Baby Sleep Help - Natalie's Response

Mum Zone's resident Sleep Expert Natalie of Sleep and Settle is available to answer some of your questions about settling your baby and more.

Topics include: Sleeping and settling, moving from bassinette to cot, cot to bed, breastfeeding/formula, solids, floorplay for babies and play for toddlers/children, wrapping/sleeping bags/dressing baby, behaviour/tantrums, what's normal? bedroom environments, music, lights, entertainment, mattresses, mattress protectors, sheets, unsettled babies and the 0-12 week afternoon arsenic hours, reflux/colic, teething, worms, toilet training, night terrors/nightmares, the older child issues 5-10 years and single parenting/separation/divorce.

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Reader's Question

Hi, I have a 1 year old boy who has alway slept through the night since he was 6 weeks old, but since his 1st birthday party 2 weeks ago he has been from 2am-5ish and what worried me is that he shakes his cot very aggressively. I know this is attention seeking and we try to ignore it but he then just starts crying and screaming till one of us comes in.

I have increased his food as I thought he was hungry, I am using a growbag and the room is dark and he has no entertainment eg. a mobile as he just plays with it. We have tried music but it only lasts about 15 minutes then he is awake again. Also I know he might be teething but he has slept well through all his other 7 teeth and I have been giving him Panadol and Nurofen as needed.

What I am most worried about is this cot shaking, we go in at night, don't talk and just lie him back down and walk out but it is not working, can you give me any advice... Thanks.

Natalie's Response

Hi,

I appreciate that you are concerned and puzzled about this behaviour. I don't have a definite answer for you but do have some possible areas you could consider.

• If he is teething, I would offer Nurofen with the evening meal, and try Hyland's teething tablets (homeopathic) and a sheep skin under the fitted sheet. Considering he is old enough not to need night feeds, you could offer Panadol in the night time if you feel you need to offer pain relief.
  
  
• Could he be cold? I appreciate that the weather is frequently changing at the moment but plan to dress your baby for the temperature at 4am, as this is the coldest time of the night. Choose the appropriate weight sleeping bag and clothing underneath, consider what you are wearing to bed and your blankets etc.
  
  
• Always tuck in with a sheet tightly to prevent extra stimulation in the cot.
  
  
• Have a self-settling strategy that you feel comfortable with to apply if you rule out a medical cause. If you need one visit www.sleepandsettle.com.au
  
  
• Now that your son is 1 year old his diet could have changed. Has he been eating more of a particular food that is stimulating him, upsetting his tummy or causing food intolerance problems? How are his bowel motions? They are often a window into the digestive system.
  
  
• Is the room dark enough to encourage sleep? Are you using a night light in or near his room that encourages him to wake? Are there birds waking him, someone getting ready for work, a neighbour making noise, is his room very light at that time from a street light or the sun coming up?
  
  
• Consider seeing a Paediatric chiropractor, Osteopath or cranio sacral therapist. If his spine a rut of alignment due to a fall, injury or being a normal boy a nerve could be pinched causing pain. It is worth checking out.

Hope this helps.

Natalie

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The opinions expressed on these pages are of a general nature and are by no means a substitute for professional advice. Therefore neither Mum Zone or Natalie Ebrill of Sleep and Settle are liable for any actions pertaining to the use of the supplied information.