Crappy nights….and I Mean Crappy!

Updated on March 01, 2008
M.K. asks from Suffolk, VA
14 answers

Our 4 month old daughter was sleeping through the night at 2 ½ months. About three weeks ago, she started to have #2’s in the night that would wake her. These #2’s are loose. I am not sure if this is normal. At first, I thought that it was a stomach bug and it would go away in 7-10 days. No such luck, we are still waking to her cries of a messy diaper once if not twice a night. After we change her, she thinks she needs to eat. This in turn really throws her daily schedule off. I do not know what to do. Could she be teething, should I change formula, could it in fact be a stomach bug that lasts for 4 weeks?

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for your advice. We have been to the doctor for her 4-month check up and he thinks it may be just a bug. She has been on Soy formula since breastfeeding failed after 2 months. It seems to be working fine. She does spit up often though. Her stools in the beginning were very difficult to get out, now it seems to be the flip side. We have talked with the doctor about all of our concerns several times but he says that everything looks and sounds good. She is growing like a weed and gaining weight. I really that it is her teeth and praying everyday that they pop through! We did start rice cereal and she loves it. The stools seem to be firming up a bit. We did try the regular formula and she was very gassy. It may have been a fluke but I am not willing to gamble. I do mix it with the cereal and it seems fine. If needed, I may try a different brand. She really is a happy baby overall. I think it would be better for her (and her parents) if she would get a little more sleep.

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J.G.

answers from Washington DC on

Just a quick note--it sounds like a reaction to food (others have probably said this). I'd definitely see the pediatrician--don't want her to lose weight and to want her to stop waking at night! Could be a simple change of formula but I wouldn't do it w/o talking to a professional. Good luck! OK, just read the responses--you go, Mom! Sounds like it will all be fine.

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D.S.

answers from Allentown on

Hi M.,

Have you called her pediatrician? D.

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T.E.

answers from Richmond on

Well sometimes that can have something to do with what you feed her before she goes to bed, How late she eates, and if she has any allergies. I know my son get the loose stool when he drink cows milk or eats cheese. He also gets hives when he eats certain foods. Try talking to your doctor as well about this problem, he may be able to give you a little advice.

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T.O.

answers from Washington DC on

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A.S.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi! My name is A. and I am the stay-at-home mom of my two boys, ages 5 and 7. I agree with M. G. Your baby may be hitting a growth spurt and need cereal and/or fruit during the day. I am sorry her schedule is off! It throws everything else off, too.
Try giving her a pacifier after you change her, for your own sanity. Also, how does she eat during the day? Do you feed her after you change her during the day? Whatever you do during the day, she will expect at night. Still doesn't explain the stools. Diarrhea would be very watery, not just loose. If she is teething, (very likely) her stools will be loose from the excess saliva she is swallowing during the day. If she is teething, there are other things you may see her doing like pulling on her ears and sucking/gnawing on everything. If these are not apparent, take her to the pediatrician. It never hurts to err on the side of caution, expecially with our babies. Good luck and God Bless!

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P.D.

answers from Norfolk on

I wouldn't recommend changing her formula. It might be teething but unfortunately the diarrhea has to run its course because the body is just purging something bad that could cause something more serious. Has she lost weight? Have you consulted your pediatrician? Also at 4 months, most babies are starting on rice cereal. Have you started this. Sounds like you need an office visit with her doctor.

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E.G.

answers from Norfolk on

Sorry to hear about your sleepless nights. I have an 8 month old daughter and go through it periodically as well. A few months ago, so had a virus with diarhea & fever that also woke her at night/needed to change. After the fever went away so continued with the loose stools and needing to be changed at night. After the 10th day, I spoke with the pediatrician again and she said that the virus shouldn't last that long. She said sometimes when a child has a virus/diarhea it kills the good bacteria in the intestines and then they can have a hard time digesting lactose. She suggested switching formula for a bit to help (switch to soy). Since I was still part time breast feeding she said that I should not have any dairy as well (drink soy milk instead). Once her stools were more solid, continue for about a week and then it should be ok to switch back. We did it and it cleared up. (In 24 hours the diarhea stopped and then we just continued the routine for another week to make sure she was good.)

Good luck to you!

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J.D.

answers from Norfolk on

It is probably prudent at this point to take your child to the doctor. She may be teething, however, it may be something more. Either way her pediatrician should be able to tell you and also how to help her.

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E.P.

answers from Washington DC on

I think it may be a little early for teething, are you breast feeding? If not she could be allergic to the type of formula you are giving. Also, she is WAY TOO YOUNG to be on any type of schedule just yet. It may also just be a phase and this too shall pass. Are the stools totally different in the night as opposed to daily stools?

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T.D.

answers from Danville on

Hi M..
My son did that too. It could mean that she has developed an allergy to the formula. His stool got looser and looser and he got hungrier and hungrier. Because I was a very young mother when I had him, I thought that was normal and that it was a stomach bug. I was wrong, and realized it when blood started to show up in his stool. Loose stool is not a good thing. Also watch the colour of it. Green stool means a big problem. I had to put him on Rice Water with vitamins for about a week, as well as antibiotics. Take your daughter to your pediatrition and speak to him/her about it. If it is an allergy to the formula, ask him/her about putting your daughter on Soya Milk. A baby can dehydrate very quickly, and having loose stool will do that. When you see this message don't wait until the next day to contact your pediatrition, and don't change your daughter's formula until you talk to them. Because this is flu season as well, it is possible she might have a mild case. So many things can lead up to loose stool in a baby. A little side note, Soya Formula is a little more expensive than the regular formula.
I hope this helps you. Let me know what your pediatrition says. Wishing you and your daughter the best.

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M.D.

answers from Richmond on

Hi sweety, I am M. and a mother of 2 boys, 3 & 8. Sometimes little ones go thru somach problems.. could be formula or even lactose intollerance. My 8 yr old did that and we found out that breast milk contained lactose also. He needed special formula. I would take her to a pediatrician just to be sure. They will be able to guide you better. It could be something serious or just the flu refusing to let go.. May just need some med help. See your peditrician and let them determine the cause. Loose stools may just need a formula change or may be something else.. Ask the doctor K? God Bless and take care.. M.

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C.H.

answers from Cumberland on

she could be having a growth spurt. Dont worry she will sleep longer again.

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M.G.

answers from Washington DC on

hello

i feel you. when they poop, they empty space for their stomach. that is why the feel hungary.

have you tried to feed your baby cereal, rice cereal if you make it runny enough that the can sip on it you should be good, it maybe that formula (or in my case breast milk) alone was not enough for my son at 3 months

also try mashing up bananas and feeding it to you child. that should help with the poop and the hungar.

hope this helps you a little.

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D.T.

answers from Washington DC on

It's possible that it may be related to teething. My daughter is now 6 months old and started teething at 2-3 months. Her stools were considerably looser than usual, but she didn't really do #2 at night, generally other inconvenient times...lol...I would refer to her pediatrician for advice. He or she may recommend starting her on some bananas or a little rice in her formula. If she feels she needs to eat, just give her a few ounces because it may just be a "comfort" thing. Sometimes my daughter wakes up during the night or acts like she wants to nurse but really just wants something to suck on until she goes back to sleep. So she has a paci that I give her in those instances. Good luck!!

D.

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