Hope someone out there has been through the same thing or can give me some ideas!
James has always fallen asleep pretty easily, a little fussing, but asleep in about 5 minutes from end of bottle, story, ect. We co sleep and I stay with him until he falls asleep, and usually I just stay in bed until I fall asleep too.
On Wednesday he had his 6 monter six month shots and ever since then he has been crying when I try to put him down for a nap or bed time. I know he is tired, he is rubbing his eyes, and they get very heavy after his bottle, he just starts screaming the second I lay him down. They only way he stops crying is if I am standing and holding him.
I have tried everything! Tylenol since I thought he was still sore from his shots, teething tablets, pacis, ect. I will not let him cry it out. I think he is crying because something is wrong, and I can not figure it out. He falls asleep easily in the car, but he can't spend the night there =). I thought maybe an ear infection, but the doctor checked his ears Wednesday and they looked good.
Do you think it is from his shots or just a coincidence? I know he is starting to get a tooth in, but the pain medication does not seem to help.
Any help would be appreciated! We are at a loss of what to do and how to help our baby boy!
My daughter was always a good sleeper at night (not always nap) and around 6 months she started not wanting to go down at night. She would scream and hold on to me. It lasted a couple of weeks and then stopped and will happen every couple of months. After I put her down and left the room she would cry for about 5-10 min and then go to sleep. It could just be separation anxiety.
Hi T., If it were the vaccines then he would cry in your arms and out of your arms. If he stops crying when you pick him up then it's not the shot.
At some point babies learn that when they cry that they are picked up and will do so.
He could also be having anxiety due to the pain at the time of the shot, and I'm sure you picked him up right afterward which he realized. Don't think these little sweetie aren't smart enough to figure this out.
Before you get to worried about the vaccines, ask yourself if he is doing this all the time or just when you go to put him down. It will not hurt him to cry for a small amount of time. My daughter sat in her front room and let her baby cry for 10 minutes and he finally learn that when she puts him in his crib, it's time to sleep.
It's very hard to do, my daughter cried, but she knew that if she didn't do it that she would have to deal with it for some time to come. It's not fair to her and her husband that should have time to themselves after a very long day of caring for her son. If you keep thinking he's hurting and picking him up, you will be doing this for a very long time.
If he was hurting he wouldn't stop crying when you picked him up. So know that he's not hurting, he's just learned how to get you to pick him up. It's a hard lesson to learn. I'm a mother of two grow children that learn it too.
I love being a grandma now, just know that it does get easier. Remember that after the storm is a rainbow.
Love and Light,
Rev. G. Hudson, Reiki Master.
www.reikigailhudson.com
T.,
If you do nothing else make sure this is reported to your doctor AND the doctor or you reports it to the vaccine reaction hot line. You can make this report yourself just search the subject. This will ensure that it is on record and if (I pray not) your son ends up with long term effects later in life you will at least have documented proof of what happened at the time of vaccination. Dr Sears book (The Vaccine Book)is a good one to read he as am I is not against vaccines he just explains all the risks and benefits and allows for parents to make an informed decision. PLEASE document,listen to your instinct and do not take what your doctor tells you as absolute truth!!! They are people just like everyone else and they make MISTAKES too. Good luck and let me know if you need anything.
L.
Six months is about the age the everything changes! My first started sleeping through the night at 3 months, then at around 6 months she started not wanting to go to bed and waking up frequently. After a few days of trying to figure things out we realized that she was teething. It sounds like she is teething. I would do motrin instead of tylenol. use orajel. also, put a sippy cup of water in her crib at night for her to chew on to help ease the pain. if you are still concerned call your pedi.
If he was crying from pain it would be more constant. He would still cry even when you picked him up. You gave him something he wanted when you picked him up and held him-that is why he stopped crying. Maybe if you laid down with him until he went to sleep then proceed with your life. I used to have a friend that said she wished God would have put instructions in the afterbirth for each child. LOL M. from Richland Hills-raised 3 boys-proud of them.
T.,
I tend to doubt it's the vaccinations mainly because on Thursday my 5 3/4 month old started doing the same thing (but, of course, she hasn't had the 6 month vaccines yet). I wish I could offer a solution. I'm dealing with the same problem and it's difficult on all of us. I think some of the other responders may be right, that it does appear to be that he wants to be picked up and nothing more. I've wondered if gas is our culprit, but she quits immediately when I pick her up and that seems to solve even gas a bit too quickly. I won't do the cry it out either, but I did want to let you know that I'm dealing with the same problem in a child almost the same age. If you discover a solution, let me know because I'm desperate and tired.
when my daughter was little and teething, her pediatrician suggested that I rub liquid benadryl on her gums where the tooth was coming in. It seemed to work better than orajel.
Personally, I think way too much is made over vaccination reactions, but I'm not saying it couldn't be that. I would think it more likely to be a new tooth or he just wants you to hold him. As his mom, do you think the cry is a pain cry or a pick me up cry or something else? If it is a pain cry, take him back to the doctor. If it is just that he wants to be held, maybe you could try rocking him to sleep. That's how both my children have always gone to sleep. I don't do the cry it out method either. I'm just not tough enough for that one! Good luck!!!
My gut feeling is this is not a coincidence. If the problem was teething the Tylenol should help and it wouldn't just be at bedtime. Unfortunately, most doctors won't take this being a reaction to the vaccine seriously. Hopefully someone here can recommend one who will.
I am also not "anti-vaccinations", although I do think a lot of them are unnecessary, especially if he's not in daycare. However, given his reaction I would no longer allow combination vaccinations and spread them out as much as you can. Do a lot of research and educate yourself before allowing any more.
Don't wait to talk to your pediatrician about this. Call him. Ask if it could be a reaction to the vaccination. I have read about children screaming for hours sometime after vaccinations, and sometimes they say that their behavior changes (how alert they are, how they interact with people and children) too and that eventually they find they have a serious learning disability. BUT your story is different than I've heard. By day, fine. By night, not. Push for a diagnosis and don't let go until you figure it out. BTW, was the Measles, Mumps, Rubella shot in that group? I've heard that may cause the majority of problems and some people encourage parents to get the vaccinations separately (weeks or months apart) and also when they are older. Doctors are told to push it to make sure that parents get it done during the insurance paid plan. I'm no expert but I've read a few books and read some blogs from parents of autistic kids that seriously wonder about the connection. Increasing information suggests that there are some kids more susceptible to side affects from vaccinations than others -- which would better explain this.
T.,
ALways listen to your gut!!! Your doc will tell you that it is not a reaction to vaccines! BUT in my opinion and millions of other moms that this has happened to , IT IS THE VACCINE! DO NOT GIVE TYLENOL. Tylenol depletes the glutathione in his body which helps to detox. Use motrin. Get the book by Dr. Sears on Vaccines. I am not anti vaccine but there are TOO MANY TOO SOON and the ingredients would shock you. SOme of our kids cannot tolerate and are alleric to them. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE listen to your gut as a mommy. You are very smart to ask for help. Go to www.generationrescue.org and read read read. There are books you can get to help you with a safer schedule. I personally go to a homeopath in Dallas. He can help you with this reaction in a natural way. He takes awhile to get into though!. EMail me if you need anything!!
L.
