My eight-month-old daughter has not been sleeping well during the day. On most days, she only sleeps for about 20 minutes during the daytime hours. Today she was diagnosed with an ear infection. Could her being sick cause her to not want to sleep?
If the sleeping problems have just started recently then it is probably due to the infection. For long term problems, I have found the book "Heathly Sleep Habits, Happy Child," to be very helpful. Paperback copies are not too expensive on amazon.com or it is probably available at the library. Good luck
I recommend tylenol and rolling up a towel under the mattress to 'prop' it up a little. Always helped to not have my daughter laying flat thus less pressure.
Ear infections do cause a lack of sleep. The pressure on their little ears increases when they lay down. They are in more pain when trying to sleep. Therefore lots of sleepless days and nights. Usually that corrects itself within a day or two of being on antibiotics.
Sometimes not sleeping well during the night has been our only clue that our daughter is ill. Our daughter has had sleeping problems during all of her ear infections. Also, seems like your daughter's at the teething age. Might that be to blame? I hope she gets better soon and gets some sleep--for her sake and yours!! Take care!
Absolutely! I bet when her ear is better she will be sleeping soundly again. When she lays down, it causes immense pressure in the inner ear (when you have an infection). A couple of days of antibiotics and I bet she is good as new. Good luck and hope she is better soon! M.
I hate to tell you this but she may not be a napper. As mommies, we look forward to nap time for a number of reasons. I learned that the hard way with my 11yr old. He would nap here or there but for the most part, he never was a good napper and to this day, he does not require much sleep. Some kids just do not require as much sleep as others and your daughter may fall into that category. My son did not sleep thru the night until he was 11 months old and was able to link his sleeping patterns to his own make up. I do walk a fine line with my son in many cases in ensuring he gets adequate sleep because he will forego sleep for other activities.
Yes! Ear infections hurt! I'm sure that's why she hasn't been sleeping well lately. If the dr. put her on antibiotics for the ear infecftion, then she should start feeling better by tomorrow. Infant Tylenol can help with the pain also (check with your dr.).
The ONLY way I knew my daughter had an ear infection was when she didn't sleep well. She had NONE of the other signs! We discovered she has a high tolerance for pain, because the infection would be so bad that the ear drum was about to burst when we went to the doctor. Good Luck.
Ear infections do tend to cause much discomfort while sleeping and/or lying down, so hopefully that's her reason for not napping and it will soon get better as the infection goes away :)
Yes lying down can cause pressure on her ears which would make it throb more. Plus being in any kind of pain can make it difficult to sleep. Until the antibiotics kick in, prop up her head (safely!) as much as you can to relieve the pain.
Yes....ear infections can cause trouble sleeping. Both my kids had that problem. In fact I alway knew they were starting to get an ear infection when I had trouble getting them to sleep. I always gave my kids tylenol or motrin for the pain, which in turn helped them sleep. My doctor also prescribed numbing drops for the ear. That always seemed to help us. Good luck! I hope she feels better soon.
A.,
Yes, an ear infection can keep her from sleeping well. You might try holding her or putting her in her swing to help keep her upright while she sleeps. When a baby has an ear infection, when they lay flat the press in their ears will wake them up. Good luck and I hope she feels better soon.
