[Greenie]

: Last night was awful! My DS (about to be 8 months) wakes up several times a night now, just crying and crying. Doesn't want to nurse, doesn't want his pacifier.. Doesn't want anything. Just cries.

I have to pick him up and walk him around to get him back to sleep. Of course, my MIL says that he's too old for co-sleeping and that he needs his own bed.. That's pretty much what everyone says....

He's teething really hard right now. It might be that, but what do I do?!

 

[cumulus]

There are many reasons people have to explain why a baby cries during the night. I would like to mention one that is not necessarily true, that I do not really believe in, but one that is beautiful and one I think would have helped me be more patient and maybe even a little humble when my babies cried inconsolably.

There are quite a few cultures who believe in re-incarnation. In one of those cultures, they beleive that babies cry because they miss the parents of their past life or that there is something incomplete between the child and the parents of its previous life. I wish I could have had that little possibilty in my heart, that a spirit rather than a body is in pain, as I woke to crying; a possibilty mixed in with all the physcial reasons for the upset. Wouldn't I have been more tender, more deeply affected, more searching?

The most important question in the world is, "Why is the child crying?"
~ Alice Walker

 

[Lisie]

I would definitely think that the teething pain is exactly what is going on. In those situations I used to sleep in the recliner with my baby so that his head was upright and that seemed to allow him to be able to sleep since his head was elevated.

 

[fremontmama]

It sounds similar to what happens to my dd when she is teething really intensely. What always works for us are Hylands teething tablets. They are wonderful! I would give dc a couple before going down to sleep, that will probably help. And they melt almost immediately, so if dc wakes crying and wont nurse, pop another couple in and that might help.

Dd is getting her 2yr molars right now and she woke crying the other night, I slipped a couple tablets in her while she was crying and she almost immediately quieted. They are the most helpful teething remedy. I also sometimes use clove oil, but only when she is awake and aware. It would be quite a shock to get that strong smell and taste while asleep. She loves loves loves the teething tablets, so I have no hesitation using those while she is half-asleep.