Nighttime Awakenings

I wouldn't blame yourself too much. Motherhood (as wonderful as it is, is all about love and guilt). Night terrors are very common at many ages. My boys were the worst. Where does your baby sleep? Maybe being closer to you (in your own bed) would make him feel better. I know some people don't like to have their kids sleep with them, but if you don't mind, it sure makes for a happy baby.
Good luck.

Both of my children have been night wakers. It probably is some developmental thing he is going through. Every stage has reasons for waking. When they talk, teeth, walk, are going through growth spurts, or maybe when they've seen something scary during the day. From what I have read about sleep, the mind replays the events of the whole day at night when we sleep. When they wake, I just bring them to my bed (for the little one) or go to lie down in his bed (for the big one) until they fall back to sleep.

Hugs, love and the statement "tell me all about it" as I rubbed my three childrens backs through all types of night stuff. When they know you're there for them, they will be the same type of adults. The kind that shows up and cares.
I'd be careful giving them something such as a pain reliever, that might grow into a habit for having quiet in your house. Sleep deprivation is part of parenthood. Surrender with love in your heart and know that your in it for the duration of childhood for your wonderful child.
If mom's okay, then baby will be too. Give off that vib to your child.

Hi Marie...

Does it seem like he is throwing a tantrum and it is hard to wake him up? This sounds like a night terror. My son went through this for years. All you can really do is hold them and make sure they do not hurt themselves if they are throwing themselves around. They usually grow out of them and even though they are screaming - they are still asleep!! Hang in there!!!

I'm a "trust your gut" type. if you think it's his teeth, it may be. Giving motrin after he's already awoken screaming will take a while to work. When my son went through that and we were sure it was teeth or ears hurting, we'd give him the motrin before he went to sleep. For us it helped a lot. Otherwise, if he has the night terrors, intervening doesn't always help and sometimes makes it worse. I used to just go in and rub his tummy or head or hand until he calmed. It worked better for both of us (me because at least I could feel like I was there and doing something, him just to know I was there whether he needed me or not). God bless and remember it'll pass!

Night terrors is one possibility, but your baby may also simply have built up anxiety from missing you! Separation anxiety isn't natural, in this day and age we force our children to be without us from much too early an age.

My guess is that if you spent your time with your baby instead of working part time the terrors would subside. I mean, gosh, what if they are in fact night terrors, but what if what he was dreaming about was being in a scary place with no mommy? We are supposed to be his constant anchor in this big new place called life.

Dear J.,

Just keep on reassuring him, and let him get through the hard times - all kids do this at one time or another. This is just one of those times. Also, you might get on line and read about what is happening to his brain and body at 10 months old. There is still a lot going on in that little tiny body.

C. N.

No u are not the only one. My 10 month old daughter went through that same thing for like 2 weeks and then all of the sudden it ended. My husband and I would rock her until she finally fell back to sleep. Our doctor told us it was perfectly normal and just a phase she was going through. It will end just hang in there :)