[junipermuse]

My baby will be 12 wks on Friday, and this last week or two she has been having a lot of trouble with sleep. Since about 6 wks she had been making a lot of improvements in her ability to sleep in her bassinet or in our bed for naps during the day, and she would usually fall asleep relatively easy. But now she writhes and wriggles and arches her back while falling asleep, often she is screaming and crying at the same time. She will continue the writhing even after her eyes are closed. If I put her down while she's asleep she wakes up in 10 min or less often screaming. Even when I hold her the whole time she sleeps she seems restless and starts to groan or cry for no apparent reason. Her nighttime sleep hasn't really changed only daytime sleep. I know she should be sleeping less than before because she is no longer a newborn, but this is something different and I don't know what to do to help her. Could she be teething already? Might she be working on a milestone like rolling over? I don't mind holding her while she naps if it is just temporary, but I am frustrated because I feel like we're moving backwards. I would appreciate any advice anyone has. Thanks<br><br>
ETA: The crying, screaming, wriggling, and writhing are all in arms, I never let her CIO. Also she no longer is willing or able to nurse to sleep. She'll be done eating and still awake, so I give her a pacifier, but it doesn't help much

 

[illinoismommy]

is this usually just after a meal? could it be reflux?

 

[alegna]

Sounds very normal. Have you tried letting her sleep on her tummy?<br><br>
-Angela

 

[delphiniumpansy]

I would not try tummy this young. Too many risk factors. There is a reason the back to sleep campaign has been so successful in lowering SIDS cases. Don't take a chance. But sidelying is acceptable and easy to control. You just roll small towels and place on either side to prevent rolling over on tummy. That might help. You might call your ped and run symptoms by a nurse just to see what they say. Might be something. Dr. Sears says on his website to always rule out medical causes of night waking.<br><br><a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070400.asp" target="_blank">http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070400.asp</a>

 

[anyuka]

It's probably teething. My dd was teething early and then got her first tooth at 4mo. Hyland's has some great teething gels/tablets. But when it get really bad I give her Tylenol.

 

[happy2bamama]

Not sure, but it could be that she wants to roll over or at least try to roll over and is getting frustrated that she can't yet which only makes the whole situation harder since she's trying to fall asleep and sounds like she's working herself up instead. I have a very active 3.5 month old DS who, until a week or so ago, was arching his back all the time because he wanted to keep rolling over, which he recently learned how to do.<br><br>
Instead of trying to get her to fall asleep when she's fighting it and wiggling, I would suggest trying to allow her to practice rolling over and give her some help if she can't do it on her own. Maybe she just needs to feel like she's giving it a try. Like my DS, she may roll herself to exhaustion and then finally give into sleep. Seriously, my DS NEEDS to roll over for so many minutes per day!<br><br>
Also, someone suggested having her sleep on her tummy - I totally agree with that. Whenever my DS is wiggling or just seems uncomfortable on his back, I either put him on his belly or he'll roll over himself. Actually, we put him to sleep on his back and every time he wakes up he's on his belly, so that must be his preferred sleeping position. If I do put him on his belly and he's fussing, I give him a back/buns rub that's pretty vigorous at first to distract him from his woes (of course, not too vigorous) and he usually will just crash out. Continuously patting the buns or back can work too - just something with rhythmic motion. I know a pp said that they wouldn't recommend putting her on her tummy this early, but IMO, it's fine (even my ped said so, which peds NEVER do) if you feel that it will help. But, if you feel funny about it, you could nap with her or even just be in the same room. HTH - good luck!

 

[rmzbm]

SIDS is overblown, my kids all tummy slept from birth...most babies prefer it. I would definatly try it! My last baby especially would NEVER tolerate being put on her back...sleeping would NOT commence! Good luck!

 

[SandraS]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>alegna</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7945190"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Sounds very normal. Have you tried letting her sleep on her tummy?<br><br>
-Angela</div>
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Yes!!<br><br>
SIDS has nothing to do with sleep position. Babies on their backs simply aren't as comfortable - it aggravates gas/reflux and the startle reflex.<br><br>
You'll see an immediate improvement, I'll bet!!

 

[SandraS]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>yellowpansy</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7945270"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I would not try tummy this young. Too many risk factors. There is a reason the back to sleep campaign has been so successful in lowering SIDS cases. Don't take a chance. But sidelying is acceptable and easy to control. You just roll small towels and place on either side to prevent rolling over on tummy. That might help. You might call your ped and run symptoms by a nurse just to see what they say. Might be something. Dr. Sears says on his website to always rule out medical causes of night waking.<br><br><a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070400.asp" target="_blank">http://www.askdrsears.com/html/7/T070400.asp</a></div>
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BTS has not lowered infant deaths at all.<br><br>
What it has lowered is the <i>cause of death</i> on death certificates, since autopsies are now more routinely performed since the BTS campaign was launched in the mid-90s. Since they are properly doing autopsies, the real reasons for all the crib deaths are being documented - tracheal abnormalities, heart defects, etc.etc... it's a bogus statistic, and BTS is causing wayyyy more harm than good. I'm sure it will soon be reversed, just like the side-sleeping, just like tummy-sleeping, etc. etc... sleep position has nothing to do with crib death.

 

[rmzbm]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/nod.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="nod"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that">:

 

[popbaby]

I agree about tummy sleeping as well!<br><br>
Also, I have a 13 week old, and she STILL needs a lot of sleep, even though she is not a "newborn". Usually she is up 2 hours, and theng oes to sleep for 45 mins, up another 2 hours, goes to sleep etc, with a big long 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.

 

[junipermuse]

Thank you for all the replies. I just put the baby down for a nap and I laid her on her tummy so we'll see if that helps. So far so good. I feel that it i'll be safe because it's only for naptime not at night. And she's in the bassinet in the living room where I am. I've actually always felt that the bts campaign was a little pointless. Babies feel very vulnerable on their backs. So hopefully tummy sleeping will help. I also think that part of the problem may be that she is becoming more active and is working on rolling over. Some of the wigglyness may be her working on that in her sleep. I don't think she has reflux since it doesn't seem to be related to when she eats or to laying on her back when she's awake. It is specifically related to falling and remaining asleep. Thanks again for all the advice.

 

[alegna]

Good luck!<br><br>
That's the age when tummy sleeping REALLY helped my dd. She was always in the room with me at that age so I wasn't worried about SIDS.<br><br>
-Angela

 

[SandraS]

You guys also need to remember that SIDS is soooo incredibly rare (you have a higher risk of injury or death to your child in an auto than one suffering crib death) that it shouldn't be a thought anyways. You don't sit around all day wondering if an airplane will careen thru your roof, right? It's extremely rare, and there is nothing to prevent it whatsoever, so it's really not worth the effort of thinking about it! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[wendylady]

My DS is almost 4 months and went through a very similar stage in the first few weeks of his third month. I thought it was teething or gas or a growth spurt. We had to bounce him around on the exercise ball for a long time to get him to sleep for all his naps. And he would squirm and protest until he fell asleep. He'd refuse the breast, which was strange to me. But then, around two weeks ago, he totally mellowed out. Now he'll happily nurse to sleep and sleeps well on me or in bed.<br><br>
Now that it's over (and it will end for you too!) I think it was probably just something he outgrew, but I also think one big problem was gas. I've been giving him tummy massages to get the gas out and it works! Check out this great article about infant massage: <a href="http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJanFeb98p13.html" target="_blank">http://www.llli.org/NB/NBJanFeb98p13.html</a>. Try it -- it might help.<br><br>
And remember that's it's just a phase. I know how hard it can be! Hang in there!

 

[bellymama]

my son is 3 mo.s and he is having daytime sleep issues as well...he hates naps! he naps in his swing once i get him down either by nursing, walking, or wearing him...but he fights sleep like i am trying to kill him. i think it is just the age.<br>
more importantly, thanks for everyones opinions on SIDS...as a new mommy i am very paranoid about it...it was nice to hear that so many people are not focused on it, and to be reminded of its rarity. i feel a lot better...and i will try that tummy sleeping stuff when my son gets to big for his swing,

 

[nataliachick7]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>junipermuse</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7948162"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Thank you for all the replies. I just put the baby down for a nap and I laid her on her tummy so we'll see if that helps. So far so good. I feel that it i'll be safe because it's only for naptime not at night. And she's in the bassinet in the living room where I am. I've actually always felt that the bts campaign was a little pointless. Babies feel very vulnerable on their backs. So hopefully tummy sleeping will help. I also think that part of the problem may be that she is becoming more active and is working on rolling over. Some of the wigglyness may be her working on that in her sleep. I don't think she has reflux since it doesn't seem to be related to when she eats or to laying on her back when she's awake. It is specifically related to falling and remaining asleep. Thanks again for all the advice.</div>
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reflux doesnt have to be related to eating. babies can be in pain from it at anytime, especially if acid has already damaged the esophogus. <b>the number one indicator of my sons reflux was poor sleep</b>. along with back arching and groaning. its just like in adults, heartburn becomes much worse when you lay down.

 

[junipermuse]

Well, the baby has slept on her tummy for 2 out of 3 naps today (the other nap was in the sling while we were out to lunch) and she has slept better than she has in weeks. She still is really protesting while I am putting her to sleep, but she is staying asleep much better and she seems to be more comfortable, no whining or groaning. So yay! Thank you<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>nataliachick7</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7951355"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">reflux doesnt have to be related to eating. babies can be in pain from it at anytime, especially if acid has already damaged the esophogus. <b>the number one indicator of my sons reflux was poor sleep</b>. along with back arching and groaning. its just like in adults, heartburn becomes much worse when you lay down.</div>
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I didn't know this. Might it still be reflux if she is sleeping well at night (it's only her naptime that has been difficult) and if she is comfortable on her tummy? Also she layed on her back on her blanket for a long time playing with her hands this morning. But if it might be reflux I definitely would want to check it out.

 

[alegna]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>junipermuse</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7952244"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Well, the baby has slept on her tummy for 2 out of 3 naps today (the other nap was in the sling while we were out to lunch) and she has slept better than she has in weeks. She still is really protesting while I am putting her to sleep, but she is staying asleep much better and she seems to be more comfortable, no whining or groaning. So yay! Thank you<br></div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/clap.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="clap"><br><br>
great news!<br><br>
-Angela

 

[rmzbm]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">