Sunday, March 22, 2009

12

10 out of the past 12 nights MT has woken up pretty much at the same time screaming. The problem is he really isn't awake. He just looks awake, is standing or trying to stand in his crib and screaming inconsolable. This cry is ear piercing, nagging like drawn out pathetic wails of hopelessness. Lt almost sounds fake. And honestly the #1 most annoying sound E.V.E.R.

We have tried:

  • not picked him up and letting him cry for some time
  • patting him on the butt in the crib until my arm just can't do it anymore
  • giving him a bottle
  • giving him mot.rin
  • picking him up and trying to console him
  • putting him in our bed
  • pushing him in a stroller

Nothing works. He fights and tries to escape out of my arms. Lay him down and he thrashes, rolls, burrows his face etc. He just cries for hours. Until he just can't stay awake anymore crying and goes to sleep. Is this related to the ears, teeth, or the meds? Is this Night Terrors? I am at a loss and I feel like a huge failure. I honestly don't know what to do.

UPDATED with a question - Anyone else experience their child/themself while on antibiotics to cause/have night terrors? Am I grasping at straws?This is just my gut feeling. I can't find much research linking the two .. Of course yuo can find some information on it but not medical studies.

15 comments:

Happy Mommmy said...

Sounds like night terrors to me. My daughter did the same thing. We tried every way to console her. Finally I would just put her some place safe (she would thrash around) in her bed and shut the door and they would eventually stop and she would go back to sleep. Each night the terrors started at the same time and lasted 30 minutes. It was hard hearing her cry but it does pass. They only lasted a couple of weeks.

AwkwardMoments said...

Happy Mommmy - Thank you for your comment. If you notice in the easter bunny picture on the top right of his forhead. Another bruise. That was from one episode of him head banging the crib railing while in one of these fits. I guess I will need to find a safer spot for him.

sara said...

Here is my very limited experience with night time terrors. It sure sounds like it to me. That being said...I have NO first hand experience with them so take what I say with a grain of salt. My friend's two girls had them and that is exactly what they experienced. I've never seen it first hand however. Happy Mommy seems to have some good imput. I hope you continue to get some more. And I'm so sorry that you have to deal with that...it sounds really stressful and I hope it's over as soon as it started ((Hugs))

BigP's Heather said...

I had night terrors for years growing up. At 10 and 2 - my mother said you could set a watch by me. She was told to not try to wake me, just soothe me and put me back in bed. Eventually, I quit and starting sleep walking instead...fun times I'm sure.

I have no assvice. I don't think I thrashed around - just screamed. My mother still talks about how horrible it was. I feel horrible I put her through that and my heart goes out to you.

OK, I do have assvice - listen to Happy Mommy. You have tried everything you can, so just make him safe and let him do his thing. I hope he grows out of it soon.

Jen said...

Wow, that sounds awful! I know baby screams pretty well myself these days and they can be ear piercing. I have heard that if a child has night terrors, one thing to try is to to gently wake them up a tiny bit before you go to bed, somehow it resets their sleep. I have tried this with my older kids with some luck. Your in my thoughts!

Christy said...

How wow, how frustrating! I have no input for you, but lots of sympathy. I hope the little cutie gets back to his regular night-time self soon!

Anonymous said...

It could be his teeth you know. If he wasn't like this before then it must be. Bloody painful teeth cutting through, no wonder they cant be consoled. Take him to the doc and discuss it with them, might be something they can do.

xxx

RBandRC said...

UGH. You know, I was just having a conversation with a friend of mine who is on antibiotics and she was saying that hers caused her insomnia. I would think that if it can cause insomnia it could certainly be contributing to night terrors. I've also heard of this happening to kids who get sick around 9-10 months.

All this to say that I have no real answers or assvice, but I'm praying that whatever it is that MT will return to normal soon! ((HUGS))

seussgirl said...

I don't have any advice, but I'm really sorry you're going through this! I hope you find a solution soon!

E. Phantzi said...

how awful. I know nothing about night terrors. but I know you are an awesome mom.

Eden Riley said...

Oh, FARAH!!

Snap. Looks like your guy and my guy are in conspiracy with each other. I have heard a bit about the 9-month sleep regression, so maybe it's that? F*ck knows, dude. All I can say is .... I feel your pain. Know what I did, when it got really bad?

Ummmm ... bought earplugs.

I just couldn't handle it anymore, I knew there was nothing "wrong", nothing I could do. And I was exhausted.

Whoopsies.

XOXOXOXO

Unknown said...

I have no good advice at all. Just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you guys and hoping it gets better soon.

Amanda said...

Oh I am so sorry that you're having to add this to the list of things you've had to deal with. I'm not kidding...you should have the most amazingly wonderful "terrible twos". Karma owes it to you!

Unfortunately I don't have any assvice for you. :-( (((hugs)))

christina(apronstrings) said...

poor you. i took anitbiotics recently and let me tell you they def. had an effect on my entire life. i took them for three days and stopped.
i hope you guys find an answer.

glenna marshall said...

We're having similar troubles...but he's not inconsolable. If we pick him up, he stops crying. We've been told by our pedi it's separation anxiety, and it's wearing us down!!

I hope you get things figured out soon!