I am becoming a zombie!! HELP ME!!

Jennifer - posted on 02/22/2010

My son would sometimes wake up like that and I always gave him a pacifier so that he could soothe himself back to sleep. If that didn't work then I would try a bottle because perhaps he was hungry (which happens during growth spurts). If it was teething pain then I would give him a dose of infant motrin or advil. Many babies don't take pacifiers so perhaps you could find a new way to help him soothe himself back to sleep. Don't pick him up, but instead rub his back and sing to him softly or play some soft music. Sometimes I would recline with my son in the lazy boy chair and we'd fall asleep together with him laying on my chest. Good luck.

Mari - posted on 02/22/2010

Hi, I had the exact same problem with my son when he was around 1. He also would wake up crying but it looked like he was still asleep. It really scared me though since it was wierd ... almost like sleepwalking. These kind of episodes lasted for couple of month to half a year and yes we were sleep deprived as well. It just went over. All I could do at the time was to calm him down, give him little back rub, his bottle, cuddle and put him back to sleep. I asked my doctor and my mother in-law who is a midwife about it but none of them didn't suggest anything else. Sometimes I would just take him to our bed and let him sleep on my belly, so he would hear my heart beats to calm down. I wish you all the best and I do hope it will just pass by. The first year is always the hardest but we mom's survive everything.

Diana - posted on 02/22/2010

Maybe asking the doctor or public health nurse for any ideas, to make sure there isn't something underlying it is a wise approach. Otherwise, would room sharing sooth him? And would it work for you? That way you could pat his back, or comfort him more quickly, maybe even before he gets fully worked up? One of us will sometimes crash on a mattress beside the crib, and find that we all get more rest. Either way, I trust that you WILL make it through this - the first year or two passes faster that you expect...

Glenda - posted on 02/22/2010

To the "he could be teething". Teething pain wouldn't go away just because mom picked him up. he would continue crying no matter what she did if he was in pain. Tylenol is good if baby is in pain but in these circumstances I think it's pretty certain he's not.

Lots of good advice to getting baby to sleep here, I don't think I can add to it. I co-slept with mine but I know that's not for everyone.

Sharon - posted on 02/22/2010

Everyone has missed the point that you're looking to keep him asleep without the crying so you can get a good nights rest!

Have you thought about going back to swaddling him? Use a sleep positioner too. Those curved ones.. I imagine it feels like he's snuggled up to something.

What about one of those "mommy bears" that has a heart beat ? not the one with womb sounds.

Lastly - switch off with the dad. That is always a blessing. When one of you had night duty - that person gets to sleep in if possible.

Good Luck!

Lea - posted on 02/22/2010

Good chance he is teething. Give him some Tylenol.

Kelly - posted on 02/22/2010

Sleep deprivation is the worst! After sleeping through the night for a few months my second son began waking every night and crying...he had ear infections that did not clear totally (leaving fluid in the ear, pressure, pain). He had tubes put in his ears at 11 months and slept through the night from then on. If it is not anything physical (ears, hungry, dirty) then try patting his back without talking to him (play music or hum) and checking back at intervals you can tolerate.

Gwen - posted on 02/22/2010

P.S. Get Dad to help out too. Sometimes babies will actually go back to sleep easier for the other parent. If nothing else, maybe you could alternate nights.

Gwen - posted on 02/22/2010

I went through the same thing. Give him about 5 minutes before you go in the room to see if he quiets himself. I know that feels like an eternity, but you can do it! If he becomes hysterical or awake, go in there and rub his back and see if he'll settle back down. Then leave the room and give him another 5 minutes. Sometimes my daughter shrieks when I walk out of the room, but 30 seconds later she is fast asleep! It will take some trial and error to find what works..he could also be hungry or teething.

Sylvia - posted on 02/22/2010

I leave the room. However, if he see's me leave the room he gets hysterical again.

Gwen - posted on 02/22/2010

My daughter cries in her sleep all the time. Try rubbing his back instead of picking him up.

Also, I'm curious what happens if he wakes up when you lay him down? Do you leave the room, or keep picking him up?

Wynter - posted on 02/21/2010

I agree! It did take my 19 month old a full year to get a regular routine down. Now he's down from 8- 8. It does get better and they will settle, this is what they told me when I was banging into walls and my black eye circles showed In a room before me. And they were right. I had to really wear him out with fresh air, dancing whatever kept him moving. I guess we can't sleep if we're not tired either.

K.C. - posted on 02/21/2010

Sleep deprivation is the worse isn't it?! He might be having nightmares or terrors. My lil one did the same for a while but I think she was slightly older. At first I would go in there and notice she was crying in her sleep and after a while I would just let her go. It didn't last too long. Maybe 10 minutes or so of crying and she was back to a nice dream. I stopped going in there when it happened and she was fine. Sometimes she would be sitting up and crying but was still asleep. How funny kids are! I hope it passes soon for you. I probably wouldn't be picking him up though, if he is asleep he shouldn't need comforting (is that mean?). Just tune in to the "I need you" cries and sleep the night away...