S.H. asks from Middleton, WI on November 16, 2011
7 Month Old Screaming and Seems Uncomfortable
My son has been "screaming" over the last 3 days. It is not all of the time thank goodness! Once was in his carseat in the car, and the other two times was at nap and bedtime - he is almost inconsolable.
He isn't pulling his ears, he has been eating normally, he doesn't spit up and he isn't chomping on his hands as if he is teething. We also haven't changed anything regarding food or schedule. The only thing that has changed is him screaming. I am not sure what is wrong - he doesn't seem to be in pain, but he also doesn't seem to be doing it just for attention. Something is "off" about him as these screams are nothing I have ever heard before - he is truly "sad" when I go to get him from his crib when he screams. I also cannot console him sitting down, I have to be standing up walking around as that is what calms him down.
He was screaming off an on last night for about 30min and finally fell asleep. After sleeping for 45 min he woke up screaming again. I tried to console him, but nothing was working. So I laid him back down to go make a bottle, however before I got in the room with the bottle a minute later, he screamed himself to sleep and then slept through the night. Has this happened to anyone else?
Thank you in advance!
So What Happened?™
Thank you to everyone for taking the time to respond! We took our son to the dr and it turns out he is ..... perfectly fine! No ear infection, no cold, nothing in the lungs, no fever. Nothing! We think we have it narrowed down to seperation anxiety as it happens in the car seat when I walk away and in the crib at night. So, we will be playing alot of peek-a-boo and other games so he gets used to me leaving and coming back. He did really well last night in bed, so hopefully thinks are looking up. Thanks again!
Featured Answers
A.S. answers from Detroit on November 16, 2011
Does he have a fever?
ETA - I was thinking hand, foot, and mouth [virus]. It's super severe to little ones and it's super painful. That's why I asked about a fever.
Swimmers ear was another one that made my son scream. No fever, but no infection either.
3 moms found this helpful
More Answers
A.F. answers from Houston on November 16, 2011
My little girl did this to some degree when she was cutting her first teeth. After those first few it hasn't bothered her as much.
Not sure how you feel about it, but when my daughter was/is inconsolable and I can't find anything wrong, I give her a dose of tylenol. I figure she's in pain somehow - even if I don't know why. I often wonder if they ever get headaches...
3 moms found this helpful
A.S. answers from Detroit on November 16, 2011
Does he have a fever?
ETA - I was thinking hand, foot, and mouth [virus]. It's super severe to little ones and it's super painful. That's why I asked about a fever.
Swimmers ear was another one that made my son scream. No fever, but no infection either.
3 moms found this helpful
S.H. answers from Honolulu on November 16, 2011
Ear ache?
Teething?
Headache? (they can't say they are in pain).
Tummy ache?
Gas pain?
3 moms found this helpful
P.M. answers from Portland on November 16, 2011
It's possible your son is experiencing separation anxiety. Though this most commonly starts around 8 months, I would guess that some kids get there a little earlier. But he's about the age that he recognizes that he is separate from you, and becomes concerned, when he can't see you, that you have disappeared from his life. The anguish can go deep.
When my daughter began seeming distressed when I stepped out of the room, I began playing peek-a-boo games with her, hiding behind doors and furniture, and popping up just before she expressed worry. Then I started leaving the room very briefly ("Mommy will come right back"), and then popping back in quickly. I extended my absences gradually over several days, and my daughter clearly was more relaxed after I told her I'd be right back. I also set her in front of a wall mirror that let her see me in another room through the doorway, hoping that that would give her more information about where I might be when I wasn't with her. And I would hide other toys of hers, and we'd go find them together, so she'd realize they still existed.
All in all, I don't remember her anxiety phase lasting very long, and I think the games might have helped ease her mind. It's a normal phase, very common. Here's one good link: http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/feelings/sep_anxiet...#
3 moms found this helpful
☆.A. answers from Pittsburgh on November 16, 2011
Please take him and have his ears checked. Sounds like an ear infection. My son never lost his appetite or "pulled" at his ears.
Ear pain gets worse when they are lying down, which would explain why he calms down when you hold him upright.
Call the pediatrician.
3 moms found this helpful
K.P. answers from Dallas on November 16, 2011
Ear infection!!!! take him to get his ears checked neither of my kids had any of the "typical" signs of an ear infection except for what you are describing.
2 moms found this helpful
C.C. answers from Orlando on November 16, 2011
I am still going to guess teething. That has been the only time my 9 month old was "off". It passed once the tooth broke through the gum.
2 moms found this helpful
X.O. answers from Chicago on November 16, 2011
None of my kids pull their ears when they have ear infections. I would check that first.
It could also be teething--my 7 month old just got his first 2 teeth a few weeks ago and I didn't realize that he was teething because he was actually biting his hands LESS and just screaming. A few days later his first tooth appeared.
2 moms found this helpful
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