13 mths - from great sleeper to waking up screaming once a night - think SA???

[lynners]

Hi lovely ladies.  I'd really appreciate some eyes on this please.

My 13 month old has been STTN since about 3 months.  Fabulous!  A couple of weeks ago we went on holiday though and he started waking up once a night screaming - random times, usually after midnight.  At first I thought it was either teething, or just unsettled because of new environment but it has kept going since then and we have been at home for a few days.

When he wakes up and I go in I literally just have to pat him on the back a few times and he calms right down.  i then just lie next to him and shush him off to sleep.  If I try to leave before he's asleep he'll start screaming again.  This has resulted in many nights of sleeping in his room, although last night I shushed him until he was asleep and then managed to get back to my room.  Much easier to do now that we're back at home.

Anyway as it doesn't seem to be subsiding I'm looking for help.  Does it sound like it could be SA?  I know he's a little older than average for this, but he has been a bit clingier during the day too.  Is WI/WO the best thing to look at?  I never had to do that with DS1 so am not really sure of the method.  I leant one of my BW books to a friend too and I can't find anything on it on BWSAYP.

Would really appreciate some advice.

Thanks so much.

[*Becky*]

any teething or ear pain? We went through this with DD when she was about 19/20 months and it was the worst patch we have had yet...she would wake and not let us leave the room so we ended up with a camp bed in there! I went to the Dr and she said her ear was congested, not infected but congested and this was causing ear pressure and so pain. It lasted quite a while but once the molar was through on that side (where the pain was) she was fine and went back to sleeping ok. I could not have done WIWO - we tried but she just was beside herself and generally speaking we don't advocate WIWO when lo's are in pain or sick.

some lo's respond well to you being at the door so they can hear you but not see you - might be worth a try. If that does not work and you can rule out pain and if he was an independent sleeper before then we can go through WIWO with you xx

oh..and yes, could def be SA - both of mine have had bad SA when they have either teethed or been sick/in pain etc.

[lynners]

Hi Becky.

Well then I suppose it is rather difficult to completely rule out pain or teething but he's been napping well and today was pretty cheery during the day.  I suppose too it's the fact that he completely stops crying the moment I touch him.  I wouldn't have thought he'd do that if he was in pain?

Do you think that 2 weeks seems quite a long time for teething etc.?

...hmmm...

Did the waking just stop once your LO was better or did you have to work at 'getting out of the room'?  IS GW something I should consider? 

[*Becky*]

yeah, it probably is more SA but worth checking out any teeth that might be coming through. I don't think 2 weeks is particularly long tbh, with DD and this darn molar it was about 4!
I think if he is an independent sleeper you could try WIWO but if he is getting v upset then yes GW is the way to go or trying to settle him from the door so you are not actually in the room - might be worth a try?

It may also be worth trying meds one time so at least you can rule pain out if they have no effect. x

[lynners]

Oh my goodness he slept through last night    (Of course DS1 woke up, but that's another story  )

So maybe, just maybe, I won't be needing your help on this one.  Fingers crossed...and thanks Becky!

[*Becky*]

oh great