5 Month Old Wakes up from His Nap SCREAMING After 20-30 Min.....

Updated on April 15, 2008
A.H. asks from Arlington Heights, IL
8 answers

My 5 month old has been waking up from his naps (after about 20 min.) with a high pitched scream. He is still exhausted, because his eyes are still closed while he is screaming. Also, he looks so tired.
He was a colicky baby, and is very gassy. I am not sure what to do to help him, he seems to be in pain.

When I am carrying him upstairs to his room, I can feel his legs clinching in, every stair we walk up.....poor little guy :(

Has this ever happened to anyone else? He was on reflux med. from the dr. before, but didn't really help. Maybe I needed to try it for a longer time.

I am breastfeeding exclusively and giving him some cereal....

I would appreciate any advice!

Thanks

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

T.B.

answers from Chicago on

Could he be teething already? It is possible. Why not try giving him some teething gel and see if it helps?

T.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.S.

answers from Chicago on

Everyone had some good ideas. I'm wondering if it's an ear infection, too. Our son gets this way when one comes on. We've found a link to new teeth and ear infection in our little guy. If he gets more than one tooth at a time, he eventually gets an ear infection. Maybe it's a coincidence, but I'm not sure.

Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.T.

answers from Chicago on

Hi A.,
Have you had his ears checked? Maybe he has an ear infection. Usually when a child has an ear infection and lays down, the pressure builds, so it becomes more painful. My daughter had chronic ear infections since she was a week old, and until the antibiotics would kick in, I would put her to sleep in her car seat, upright, because it was less painful.
Also, are you giving him the cereal in the bottle, because that also causes ear infectionsand gas. If you are giving him cereal in the bottle, and the hole of the nipple is large, the child swallows alot of air, which causes gas.
good luck, I hope this helps.
T.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.X.

answers from Chicago on

If you nurse him right before he naps maybe he's responding to something in your breast milk. I would try not drinking or eating dairy myself for 4-5 days or so at least and see if that makes a dif (my son was allergic to dairy and egg so i cut out both). Perhaps sleeping a little elevated may help too (instead of flat on his back).

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.L.

answers from Chicago on

sounds like fuss foods and constipation combined with the fun of teething.

my DS is allergic to milk and is a fussy little devil when I drink it.

baby yoga helps, he thinks it's funny. when i wear him or carry him with his legs to his chest, he's happy. could be reflux too.

my DS has all of the above.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.R.

answers from Chicago on

my personal experience with reflux tells me you may need to revisit the reflux possibility. there are two types of meds, the one my guy was on, was Zantac - it works by decreasing the amount of stomach acid produced 'proton pump inhibitor' - some meds work by making the acid, less acidic. try another medication. As a perspective, i take anti depressant medications, but had to go through 3 or 4 before i found one that actually seemed to work for me...

your poor little guy probably is in pain :( if you dont want to medicate, try propping him so he is elevated while sleeping, then the stomach acids wont have a chance to seep into his esophagus and burn his throat :(

my little man had to have his dose adjusted a few times as he gained weight, and one of my first signs was the spitting up and waking up screaming when he was flat. once he was able to sleep on his side (left side best, because gravity keeps the acid from backing up, but sometimes it's such a forceful action, this doesn't matter) that sometimes helped him.

good luck - i hope your little man gets some relief soon... whatever the problem is :(

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.R.

answers from Chicago on

Both of mine did this only IF I did not lay down with them for nap. I breastfeed and my boys would not go down without nursing, and would wake right up if I left the bed.

It sounds like teething to me. Have you tried the homeopathic teething tablets from Hylands? They are wonderful. Help with sleep, too. Nurse him down on your bed after giving him some of the teething tabs. Then if you want to move him, go ahead, but sometimes I just lay down for nap with my two.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

N.M.

answers from Chicago on

could be an ear infection. my daughter gets severe ear infections and has a really hard time sleeping when she has one. when you lay down the child when they have an ear infection there is more pressure in the tubes that could be very uncomfortable. i would say get his ears checked.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions