Hysterical Crying in Sleep

Why not swaddle again? I have heard of people doing it over a year old. You just need a really big blanket.

My son did this when he was about 4-5 months old also. He slept in a crib in his own room, so I don't think it's the bassinett. When he was that young, I think it happened 2 or 3 times in about a month's time. Usually, I was able to calm him down by holding him close & rocking him, or rubbing his back, softly playing with his hair, singing to him... anything that would soothe a little one. We didn't have it happen again until just last week. He's 11 1/2 months now, and it started the same way. He was dead asleep, and started "dry sobbing" (that's what I call it, anyway). Basically, he's sobbing in his sleep, so there's no tears, no vocal sounds... just the quick breaths that generally come with it. It happened 3 times last week. Once, he put himself back to sleep. The other two times, he woke himself up & then started a REAL sob. Big crocodile tears, very clingy, and just wanted to be held - even after he was calmed down.

I called our nurse's line, and she said it's rather common. She first asked if he'd had any other illness symptoms (fever, coughing, ear tugging, etc) and when I said no, she said she wasn't concerned. Most likely, he could have been dreaming about falling down, not seeing mom/dad in the room with him, being hungry & not getting fed right away... anything.

Trust your gut. If you think it could be something more serious, don't hesitate to call your doctor - or the nurse's line. That's what they're there for. :) I've called several times telling them I think everything's hunky-dorey.. but just wanted a true "educated opinion". The feeling of being reassured your little one is safe & not sick is WAY BETTER than the potential embarrassment of calling about something we feel is "silly". :)

Hope that helps!!

C ~

I couldn't say that I know what the cause might be, but I can suggest that you take him to someone who does CranioSacral work. I have had personal experience with this and it really does work. I know of some people I could suggest in Saint Louis, so if you are interested let me know. CranioSacral work is a very gentle hands on work with the nervous system. It costs about the same as a massage. I am a massage therapist and I had training in craniosacral, but I don't have experience working on babies.

My personal experience is that i have a 2 and half year old who did this about the age of 2-5 months and I have a grandbaby now 7 months old who has gurd. Now for my daughter she was a little premies and my gut told me that she was reliving some of the memories of childbirth hers was very traumatic as was my own experience i was literally begging to die and screaming hysterically in pain bc of having her naturally no epidural It seemed also that at times when i would try what every one else said to do like oh let them cry it out they are just exercising their lungs or blowing off steam it actually made the situation worse. I have 3 kids one just had her own so I should know not to listen but sometimes you get so in the clutch of oh my gosh whats going on you just cant think what will helps and fast, so looking back i can say that soothing her helped the most saying in the most empathetic tones oh i know thats a awful thing that happened to you it was sooooooooooo scary and its going to be okay now and over and over trying to soothe her and really acknowledging how scared or hurt she felt that helped tha most sometimes i thought oh shes just so tiny she doesnt know what I am saying but sometimes her shrieks and sobs would stop middle of my sentence then i Knew that was it exactly. she didnt really sob or cry much as i always rushed to her immediately sometimes i remember one time i was dragging myself to her mentally dragging and she felt it...she started to learn to dread me or at least it felt somewhat that way maybe im overexagerating but my hands are numb from typing and i am trying to get this idea across that i change myself or checked myself and the next time she cried i rushed but with the thought in mymind oh my gosh im so happy to have you in my life and that was a turning point too for her crying ... every time after i would try to embrace her and be happy that I was there to make her feel better...and i would nurse her much longer than most people even began to think was normal sometimes she would be allowed to nurse on one side for nearly 45 -60 minutes i know it seemed futile but this baby started sleeping 6-7 hours straight after i did all that and even though she woke once or twice in a 12-13 hour span to sleep nurse she still stayed down consistantly for almost 2 years the only other time frame where we had sleep problems was jsut after she learned to walk at about 14-15 month she began night terrors. again alot of loveing and soothing she started to associate that with being in her crib.. i know this is sooo long so forgive me and forgive my terrible grammer my hand fell asleep awehile ago.. good luck! oh i didnt start cereal until 6 months but my daughter started her baby immediately at 6months and within a month giving her all kinds of baby food now she struggles with nursing strike issues... it never hurts to consult ur ped to rule out other issues or if he is in pain. u dont want that ever! if the daycare workers are saying he is doing there too something has affected him or is still affecting his emotions its my opinion luckily they do forget easily try to soothe him but be alert if it last longer than few days
oh and swaddle him until the days he can pull it off himself unless he hates it and you will know because he will scream in tears not to have it sometimes my baby fussed in beginning of being swaddled but after swaddling i would always nurse her then she learned to love it and would fall asleep and stay asleep better... she now sleeps thru most every night for at least 11 hours once she goes down ...

I know a friend who had this going on. She suspected the babysitter was abusing the child, age 2. When she changed sitters the night terrors stopped. I mean within 2 days. Months later no signs of them returning. You might consider this. I just want your baby to be safe. You may want to check in at odd hour with the sitter and just see what the day is like for your little one. Good luck! I hope this is not it, however you do not want to leave them there if there is any chance of it.

He's most likely having a partial awakening going from light to deep sleep or vice versa. Let him keep sleeping, he's fine. Dr. Ferber talks about this in his book- I recommend reading it. It's normal and doesn't hurt them. If he doesn't really wake up, let him sleep and he'll outgrow it.

Is he drawing up his legs? If he is, he may be gassy or stomach upset. Mylicon (liquid) at Wal-Mart (or available anywhere else) for babies works very well for that and immediate and also there is one at herbal stores, more natural, in a small bottle. Not sure what its called, but it says what its for, and its in the form of small white beads that you put on tongue that tastes sweet for babies.

I definately would consult your Ped. It could be acid reflux or other medical condition that is making him uncomfortable.

It could be possible that he has an ear infection. When they are laying down the fluid in the ear will put pressure on his ear drums, causing it to hurt.He could also be teething which can also cause fluid in the ears. I babysat a child who would get an ear infection every time he cut a new tooth. I would definantly consult with his doctor just to give him a thorough examination. Hope that helps a litte. E.

My son cries in his sleep. I always just thought he was dreaming. His is more of a whimper with sniffles though. Sometimes it can turn into a real cry and wake him up. I've read that if your baby sees anger or unhappy people frequently he can transfer them into his dreams. I don't know if that is fact though. Don't worry he is just having vivid dreams.

You may try to start swaddling him again. We stopped swaddling our little guy as well and he just was getting the sleep he needed and consistently. He is 6 and 1/2 months old and I asked his physcian at his 6 month checkup if it was okay to still swaddle him off an on at this point. She said it was fine as long as he was still willing to be swaddled. He sleeps a whole lot better and through the night when he is swaddled. Hope your little guy starts sleeping better.

I would definitely consult his dr. When my son was that age he woke up screaming for 2 reasons, he was either teething or had really bad gas. Try giving him some myclicon drops (I don't think I spelled that right). Good luck!

It could be gas, acid reflux, or it's possible he's starting to teethe a little early. Check his gums and see if they look swollen. Try using Mylicon or Gripe Water to see if it's gas. How long ago did you start the cereal? Did it coincide with crying in his sleep? It's possible his little body isn't ready for cereal yet, a lot of times at 4 months their digestive systems aren't mature enough for foods other than breastmilk and/or formula. If it keeps up, you should ask your pediatrician.

My son also did this. We tried everything and he's 2 1/2 now and only has his "nightmares" maybe once a month now at the very most. We always just rubbed his back or belly and talked to him and they would go away really quick. That was the best method we could find because when we would wake him up that would just make them worse or he would get them more often. Good Luck.

FIRST THING: GET THAT BABY OUT OF THE BASSINET!! They are only safe for up to three months or 15 pounds!! Check the safety label - it will tell you the same thing.

I have heard of night terrors in small children, but not sure if that young. A mom once told me that it took a long time to figure out, but if the room was on the cool side, her son didn't have them anymore. She told me it took several months to figure this out. Might be worth a shot.

A great resource to check into things is http://www.webmd.com/ (a nurse friend recommends this site). Search "night terrors" and it gives several articles that may help.

My son cries sometimes in his sleep, usually when he starts waking up (eyes closed, but sort of awake). He just wakes up a total grump and slowly becomes happier. All babies wake in sleep, some hust quietly go back without help. I've read some babies cry to let off steam - maybe that's it? I would call your ped anyway - maybe there's sometging causing discomfort - gas? reflux?

My son went through the same thing. Once we moved him into a crib, he was fine.

Hi J.~

I think if you read you little "About Me" paragraph you might find the answer to your own question..Personally I think he maybe missing that secure feeling that comes from swaddling..What have you got to loose by just trying it again...

Good Luck!
M.