Help, help, help please!!

[skatty]

We have just got back 2 days ago from a trip to London where my DD (nearly 8 months) slept terribly but it was to be expected as it is so noisy compared to where we live anyway for the 10 day trip and since we have come home she has been waking constantly through the night and I am not quite sure what's causing it because she seems to be teething (she has been teething on and off since 3 months and still no teeth  ) desperatley trying to crawl, get into a seated position from tummy and pull up, she's overtired from inconsistant naps and has a very snotty nose (possibly due to the teething). She's on a loose 4 hour schedule which usually suits us fine. By the time bedtime comes around at 7pm she is dying to get her head down but just cannot stay asleep and is getting frustrated and upset (me too!). As I said before we are really roughing it with the teething but on those magical days when she has no symtons she is such a good sleeper that i know she can do it but right now we are both so tired and irritable by the evening 

Please give us some advice or encouragement! Do you think we will get back on track? I am please¨d to say she went down for her nap at 9am on schedule and has been sleeping for nearly an hour so that is definitely an improvement on yesterday 

Thanks, Katt

[Samuel's mum]

It sounds like a few things coming together at the same time. It really could be teeth this time as she's the right age. She's trying to crawl. You say she's overtired. All those things can mean nightwakings.

What settles her when she wakes? And how often is she waking? She may just also be waking because she got into that pattern with a more noisy environment. Or is still overtired from your trip.

I'm assuming you've tried pain meds and elevating her mattress incase it is a cold.

You will get back on track. I think all you can do is work on the naps and pray for teeth soon. Teething is such an annoyance!

[skatty]

Hi Emma and thanks. When she wakes I usually go and put her dummy in and pat her back but sometimes I have to hold her hand until she falls back asleep  She will keep waking until I give her pain meds but then I worry they are sedating her rather than just taking the pain away, she does usually settle after having medised though so it could be teething but I have just about given up hope of any teeth ever cutting through! She is having a lot of dirty, stinky nappies though so maybe our time has come but she seems to cope ok in the day and doesn't seem as miserable with it as she has been in the past. BTW I jinxed myself when I said she was napping well and she woke up wide awake and wouldn't settle back down!!!

[Samuel's mum]

I think teething pain often seems to be more of an issue at night. They are obviously unable to be distracted as they are during the day and are tired and frustrated as well.
I think if the pain meds work then perhaps she simply is in pain. If you are worried about the sedation effect there are different products where that is less of an issue so you could ask your pharmacist.
One day teeth will come! I don't know of a case where they havent yet!

[MDHmommy]

Hi Katt, I thought I'd chime in ... if you can try some standard, infant's Tylenol or Acetominiphen for the pain, and maybe also some eucalyptus chest rub, or a room vaporizor in addition to the crib mattress, you might have some good luck with that. If she needs her paci and has a stuffy nose, that can be tough and can make for a mess. Also sounds like she might be overtired just from the many consecutive nights of bad sleep.
Can you bump her bed time a bit earlier to try to start to compensate for that?

[skatty]

Thanks for your support ladies 

Well we realise it is definitely the teething that are causing the big probs now  ::)I can feel two sharp lumps on her bottom gums, she's having 5 dirty nappies a day and biting anything she can get her hands on. Last night we gave her beds before bedtime and when she woke up 5 hours later and we all had a better sleep. Naps are still an issue but I am sure they will improve they normally do once she gets a better nights sleep. I am just praying her pegs break through this time lol!

[MDHmommy]

Excellent! Don't be afraid to administer appropriate doses of infant pain relief for a baby that's in pain! Keep up the good work!!

[skatty]

Thanks MDHmommy, we cdecided that she needs medicine at the mo' and she's coping much better so she obviously needs it. Now we just have to wait...lol