14 Month Old Not Sleeping Well

How long has she been on cow's milk? If you were breast feeding before and just switched her, I would bet on her being lactose intolerant. Check with your doctor, but you may want to switch the cow's milk for soy milk or lactaid milk and see how it goes. My daughter was born with the allergy and had to have soy formula and now drinks rice milk, since she eventually became allergic to soy milk. Good luck.

Hi L.
If you rule out gas and she is still doing this - this could just be a phase. Both my son and my friends's son went through a period of waking up right around the 14-15 month mark and they would cry uncontrollably. I did some research and this is the time where kids go through separation anxiety. My son did this for about a week straight. After I ruled everything else out like teething/gas - the only thing I could come up with was separation anxiety.

This did not last long and eventually my happy little boy was back to his old self.

Good luck

Just try giving her infant gas drops, and see if it helps. It really helped my daughter, who had BAD gas problems.

Also, yes, she could be teething. Look in her mouth.

Or, she could very possibly be going through a 'growth spurt' and simply IS hungry and NEEDS to be nursed or needs a bottle. This is okay and normal.

Or, it could be the cows milk that causes gas? For my sister, she gets gassy sometimes with milk. Sometimes. Not so much that she has to stop drinking milk...but just sometimes it happens.

But, I know that gas is painful and wakes babies. You probably notice her farting when you pick her up and rock her in the rocking chair, because this 'motion' is helping to get gas circulated and expelled from her body...thus she is 'tooting.' It would be the same as if you massaged her tummy, this would help as well. Or, bicycling her legs while on her back. This also helps gas.

And, some babies just take in a lot of air as they eat or drink throughout the day. Each child is different.

I would try the infant gas drops first... then see. This really helped my daughter, who is just a 'gassy' type like her Dad anyway.

All the best,
Susan

L.,

My son had issues with Lactose early on, which meant he just couldn't drink cow's milk. I use Horizon Organic Lactose Free Milk for my son, and he loves it. The taste is pretty much the same and now our whole family uses it.

Also, Gas Drops are essential for the transition period. Once you cut out the cow's milk see if that helps ease her discomfort and if it doesn't then it's a question for the Pedi.

At the same time if she's getting a tooth, you'll need something like teething tablets, drops or clove oil to ease the pain. Which for some reason is always worse at night! Also, Mortin is great for the really bad teething experiences...last longer and great for pain.

One other suggestion, my friend uses Hyland's Calms Forte for kids...it's for 2 and older, but you can check with her Pedi and see if it's okay for you to use.

Don't despair, it will get better! My son used to wake a lot through the night and we found ways to minimize his wakings....it's just about finding what works for you.

Good Luck and keep up the good work!!!

Hi L.,
I took an infant massage class when my son was way little and though I'm no expert, if he seems gassy, I always try to get it out using a technique they taught. It's important when you rub their bellies to do it in a clock-wise motion. This encourages the gas out of the body rather than back in (since the colon runs that direction). After several firm but gentle circular strokes around my sons belly button, I then gently press his legs up with the knees bent until I get resistance (you're not trying to force anything). After a couple of those, I then do a sort of paddle wheel down his abdomen; one hand stroking downward and when it hits bottom, the other hand starts at the top. This, too, is followed by a few knee bends. Then it's back to the circular motion. After a few cycles - sometimes even less - I'm amazed at how much gas he releases. I wouldn't recommend this if your daughter has just eaten, but it might be something to try before bed. Oil helps, too. Feel free to respond with any questions.

My baby used to be so gassy that all she would do was grunt; it was so sad. I did a few things to help her first I tilted her crib; I put some phone books under each leg of the crib at the head of her bed so that she would be flat which only causes discomfort. I also baught her infant gas drops you can give them to her up to 12 times a day. They are safe, they don't absorb into babys system they just lift gas out. Also remember it is never to late to sleep train and you don't need to feel guildty about it. Ar some point she needs to learn to go to sleep on her own and for a working Mom the sooner the better go to amazon and order "Sleep Easy Solutions" you can get the DVD for less than $10. Just make sure you get the right age group for you daughter. It will give you and her a better quality of sleep. My daughter is almost 8 months and all i do is put her in her crib and give her a kiss and she hardley makes a sound for the next 12 hours.

I haven't read the other responses, but maybe she's sensitive to lactose. Try goat's milk and see if it makes any difference. Talk to your pediatrician about options besides milk. Meanwhile, try "Little Tummy's Gas Relief Drops". I think they're available in most baby sections and/or pharmacies. Good friend of mine gave these drops to her baby after every each final evening meal and the baby was fine. Good luck!