it checked out to rule anything else out.

[cowboyjunki]

I'm in the same boat now! My 10 mo has been waking every night for the last 6 days and has pulled on her ears a few times, but no fever. I'm going to take her in today. It's so hard to know if it's teeth, ears, or they just don't want to sleep!

good luck!

[Friendlee]

I have learned that my baby always tugs at her ears when she needs sleep. I started off thinking, oh great, an ear infection! But it's been months now and she seems to only do it as she's yawning and her eyes are droopy - I now recognize it as her definite "I'm sleepy" cue. Does he tug on his ears during the day when rested or while playing or eating?

If medication didn't seem to make a difference, then I would have to wonder if it was really ear-pain that was upsetting him. I don't have a lot of experience with ear infections so I'm probably not going to have any advice worth listening to...but I just wanted to mention that my dd always does it when tired but hasn't had any infections (*knock on wood!*)

[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.