My 3mo old daughter has begun to cry when she is falling asleep at night. She has been fighting sleep for naptime as well but more like she shakes herself back awake as she is drifting off. This crying thing has happened the last 5 nights. I put her down at around 7ish. She sleeps for about an hour. Wakes up and cannot go back to sleep. She is wide awake and wants to play. Once I get her settled down and am feeding her, she will begin to turn away from the bottle or breast as if she has a bubble. When I try to burp her, there is nothing. Every time I offer her the bottle or breast she latches on and sucks on it like she is starving for 2 or 3 swallows then she turns away from it again. I try to breastfeed and follow up with formula when needed every feeding. I have stopped offering the bottle and have tried rocking her and she sucks on her hands or my shoulder if I am holding her up there. This goes on for almost an hour. Finally she starts to show signs of getting sleepy and will latch on the the bottle and drink heartedly. She starts to dose off and all of a sudden her eyes fly open and she lets out a wail and cries horribly for 10-15 minutes. I have tried to rock her, tried to burp her, talk quietly to her, offer her binky, try to distract her with toys, laying her down, holding her closer to me... nothing calms her. Finally she stops crying but it will take me another 20-30minutes to get her to be ready to go back to her crib. Up until 5 days ago, when she would wake in the morning, she would be happy and would play by herself in the crib for a good 10-15minutes before letting me know she was ready to get up. (I know this because I wake up whenever she moves around and I watch her grabbing her feet or playing with her hands). Now she wakes up fussing until she sees me and then usually the smile will come. I feel almost as if she is afraid to sleep...? My sister's youngest daughter experienced night terrors at 3yrs old and I am afraid that could be an issue here? What could a 3month old be so afraid of? Anyone else experience this or have advice for me?
So, I went to the library and got a couple books. The No Cry Sleep Solution spent a lot of time about night time routines. I thought I had one. I didn't. Apparently I had been overstimulating her when I was trying to get her to sleep. My hubby had the tv on, etc... Now we have set up a routine and have used it fpr that last 3 nights. In the book they say not to gauge success until day 10 but WOW what a difference. First sign of tiredness I talk her to our room (her crib is still in our bedroom) and turn on her mobile. I let her watch it for a little bit then pick her up and nurse then bottle feed in a rocking chair. The whole time the mobile is playing (Mozart, Beethoven and Bach) We end with me burping on my shoulder and I leave her there for a little cuddle time. I have put her down in the crib the last three nights still awake but very sleepy...no binky! Thanks for your advice mamas!
I think there is something medically wrong. SOunds like my daughter at two weeks old and there was a few medical issues we had to resolve and then back to a normal happy baby
Does any of this correspond to the time that you introduced formula to her? I just wonder if she could be allergic to something in the formula. Have her bowel movements changed? (Of course that isn't a very good gauge because breast fed babies bm's are COMPLETELY different than formula fed babies!). Have you had her ears checked? I wonder if laying down is uncomfortable to her because of a slight ear infection? Has she recently had a group of vaccinations that could be effecting her in someway? I think I would discuss this with your pediatrician the next time you go in for a well baby visit and see if he/she can see an issue that you are dealing with.
There is a major change in the nature of baby sleep at 12 weeks. She isn't scared of sleep, she is just aware of the fact of sleep at this point. So, you need to teach her to fall asleep. If you haven't already started reading up on it, I'd head to the library.
Healthy Sleep Habits is a good book.
I know it sounds early, but she could be teething. The fact that she acts hungry but then pulls away is a classic sign because it hurts to suck. It could also be what is waking her up. My brother and sister both cut teeth at 3 months, and my almost 4-month old is now exhibiting the same signs. You may want to try the teething gel or some tylenol and see if that helps at all.
Do you swaddle her for sleeping? Could help with the "shaking herself awake". We swaddled both of our kids well past the newborn stage. It was comforting and it was a signal that it was time to sleep. I also agree that it could be teething. My son was teething at 3 months. We gave him baby orajel and Tylenol a few nights when he was especially cranky. You could also try switching to the "gentle" formula or soy formula if you think that is the problem. Good luck!
I'm not sure why you are formula feeding? Do you have a confirmed supply issue? I don't know if using formula has coincided with this? If there is an allergy or a reaction issue, it is most likely the formula and not breastmilk.
Have you considered letting her comfort nurse on your breast to fall asleep rather than the bottle? The problem could be anything. Habit, gas, reflux, just growing pains...with babies, things change by the minute, by the day, by the week, so I would just ride it out and then see how she is.
If she is eating well and having enough wet diapers and not inconsolable, I would just chalk it up to being a baby.
I would recommend the comfort nursing though....it makes them so secure and happy.
Good luck mama.
try n see if she has a colic....kids usually on formula milk have that problem.My son did.If so you must give her a digestive everyday for a year. It happens because the formula milk is heavier than the breast milk. Her sleep pattern wont become completely normal till she is 6months.its only after kids start having solids or semi solids that they start sleeping all through the night.Kids as young as 3months dont get scared..They just feel insecure.Hold her close, cuddle her, if she is still crying must check her for colic pains.
i understand your anxiety..hope this bit piece of advice will help!!
This sounds similar to the way my grandchildren reacted to going to sleep. It turned out that my granddaughter was allergic to the protein in milk. She was completely bottle fed after the first month. Her pediatrician put her on Alimentium, which does not have milk protein in it, and she went to sleep and stayed asleep.
Turned out my grandson had GERD. We put him to sleep in the car infant seat, which kept him mostly upright and he settled in to sleeping better. His pediatrician also prescribed an antacid.
