5 month old cries every 20 minutes at night

[shellshell]

Hi there,

My 5 month old daughter cried every 20 minutes last night - and often does so. She is asleep when she starts crying and will wake up if I don't pick her up and rock her when she starts crying. (She is not hungry and often refuses to suck for comfort unless she is really relaxed and calm). We co-sleep (bed share) and when I try to put her back in the bed, most of the time she will start crying again and I will rock her again. She feeds to sleep often at the beginning of the night, and sometimes will comfort herself back to sleep on the breast without me having to get up and rock her, but last night she didn't want to be comforted by the breast - only rocking. She has in the past comforted to sleep on the breast every time she woke at night, so I did not need to get up, but that was only one night. Last night at around 4:30 I decided to put her in the hammock (sometimes she sleeps in there before coming into our bed, but not often). She went to sleep when I bounced it, but cried and needed me to pat and/or sing and/or bounce the hammock every 20 minutes until she woke (without crying) at around 6:30, which she does every morning.

I have tried the whole bedtime ritual thing - bath, massage, rock + sing, feed + pat, sleep thing. Ended most nights with us both in tears as she hates getting dressed / massaged (lying on her back). (Mostly she sleeps on her side next to me in bed). Didn't help her sleeping at night either, as she was more worked up by the bath and massage than relaxed by it.

Have been to doctor to check for ear infection - and there is none. Am also trying eliminating dairy, wheat, soy and food additives from my diet in case it is because she is sensitive to them (her daddy's fam have allergies and intolerances and ADHD). She has had bad, frequent poos since birth and a persistent nappy rash that just will not go away. Am hoping the elimination diet will help the poo and rash situation and hopefully also the night time crying (she stiffens her legs and arches her back when she cries at night).

Any help out there? I am dead tired and do not want to leave her to CIO. We play music - Peace Baby - all night and have for some time now, but also doesn't help. I'm going a little nuts here...

[Junglemum]

Could she be teething? Increases in poo and bum rash are a sign of teeth around here. You poor thing, i hope you get some rest soon.

[sneakysparkle]

Have you tried taking her to a baby chiropractor? I never took my DD, but I know others who have taken their babies and they have had amazing results... just make sure you see a good one with plenty of experience with babies.
Hope you get some sleep soon, hang in there - you are doing a great job

[Doing my best]

Hi..

I would suggest teething, only cause DD has similar symptoms (just not waking as often). We don't like giving drugs 'just in case', but if DD is really unsettled at night time, we will give a dose of panadol to see if there is any relief (only for 1 or 2 nights though), and has worked for us. I have also heard good reports on Brauers 'Calm', but haven't used it personally.

Hope things settle down.

[Mum0809]

Could it be wind. Have you tried something like Infacol or Infants Friend.

[onthefly]

Hi - it kinda sounds like when DS has gas he needs to get out. Sometimes even after he's burped he needs to be rocked at calmed before he can get back to sleep.
Hope you find an answer soon.