My 5 month old has been waking up (from at least one nap, and then also at least once in the middle of the night) screaming. This is out of character for him. He screams for 30 min to and hour. It sounds really painful. I thought it was gas, teething pain, constipation and have addressed each of those issues. He seems to want to suck on something, but he won't take the breast, bottle, pacifier, or finger. This also has coincided with him going on a nursing strike. He would only nurse once a day for the last 10 days (and not at the same feeding). I've been pumping but my milk supply is drying up. Then last night he started screaming until i nursed him, but I'm having to supplement with formula until my supply builds back up. I am at my whits end. Please help.
My daughter had a similiar problem with her baby, we found out that she was lactose intolerant. We tried a soy formula and that seemed to work. she slept better and would eat more. Maybe try a soy formula.
I would guess ear infection or reflux. My two year old started doing that and it turns out that she had horrible "silent" reflux. She is a great eater. We had no idea. I'd go to the pedi.
My baby would do that and it would be an ear infection he ended up with tubes in his ears when he was 10 months old.
My first thought was reflux. I think 5 months is too young for night terrors.
Just to offer an idea that hasn't yet been suggested-- is there a possibility something is biting him? This happened to us, where 2 or 3 times my son would be playing at his grandma's and just start screaming crying. I had no idea what to think as nothing was really consoling him and then he'd eventually calm down until I was playing on the floor with him and noticed ants in this corner of her home! I mean, I'm sure the other suggestions are more valid, but if none of them pan out- maybe check if your little guys being bitten. Good luck!
Has your child recently been vaccinated or had a virus or infection?
I would ask a dr. the nursing strike might be related so it is good you mention that too. ear infection? teething? these things might cause a LO to not want to nurse bc it can be painful to them. I would also call the local LLL or a LAC to figure out how to not supplement and build your supply quickly bc honestly once you start supplementing it does 'mess' w/ your supply and that might cause more of a problem w/ it (speaking from friends experiences w/ supplem.) Oh and I just thought of this maybe if you are supplementing the formula might be bothering him so if you continue to do so you might need another brand. oh and did you try a new food or anything (or him if he is on solids) maybe he is having pains from a reaction to a new food? hope something I said helped! xo
What you're describing sounds a bit like the 'night terrors'... would you think of having a doctor order a sleep EEG? These can sometimes be Temporal Lobe activity that many of us have / had. The crying inconsolably is often the clue...
After reading your question, my very first thought was an ear infection. That's the only way I knew when my daughter had an ear infection is that she would always wake up during naps and at night, just crying and screaming.
My daughter was the best sleeper on the planet, but she went through a phase at about 4 months where she would just cry and I couldn't for the life of me do anything but try hungry, gas, rock, swaddle, take clothes off, sing, have the house silent...
it didn't last very long but as a first time mother, it seemed like forever.
It's the strangest thing, but turning the vacuum cleaner on made her happy.
She didn't really sleep during the day but wasn't cranky. And she always slept great at night, but as she got older, I realized, she didn't sleep well if things were too quiet.
The main thing you have to remember is that as your baby grows, his sleep patterns will change a lot.
I'm not suggesting what some would consider "cry it out", but maybe try not fussing too much to figure out what's wrong. Don't hover too much. That's not to say neglect him, but, you will find that babies and kids go on feeding "strikes".
The more you get worried, the more your baby may pick up on it.
It feels impossible with a crying baby, but if you stay calm, it will help calm him and just like in my daughter's case...there was nothing wrong with her. It came and it went. She's a perfectly healthy 23 year old now.
My son never did go through that screaming thing.
If he's not burning up with a fever or anything else....just try to do what you're doing and nurse him as much as possible.
Best wishes!
Poor little guy... Have you tried singing to him? My 9mo daughter wakes up at night sometimes and the only thing that will soothe her is me singing (not very well) and holding her against my chest. She also will not sleep unless a fan is blowing on her, due to the insane heat we have been having. I went through the same thing with my milk supply... I eventually just stuck with the formula. I hope things work out for you.
He may be having night terrors. My nephew had them and they were just awful. Check with your pediatrician. Also see if there is something else wrong.... and for breastfeeding advice message Kate C on here.. she is AWESOME
