Infant Fussy Baby

I know it sounds weird but maybe he's overtired. I know around 5 months babies really start to develop their natural sleep cycle. If he isn't getting his proper naps and as much sleep as he needs he may be overtired and then they have a hard time sleeping at night. He should have his first nap 2 hours after he wakes up in the morning. Depending on your soothing routine I would start soothing him about 1.5 hours after waking up in the morning ie breast/bottle, story, lullaby, dim lights etc. After he wake from first nap next nap should be about 2 hours later and the 3rd nap about 2 hours after he wakes from the 2nd nap and bedtime would be 2 hours after that. For more insight on sleeping schedules read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weisbluth. When my daughter was 5 months old she started getting really fussy and I realized she wasn't sleeping enough. After I read the book and got her on a good schedule she's been a champion sleeper ever since. She is 18 months old now, still in bed by 7pm at the latest and sleeps until 7 or 8 in the morning. Everyone comments about how good natured she is and I think it's because she's well rested, and so is the rest of the family! Good luck with your little guy.

Is he turning over or trying to turn over? My daughter learned how to turn over one way and couldn't get back to the position she wanted to be in. She would cry until I came in to turn her back. I found with each new milestone there was sleep interruptions for awhile. He could be too warm or cold, or he might just be getting to an age when he wakes he realizes he is alone and doesn't like it. The possibilities are almost endless.

If you really think your child is ill seek a second opinion. No doctor knows everything.

Hi D.
I have a 5 month old too (and a 2 1/2 yo)! Sleep can definitely be difficult at times. Have you ever considered a chiropractor? I'm a chiropractor and have been adjusting my kids since the hour they were born. My son was crying non-stop when he was born & wouldn't nurse. I adjusted him and he was a completely different baby....content & nursing w/o any problems.

Babies can have misalignments in their spines from being in the uterus, birth trauma, or even reaching different milestones. When an infant's spine is adjusted, it's really light and they love it!! My 5 month old son smiles like crazy when I adjust him & my 2 1/2 yo daughter always asks to be adjusted.

Maybe your son is telling you he has pain somewhere and just needs a small adjustment. Plus it beats getting on an antibiotic b/c there "might" be an ear infection.

Best wishes to you and your little one!
T.

My son is just a week shy of a year old and this has happened to us so many times in the past year I lost count! One time he actually had an ear infection and then I insisted on getting him checked the next 3 times until I realized that sometimes they just have a tough time sleeping...like us! We will be trucking along at several weeks of good sleep and then BAM, he's up every 2 hours crying for no reason. Lately, we're battling waking at 5am for no reason.

Sometimes if they are learning new skills...eating solids, sitting up, crawling, etc., they will wake more at night. Also, he could be starting to teeth and it's just not visible on the gumline as of yet; I'd still keep an eye out for that.

Until then, be sure to check on him, but try not to pick him up or anything because then he'll start crying just so you'll come and get him.

Good luck!

D.,
Even tough it may not appear that he is teething, they can have teething pain long before teeth show up. I use homeopathic teething drops that you can get anywhere, I dont know the drug company name, but is has winnie the pooh on it. It is natural so no side effects and you can give it long term. hope this helps, good luck!

My dear there will be a number greater than you can count how many times you will not have an answer to what is going on with your baby, and as he grows there will be more mysteries! But I've had 3 boys myself and that is a frusterating age for the little ones, and sometimes it just makes them grumpy! Certainly, if you feel something is wrong with him, then get a second opinion. but it does sound like pretty typical behavior! :)

Try Gripe Water. It is made for babies and it is very safe and natural. It is available at health food stores. I wish I had known about it for my 2 and 4 year old. I used it for my daughter until she was 7 months old. Works great!

I agree with Missy, I would definnetly seek a second opinion. I had a problem with my daughter having a bump in her eye brow, the ped. that she had said it was nothing I had this gut feeling that told me to get a second opinion I saw a different dr and she told me that it is a cyst and would have to be removed or over time it would grow on to her brain, and then you would not be able to remove it and it would just get bigger. We removed it. My point is you are the one that knows your baby best go with your gut feeling. Get a scond opinion, my son had that problem and I took him back a couple times for tests they found out the reason he was waking up was becasue he had acid reflux. So if you are presestent then you will get answers.

If you're sure it's not teeth, I'd push for more testing. You know your baby and if you think something is wrong, it probably is. A little blood work and some x-rays to assure you nothing is wrong (or check if something is) doesn't seem like it would be too traumatic for your baby or too expensive for the insurance company. I have a bit of a tainted view because my husband's co-worker lost a 4 month-old baby to cancer. No one ever knew the poor little guy was sick :( Don't mean to scare you and it's probably nothing; but you won't know until you find out. It's your child, is it really worth the risk not to check if you think something is wrong?
Best of luck.
M.

Hey D.-
I have the exact same problem right now. Our baby is 5 months old and had been sleeping through the night, until about a week ago- he now wakes up at least two times a night and is much fussier than he has ever been during the day.
We think he may be teething, but more so, our babes are at the age when some little ones begin having seperation anxiety and are more aware of their surroundings. They figure out that if they make noise and fuss, that Mommy and Daddy will come running!
I asked two friends with kids, and this is what they both told me. They also said that it does stop.

Good luck!!