9 mo old now waking 2x at night screaming? Any ideas? Help! We are exhausted!?

Question

So, my son used to sleep completely through the night. Then, a few months ago started waking once for a bottle and then straight back to bed. Last Friday he started crawling for the first time and now he wakes up two times during the night screaming. He was demanding a bottle each time so last night I tried to soothe him for an hour without a bottle and he wouldn't sleep until I finally gave him one. Then he woke up 5 hrs later for another. He has also been very restless. I am at a loss. He is a happy baby, no crying all day long. I don't know if he is in pain from something- teething, gas (which he has not had a problem with since he was very young), etc. Or if it is something else. He already barely takes a nap during the day and, if so, it is only 20-30 mins long. What do you think is going on? What should we do? I am so frustrated that I don't know what to do to make my baby happy.

Additional Details

He eats 3 solids (morning, noon, night) along with bottles 3 bottles during the day (in addition to one at night, which has recently turned into two bottles) He is a good eater at 22 pounds.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

My son was the same way and just recently started doing it again! He is 20 months. At 9 months old, it could be either growth pains, and or bad dreams. Around 9 months they start dreaming, and he may be dreaming things that scare him. At 9 months old, it is probally things like you leaving him. I know that was the issue with Gino. He would wake up and start screaming bloody murder. You can generally tell if it is a bad dream by who he wants to be held by. If Gino drempt that I left him, I was the only one that could calm him down. If the dream was about daddy, then daddy was the one to calm him down. If it is a growing pain, they tend to be fidgety, and moan in their sleep a lot. Try giving him a half dose of tylenol or motrin when he wakes up. See if that helps him at all. The wanting of the bottle might be from the growth spurt. All babies want to eat when they are going thru a growth spurt. Just be glad your son is still small enough to not get out of his crib! Mine has been getting out of his since he was 12 months, so he has had the "big boy" bed since 13 months. He recently has decided that he was going to start climbing in bed with me at 3 in the morning, and deciding that at 5 am he is getting up for the day!!!

Source(s):

personal expierience

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

I am glad to see that there are others going through the same thing, though I am also sorry that you are. :) Thanks for the post!

Answer 2

hi! you didnt mention whether your son is eating a lot of solids?? he may need a little more foods and a little less milk.also..my son used to do the same thimg in the evenings but what with changing his diet and then giving him water instead of milk when he awoke in the night he soon started sleeping thrugh the nite.i hope this helps at all?? and i hope you get a good nights sleep soon!xx

Answer 3

I don't have any advice to offer but just wanted to say Good Luck. My daughter is 7 months and was also sleeping through the night until the past few weeks. She is also fine all day long and then at night, I am not kidding you, she wakes up 15 times! We can't take it anymore either, it's awful. At first we thought it was teething, but it must be something more. I've brought her to the doctor and they said it might be reflux. I've also started to think that maybe she is uncomfortable in her sleep positioner, so I may take that out of her crib tonight. Again, good luck and hopefully we can both start getting some sleep again real soon!

Source(s):

Mommy in the same boat!

Answer 4

my son starting waking during the night because he was teething....he has 5 teeth with more on the way..I know he has got to be uncomfortable....Is your son teething perhaps?

Source(s):

Mommy of 10 month Lennon

Answer 5

Its probably because he is now old enough to realize when you are gone. He wakes up alone and panics.

Answer 6

First of all U should check if the baby is in pain to do this U should check his stomach if it is hard and streached and he is uncomfortable letting u touch it then it means he is suffering from gas. try rubbing a pinch of aesfotida mixed in a spoonful of water it will surely help no side effects .As for his other problem try feeding him a semi solid food prior to his bed time so that he is full at night. Try NEVER TO FEED HIM THAT LATE AT NIGHT it might be a bit difficult for u but every time the baby wakes pick him up talk to him in soothing voice and put him back u might have to do it hundred times don't loose patience it will surely pay within aweek or so.Fix a time for his early morning bottle and stick to it.