I don't understand this??

[leahwlfe]

My almost 8 month old is waking every night at 1000 pm. It is usually anywhere from 900 pm to 1000pm. For at least a week and a half she has been waking like this. I have no idea why. She sometimes talks, whines or really cries.  If she really cries we go in and either feed, rock, pat, paci etc. Whatever will work at the moment. Is she just realizing that mommy will come in at night if she calls or is there some other reason. I would say she could be hungry but tonight she had a full bottle at 700 and was asleep by 730ish. I just dont understand why she is waking now. Is there a three hour sleep cycle. I read somewhere about the 45, and 2 hour but not three. Please any advice or similar experiences. Thanks

[momofclaire]

If she is asleep by 7:30 then 9 would be 1.5 hours and 10, 2.5 hours.  My first thought is, did you just quit the dream feed?  Are there any new milestones happening, like crawling or rolling?  Are you on a 2 nap sch with a cat nap or without a cat nap?

[leahwlfe]

We have never done the dream feed. This is typically her schedule.
wake 630
bottle 700
830 cereal & fruit
930 nap
1100 bottle
1230 lunch
130 nap
300 bottle
530 dinner
630 bath, bottle, message
700ish bed

wake anywhere from 900 to 1000 and last night she was up again at 400. She is having some allergy problems. Doc put her on singular. That might have something to do with all of this. She has hit some milestones a while ago. (sitting, rolling) She is doing more walking then crawling. She has taken a few steps. She dropped the catnap at about 6months. She will be 8 months on may9th.

[momofclaire]

I think you may be dealing with milestone issues.  They will pass.

The allergy thing could be something as well. Does the allergy cause runny nose or stuffiness?  Claire was put on Zyrtech and we found that she sleeps much better with her matress elevating her head. 

Also, are both her naps 1.5 hours.  If they are shorter than that, you may be dealing with a bit of overtiredness.

[leahwlfe]

I am so glad to hear another baby has been put on an allergy medicine. Do you think the medicine helps her?? She has had cold symptoms for over 2 weeks now. Doc said she has allergies and put her on singular. So far I dont see a change. We will elevate her bed tonight. Her nose is very runny but I can also hear congestion when she sucks. She also has a cough and her eyes water a lot. Is that what is happening with your daughter. Im just wondering if they can find out what exactly they are allergic too.
Her naps are between 1 and 2 hours a day. She naps much better at daycare then with me at home. Still trying to figure that one out!!

[momofclaire]

I think the Zyrtec has helped Claire.  Her symptoms started when she was four months old.  We live in a town that is horrible for allergies.  (Lexington, Ky)  She had a runny nose and watery eyes for about 3 months in the spring and early summer and then is went away.  The doc said it could be allergies but that they generally don't test for those things until after a year.  Well, when spring came around this year, we began seeing what I lovingly call, the "perma tear, again.  We had a scary allergic reaction which turned out to be tree nuts but in testing we discovered that she was allergic to pollen, grass, dander, etc...

The allergy testing is not fun.  I would wait till a year to have it done, as I have heard it is less accurate before then.  In the mean time, note when the symptoms appear. Are they after being outside, crawling on the carpet, or around pets?  Just keep all that info for the doctor.  I would suggest vaccuming 2x a week and using allergy reducing filters for your home. 

Do environmental allergies run in your family.  If the doctor said she has allergies I would ask what he thinks she is allergic to.  I would think there is no reason to be on allergy meds if you haven't had an allergy test done to determine the source.

 

[leahwlfe]

Thats exactly what I was thinking myself. Why do meds when we are not for sure whats causing it. I cleaned her room really good tonight. But what kinds of things do you suggest for cleaning the house and keeping unwanted things at bay. Thanks so much for your response and help.
Oh, I have sinus/allergy problems. I am actually going to an ENT next month. 

[momofclaire]

I suggest vaccuming more often with a vaccume that has a hepa filter.  I don't dust when Claire is around.  We have hepa air filter for our home, I think you can get them at home depot.  It all depends on what her worst allergies are.  With Claire, grass, pollen, and pet dander are the worst, so our problems are with keeping the outside world out.  Her room doesn't have a plant it in and I have cut flowering plants out of the house.  (pollen)  We close the windows on days where the pollen count is very high.  We close the windows when Dh or neighbors are mowing the lawn.  We wash hands and change clothes when we come in from outside.  We have a dog and although she is mildly allergic to him, we can't get rid of him,  We have had him 9 yeats!  SO, we don't let her play on his bed and keep him out of her room, she washes her hands after she plays with him. I say all this just to give you an idea of what we do about OUR allergy problems.  If your little one is more allergic to dust mites, mold and all that you will obviously do other things.  I would talk to your doctor about what he/she thinks your baby is allergic to, or have the prick test done.  It's not fun and I wouldn't go alone.