what is wrong with DS?!

[neonalee]

He's 1.5 weeks away from 6 months and the last 5 nights have been miserable.  We co-sleep and feed on demand.  Normally at night either he isn't nursing often or I'm just not aware of more than a couple times.  But lately he's either nursing constantly or just more ... physical? about it, because I'm noticing more, DP is noticing more and nobody is getting much sleep, though DS always seems happy when we wake him in the morning.  Also, usually in the evenings I will nurse him once or twice before bed, but the rest of the time he'll be playing in the exersaucer thing or on his playmat, chatting and banging on things.  Last night and tonight he cries within seconds of being put down.  Last night I nursed him to sleep so I could feed cats/wash bottles etc.  He woke in under 20 minutes.  And when I picked him up today his daycare provider (who we love) told me that he was really needy.  He was happy in arms but otherwise crying (wailing really). 

He got his first bottom tooth a couple weeks ago.  He was fussy a few nights before it came in, but that was all.

1 last thing - his daddy wasn't home last night and this morning left before we woke on a 1 day business trip (will be home in a couple of hours).  The last business trip was early December.

What's going on?!  There's a week long trip coming up in 2 weeks.  If that's the issue I don't know how I'm going to survive!

[LittleBirdy]

I read somewhere that right at exactly this age, your DS is learning sort of about distances between two objects (say for example, between him and a favorite toy he can't get to).  This can be really hard because I guess they suddenly realize how little & helpless they are!  My DS turned six months on Sunday and has had a rough week.  Saturday night & Sunday night he basically wouldn't sleep unless he was latched on.  Got a little better last night, we'll see how tonight goes.

Hang in there, this too shall pass... I'd bet in pretty short order, too.

[OTMomma]

There are a lot of things that could be going on- teething the next tooth (they tend to come in 2s), an ear infection- those can happen without a lot of obvious symptoms, or a big developmental milestone- some babies freak out a bit around the time they are ready to learn to sit up or crawl or such- trying to do it in their sleep, and then feeling fussy because they actually are tired later in the day.  It could even be all 3 together.   Another thought- has he started some solids that could be upsetting his stomach?  Or have you had a change in diet? Added caffine, milk, vitamins or other new foods that maybe you were holding off on until he was older?  (I have gradually added things to my diet that I wouldn't have with a newborn- like coke when they were months older, and some babies are bothered by that, others not).

I hope something here helps you figure it out and that you all start getting more sleep.

Peace,

[neonalee]

Thanks mamas!  I did think there was a tooth coming right next to the one that came in, but I don't see it anymore.  And he has been working on sitting up & rolling more often.  No dietary changes though.  These are good ideas, I'll keep an eye out, so to speak, and hope it passes before that 2 week trip! 

[isras1]

Hmmm, sounds like my DS too. He turned 6 months today and the last week, I've noticed he is up more at night to nurse and it is prolonged (similar to when he was a newborn). But more noticeable is how physical he is, suckling faster while pulling his head away from me AND pushing himself away with his hands. He just began to "army crawl", so for him, it must be a milestone and seems to be the same for your guy. I wouldn't worry too much about it being caused by your DH being away, HTH.