Restless Baby Won't Sleep

Updated on September 02, 2016
B.B. asks from Bedminster, NJ
6 answers

My almost 8 1/2 mo daughter has never been a great sleeper but until recently would sleep 4-8 hours most nights in her swing. She screams in her crib, I've tried it and it's out for now. This last week she will only sleep being held/and/or nursing. But even in bed with me she throws herself around, crawls, and tries to sit up many times a night. It's like she's somewhat asleep when doing this and she cries out as well. She's a great eater and eats a big dinner. She is an active baby and has been crawling and cruising since 7 months. Is it her teeth?? She has none.

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Sounds like teething has begun!
Tire her out as much as possible during the day.
A stroller ride and lots of fresh air in the afternoon seems to help tire them out for better sleeping at night.

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H.W.

answers from Portland on

Teething is awful for babies. It's funny, because I've read many dentists saying that teething doesn't cause pain-- and I keep thinking (after working with babies for years) that they are very wrong! I'd talk to your pediatrician about what sort of dosage of motrin (which deals with inflammation) or Tylenol to use; see if you can find a dye-free option, too. If your baby is teething, she may be drooling, trying to gnaw on you (if she nurses she may start to bite; this is to create pressure to soothe the pain), and she may have diarrhea because of the excessive drool. (this can also cause a rash, so you want to keep her face/neck/chest dry. I put a bib on my son when he was teething and changed his shirt when it got damp, due to the acids in the saliva, which also trigger the diarrhea).

Also know that when kids are on the cusp of developing new physical skills (like standing), they will even 'practice' this in their sleep. I've seen this many times. Their body is so ready to try that new movement that they will wake themselves up, be tired, but wanting to stand/crawl/walk.... it's amazing how determined their little bodies are! You may have a kiddo who is in both of these stages.

Just remember, if it's teething, don't feel bad about giving medicine. My son complained a few years ago when his permanent teeth were moving/coming in and it hurt. The fact that he was 7 at the time and could articulate what was bothering him only leads me to believe that teething does cause pain. No need to let them suffer.

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

I don't know if it's her teeth but my daughter was like this too. I can say that this too shall pass. My daughter is 18 yo and just moved into her college dorm last week. Some days and nights are long but the years fly by.

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T.D.

answers from Springfield on

i had to put my kids to sleep on their sides or they wouldn't last an hour.
dd had to have music going or she would wake up restless and need to be nursed back to sleep. then i discovered a pacifier worked with her and she was sleeping better.
ds needed additional confinement, he did great with legs swaddled tight and arms out till he was about 11 months when he discovered he could climb out of bed... then a sleep sack kept him covered and unable to climb out. dd also loved sleep sacks

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H.T.

answers from Chicago on

My son did this two for a good 2-3 months. He would wake himself up banging his head after crawling into the crib or side of Our headboard. I read a few books about how that is a common age for sleep regression and how their brains don't completely shut down while their motor skills are new and being perfected. Its such a huge geowth/leap dir them it takes up. It should pass shortly. Not much you can do.

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M.G.

answers from Portland on

Could be teeth.

A few thoughts - babies (everyone) wake up during the night. We all do this. A baby who doesn't know how to go back to sleep will sit up, toss, roll around, etc. They usually cry out if they're in their cribs - and that's where that whole -teach them how to soothe back to sleep training - comes in.

So if she only sleeps in her swing - how long has that been going on? Is it going - like swinging all night? I'm just wondering if she's used to motion, or being upright, contained (strapped in), what it is about the swing that allows her to sleep and not in her crib.

Or is it because of reflux?

I guess if it were me, I'd figure out if she can sleep in general - can she nap in her crib?

I agree with the moms about pain relief if it's teething. That helped us when our kids were in pain to get a good night's sleep.

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