Why Does My Baby Start Crying in His Sleep?

Updated on October 28, 2010
K.K. asks from Sioux Falls, SD
9 answers

Okay, I just had my first child June of this year so you can say I am new to this mommy job. My son is 4 months old as of the 22nd. He was born 4 1/2 weeks premature and had to spend time in the NICU. He is a very sweet and good baby. The only thing that I can't seem to understand well is whenever he is in his swing sleeping or its nap time and he is in his room (yes we have monitors all around the apartment) he for no reason at all can start crying in his sleep. Not just the normal 'I want my mommy cry' but it almost sounds like a 'I'm in a lot of pain or discomfort cry' and I don't know why he does this. It has just started within the past month or so and I have taken him to the doctor to see if there was anything going on and he checked out perfectly fine, so I don't understand and neither does my fiance. He has acid reflux and we have him on medication for it and we also have him propped up when we aren't holding him. I guess I just don't understand and it really upsets me that I can't figure it out. I can hold him all I want when he does this but it doesn't seem to do anything until he actually wakes up and sees that mommy and daddy haven't left him and we are right there. I am at home with him all day while his father works 8-5.
Am I doing something wrong?

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.M.

answers from Bakersfield on

If he's crying in his sleep maybe he's having some kind of dream, like all of a sudden the milk wagon pulled away and he's chasing it... lol. I remember mine sometimes whimpering a little bit, or getting a little frown on their face while sleeping.... so something is definitely going through their little minds when that happens. He seems kind of young for the "night terrors", but it could be an onset of that I suppose. You should google it and read up on it.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.B.

answers from Sioux Falls on

i feel for ya. my oldest has had reflux since he was a baby also. gotta love dissolving prevacid in a med cup then trying to get it in a syringe 30 minutes before they eat. :-) my youngest was a colic baby. i did not get any sleep for the 1st year and i hardly get sleep now and he is 2. all i can is good luck and see if you might be able to increase the reflux med.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.B.

answers from La Crosse on

My twin grandsons who were born premature also did this. They would wimper in their sleep. It was heartbreaking. I think they were about 3-4 months but they seemed to grow out of it. They are 10 months now. Good luck, I know how sad it is to see them crying like that.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.T.

answers from Milwaukee on

Since he has acid reflux, he may need a higher dosage now, or even a different reflux med. My kids started out on liquid Zantac, then need a higher dosage of it by 2 months, then by 4 months they needed the disolvable Prevacid tablet - which they again needed a dosage increase in that medicine by 6 months. Acid Reflux is at it's worst when they are lying down - even if they are propped up. Being propped up did nothing for my kids. It could be worth increasing the dosage just to see if he stops the crying - especially if he is in pain.

S.P.

answers from Nashville on

there having nightmares. All you need to do is just pick them up and comfort them when they cry out at night like that. Also since they have there first shots already that very traumatizing for them. I noticed after my niece who lived with us after she got her first set of shots thats when she would have nightmares at night while sleeping.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.I.

answers from Duluth on

it could be "delayed" crying, where hes crying about something from before he went to sleep? is he crying when he falls asleep? there was a recent blog post on crying :
http://www.askmoxie.org/2006/06/babies_and_cio.html
there are kinds of babies who might need to whimper for a short period (few minutes - less than 5 definatly less than 10 minutes) to release and sleep, while others just get more and more worked up. my son was an increaser, and its exhausting, but very fulfilling now that hes grown and sleep is a non-issue for us.

other thoughts could be teething. you could try to give some teething relief thing before baby goes to sleep.

other things like gas could also cause this issue. is he gassy? maybe pumping his legs as a routine before sleep is a good thing.

the other thing is that babies need their mamas even when they are sleeping. it might be that hes just sensing the distance or the absence of you and is missing you. remember that theres nothing wrong with listening to your instincts, even if that means that you dont separate your son into another room from you. babies regulate even their own breathing by hearing yours, so its sometimes vital for babies to self-regulate and relax by being near their mothers and fathers.

anyway, listen to your heart. what does your heart and instinct tell you to do? dont brush aside those thoughts, i dont care who tells you that they are rediculous, or that you shouldnt spoil your son (remember, food spoils when it is left alone or neglected and it rots, not when its paid proper attention to). just do whatever you know in your heart your son needs. you will NEVER regret this decision. i know i dont. sleep is a non issue for babies who sleep with/near extremely responsive parents. :) you dont have to have him in the same bed as you, but decreasing the space between you is going to help both him be comforted that you are near, and help you not to have to wander in the middle of the night to get to him.

anyway.good luck. just listen to your heart. its likely you know the answer deep down!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

Nothing wrong, it's just either nightmares (yes, babies have them!) and/or gas...especially if he has reflux. Give him some Mylicon drops if you think he needs them to help get rid of the gas.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.M.

answers from Boston on

You aren't doing anything wrong. Babies cry. I'm sure your son is fine.

Both of my kids would do this if they had a trapped gas bubble. I remember one time my son wailed for about 35 minutes, finally let out the biggest burp I've ever heard from any size person in my life, and immediately passed out again. Little ones have a hard time moving the gas around in their bellies, and I bet that your guy is still falling asleep pretty soon after eating (which is fine). Just make sure that he's burping well after he eats, and maybe once in the middle too.

Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.D.

answers from Dallas on

My daughter did that quite a few times, she was dreaming. My son has even done it once already, and hes 2 weeks old! No worries!

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions