Not Sleeping, Crying All the Time, and Always Wanting to Be Held.

Besides the teeth, separation anxiety can set in about this age. It's so hard when they are so needy and you are so tired. Some nights the only way we'd get any sleep was for me to hold him on my chest in a sling while I lay back in the Lazy-Boy and dozed for a bit. You are the Mama - the great comforter and fixer of boo-boos, and he absolutely needs to know you love him, day and night. They do grow out of it eventually, and although you are tired now, you might look back on it later fondly.

I'm going to give you the bad first....

Your son may want to be held all the time because he's in pain. Are you giving him pain medication? Hyland teething pills, Orajel, Tylenol? Cold wash cloths?

As far as the naps go, some kids are catnappers for life. If this has just recently changed, it may be due to the tooth pain.

Same goes for waking up in the middle of the night. Some kids just are not good sleepers. I think it's probably pain from his teeth. Does he sleep in his own room? Is it too quiet? Can you put on a fan/music/sound machine? If he sleeps with you, you may be waking him or he may be smelling you and want to be nurtured. If you are breastfeeding, some babies always wake to eat until they are on cow's milk.

When you leave the room, he is experiencing separation anxiety. He doesn't yet understand that you are coming back. Tell him (even though he doesn't understand) or if it helps, take him with you. Wear him in a carrier so you don't feel like you have to 'hold' him all the time.

That was the bad. Here's the good.

Once his teeth are in or there is a break in teething he'll probably go back to longer naps and not waking up as much or at all at night. He will get over his separation anxiety and not care when you leave the room. However, no timeline on when that will happen!

Good luck!

Oh my goodness...I was JUST about to post the exact same question except I do have newborn TWINS. I'd love to sit and hold him all day, but that's just impossible in our household.

Have you had his ears checked ? Ear aches are not uncommon while teething.

I have been through the same thing, I understand what you are going through. We are going to through it again minus the waking up at night. I agree with the suggestion of something cold he can suck on. My son doesn't like that kind of thing so I can only offer what I have heard works. (That mesh thingy for frozen fruit/ice cubes, a frozen wet wash rag-rolled up.) What I finally found that helped is the Hyland's Teething tablets. I am not sure how much they help for the pain but they do help him relax and sleep all nap/night. I finally got them as a last resort and trial and couldn't believe I had waited so long. Hope this helps and that you get lots of other good advice. Know, also, that you are not alone! :)

My daughter (who is 14 months now) goes through the same thing every time she gets a tooth. She will only sleep in my arms at night, takes very short naps, and is also very clingy. The first 2 teeth she got were the worst, and I couldn't believe she was going to get a whole mouthful of these evil things! Luckily, things got somewhat better with the next teeth that came in (until the molars, those are also dreadful!) My daughter gets ear infections everytime she gets a tooth. This might be the same for your son, or he's just not used to the pain that comes with teething. Ive tried every kind of teething relief, but the only thing that works for her is motrin. I know its hard to deal with but hopefully things will get better! Good Luck! (PS- my daughter still does not sleep through the night-she is usually up at least once- on a good night!)

This sounds pretty normal. Try some tylenol. Unfortunately, you probably already know that kids make up a new schedule every two weeks. Hang in there!

Hi A.,

Have you had his ears checked? A lot of babies will get ear infections when they cut teeth.

Also when cutting teeth, baby motrin can be a life saver! AND all of my children LOVED chewing on washrags and toothbrushes.

My youngest who is now 24, was a mama's girl. It was very surprising as she was the youngest of three, but she wouldn't let anyone but me come near her from the time she was about 8 months old until she was about 18 months, when I just couldn't do it anymore and had to let her cry and stay with other people. If there isn't anything wrong with him, you just might have to let him cry, it just depends on what you need and want to do.

If I were a betting woman tho - I would bet you need to get his ears looked at!

Good luck,

N.

try the teething tablets they helped a lot with my daughter. Some kids don't like their teething rings frozen only cold. Rayne hated it when they were frozen for the longest time she just wanted it cold but still soft. the teething tablets may help him sleep especially at nap time. also alternate between tylenol and motrin or else they will build up an immunity to it. I also would just make sure that he doesn't have an ear infection on top of the teething pain. My daughter never has had one but I did a lot as a kid. does he still like to be swaddled? sometimes kids still want swaddled and others hate it. try giving him something to cuddle with while sleeping a small stuffed animal could be just all he wants.

Hi A., As others have said, you are not alone! I think I could of wrote Bridgets response, I completely agree with her. Since your son is older than 6 months, motrin does work better than tylenol. I would also have him checked for an ear infection, usually the first sign is waking up crying more often than usual. Other than that, just hang in there! My daughter, now 16 months was the exact way at 8 months old, only wanted me to hold her, couldn't walk into the room with out her screeming for me and she woke every two hours. My husband & I were walking zombies! But with time this will pass. Good luck!

I go through that often. My boys really struggled with and struggle with teething. Have you given him any Tylenol for the pain? How about soothing music or a running vaccume cleaner to relax him, that actually helps a lot. I bought a thunderstorm CD and played that on repeat for him, totally helped and I bought this thing that projects on the ceiling with music, I think fisher price makes it, that helps. Stay strong, this too shall pass! :)
Also, try cold teething toys and also those mesh bags, stick frozen fruit and let him go to town, it really helps the gums!!!