Single Dad WORRIED About His Baby Girl PLEASE HLEP!!!!!

She could have acid reflux. I would let her sleep in her swing or infant seat and see if that helps first.

You can't spoil a five month old! You just can't they don't know how to manipulate yet.

S'anyway, I have never heard of night terrors in a child that young but that is what it sounds like. You don't actually dream when you are having night terrors for those that say you have to dream but anyway, can you call her pediatrician?

It sounds more like pain than being scared. Have you talked to the pediatrician about this? Maybe she has reflux. It flares up when lying down flat. Has she done this since birth, or is this a recent development? Has she had nasal congestion? That can lead to an ear infection. Or maybe it's gas. Have you tried gripe water, or simithicone? It could be any number of things, and maybe just a little adjustment will help. Please call the pedi.

3 hours is pretty normal. Because they wake up hungry. And they SURE let you know it don't they? (baby cries are actually the *exact* decibel and pitch level to cause the most distress to human ears. It's part of why you can have a frat group being obnoxious an entire flight and they're just annoying, but one fussy baby for 5 minutes and everyone is crawling out of their skin/ feel like their eyeballs are going to explode. It's science. Torturers use it.)

The waking up every 5 minutes screaming smacks of either
- ear infection
- sinus infection
- teething
- reflux

You can test if it's the first 3 VERY easily by dosing her with some tylenol. I call it "They MINOR physical pain test". If you give her tylenol 20 minutes before bedtime and she sleeps like a ROCK for the next couple hours... it's her ears/sinuses/or teeth. (Usually teeth... a lot of babies get so busy playing they ignore teething pain until they go to sleep, and then they can't because it hurts) .

If it's her EARS, she'll only sleep well vertical, and will start to scream when you lay her down at any point (ears mean doctor time). Reflux also happens almost exclusively when you lay them down. It's just an experience thing. Reflux takes just a little longer to hurt than the instant screaming pain of ears.

Teething, you pretty much just have to suffer through (it HURTS to cut teeth), but tylenol, cold things, etc will help. Ear or Sinus infections or Reflux need to be treated by a doctor with antibiotics or antacids & other things.

Definitely get her ears checked by the pediatrician. Ear infections get more painful at night, when they are lying down.
Is she possibly teething? Are there white or bumpy areas on her gums?
Is she full when she goes to sleep (and burped)?
Is her diaper clean?

If you don't have it, pick up the book: What to Expect The First Year.
And you can always ask questions on here too--Mamapedia members love involved, responsible daddies!

J., I see you are from Dayton...Dayton Children's Medical Center is WONDERFUL. Everyone I have ever dealt with there is friendly, compassionate, and wonderful with children AND parents. They NEVER make you feel like your question/concern is crazy. I encourage you to give them a call. If you want/need additional information about them send me a private message. You sound like a very good dad, good luck.

My first son was a very hi needs baby, he would wake up crying all the time, It seemed like he just wanted to be close to me. He also slept better when he was close to me. But I know thats not always feasible, having your daughter sleep with you. She also could be teething early, which is very painful for little ones, my first son also got his first tooth around 5 months old and would always wake up screaming when his teeth were coming in. You could try some teething medication, (teething tablets, gel, or my doc always said to use tylenol). Give it to her before bed and see if she sleeps for a longer period of time. Also check to see if she has a low grade fever, another sign of teething.

Hang in there! It gets easier I promise! Its so hard right now, because they can't talk and tell you how they are feeling. If you are really worried, I would take her to the doctors for a check up. But she might just be a baby who needs a lot of attention and wants you close when she wakes up.

My first cried all the time as a baby and my 2nd hardly cried. Just different personalities, and its still like that as they are older, lol.

Keep us updated on how she is doing. I think she is too young to be scared when she wakes up, so I don't think that is it. But I would introduce a "Lovey" to her, like a blanket or small stuffed animal that she sleeps with every night. Kinda like a security blanket. I would also get some type of sound machine or air purifier that makes some white noise to use while she is sleeping which helped my kids sleep through any noises that might wake them up while sleeping. I still use them and my kids are 4 and 2.

A few good books to read:
The no cry sleep solution by Elizabeth Pantly
Healthy sleep habits happy child by Dr Weissbluth

Just cuddle her and love her when she wakes up. You will be very tired, but you will make it work.

You should probably take her to the doctor, just to be sure everything's fine. It probably is.

Keep asking questions on this website. The moms on here will be a lot of help to you. Good for you for taking care of your baby girl. How did you end up being a single dad?

My son did that at that age as well. It was usually gas or teething. Try not to worry so much, especially if she stops screaming as soon as you pick her up.

Try giving her some mylicon and putting her on her belly over your lap and patting her back - this will help any gas bubbles.

Is she teething? If so, talk to her pediatrician about giving her some tylenol.

Have you discussed your concerns with her doctor? She may have a little reflux too. If she does, they will give her some baby zantac that will fix her right up!

It could be a number of things, all of which are probably very minor. Call her doc. He or she will help you.

This could be something as simple as gas. Gas bubbles really can hurt babies tummies and they will cry and scream over it.
Make sure you are burping her well after feedings and before putting her down.
It sounds to me like it could be more tummy related than actual fear.
Also....it's possible for babies to "startle" as they go from one level of sleep to another.
Sleeping 1 to 3 hours isn't bad really. Since she goes instantly back to sleep after crying like that, I would suspect gas first of all.

Best wishes.

Hi ~ I also had this problem w/my little girl from very early she would only sleep on my chest & I had to be upright on the couch & we did this for the first 6 months only slept in small spurts & wake up screaming around 10 o'clock every night & continue for hours our pediatrician thought it was colic but come to find out she was very allergic to dairy. Now we now her screaming was because she was in pain :'( Is your daughter on on a milk based formula or breastfed. Young babies have a hard time digesting milk proteins. If she is on a milk based formula talk to your pediatrican about trying another formula if she is breastfed eliminate all dairy & dairy derivatives from your diet. Good luck!

This sounds more like gas or reflux than fright. Is she a good eater? Does she fight the bottle at all? Arch her back and struggle?

Try elevating the head of her crib - put it up on 10" of books. That will help her sleep at an angle and might help if it's reflux. Or try gripe water - that will help with gas. If neither of those do the trick, talk to your pediatrician. He or she will have ideas.

I agree. It sounds like pain more than being scared. I would take her to the Dr and have her ears and tummy checked. Start there. Best of luck to you both. hang in there....

Hang in there, daddy! The other ladies gave you great advice. I remember when my daughter was 5 months old and she would do the same thing. I was convinced that she was having bad dreams or night terrors but she actually had acid reflux.
I hope you find the solution soon! And don't worry about spoiling her......you are doing a good job!

other posters mentioned acid reflux/gas.....so here's my thoughts:

is she hungry? If she's 5 months old, is she on cereal or anything else?

Have you ever considered using a swing to encourage sleeping? Sometimes it's really soothing to babies...& for others, not. Maybe it would help.

Does she take a pacifier, is it falling out?

Have you tried soft music to block out other noises?

Hmm, that's about all I can think of.....other than having the dr check her. Good luck & Peace!

Have you thought about co-sleeping? I think your baby may be a slightly emotionally high needs baby and co-sleeping is comforting, loving and gives a lot of much needed body to body contact.

Lot's of good suggestions here.

I'd also like to recommend picking up, "What To Expect The First Year", http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Book-Everything-Revised-Update...

and also "The Baby Book". http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Book-Everything-Revised-Update...

Good luck!

Is this a new thing or something that has always happened? You have some good suggestions already and I agree that it sounds most like reflux or an ear infection from what you described. She could be teething, but it might be a little early for that. I would probably talk to her doctor. Did you bring it up at her last appointment? Depending upon how far away your next appointment is, I might go ahead and take her in in the interim. Also, you can always call the office and ask to speak with a nurse and see if they can give you some guidance.

Hang in there. One of the hardest parts of taking care of infants is not knowing what they are crying about. The lucky times are when you figure it out and can fix it, but sometimes you will never know and it sucks!

Take her to the pediatrician, she could have tummy or ear problems.
Please up date your post and let us know how you both are doing.

Is it mainly when she is laying down this happens? To me it sounds like heartburn/ acid reflux. I know when my kiddo's have had it, thier face looks more like they were scared but it was really because they were in pain. It is probablly is scary for a little one who doesn't understand why they are in pain. Good luck

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I agree with "4littleones" - Dayton's Children's Hospital is wonderful! I lived down there so I am speaking from experience. I would definitely have her checked out. Good Luck!

You've gotten a lot of good advice so far. I would take her to the pediatrician as many have suggested, to have her ears and stomach checked out for any problems.

My daughter and son had night terrors....they wake up crying hysterically and you can still tell they are 1/2 asleep...like they are crying in their dreams. But she seems too young to have those, It might be a good idea to talk to you doctor about it, just to make sure everything is ok! God bless and good luck!

If she is use to being held alot (which is ok) she may be startled as she is not feeling that closeness.
Do you know how to swaddle?
Gently wrap her in a light weight blanket it.put her in the center of the diamond shaped blanket (kind of cock eyed) pull the blanket from the bottomthen fold in the two sides - leave head part alone
this will give her comfort as if she is being held
she may also have colic or gas.
often a warm blanket will help soothe
aslo would recommend talking with your doctor.

My son was a very bad sleeper also. I think I stopped swaddling him too soon and I paid the price. Being my first, I didn't know how long you should swaddle, but to this day (he's now 9) he sleeps all huddled up. I recommend visiting your doctor. But swaddling is something you might want to try.

pediatrician time. My first thought is an ear infection. but of course maybe milk allergy. Afterhour clinic might help you get some sleep tonight.

If she has acid reflux putting her in her infant carrier while in the crib will help, if that doesnt help then she may have an ear infection. I would take her to the drs and have her ears checked first and if that doesn't work try thr infant crrier to sleep.