Medical Reasons for Bad Sleep?

[Anonymous]

My DS is about 13 months old now and hasn’t slept beyond 90 minutes for about 3 months. He wakes up like he’s in extreme discomfort and usually pulls at his ears. Our pediatrician says his ears look fine and keeps saying it’s teething and to try sleep training. She doesn’t ask any other questions or offer any suggestions of what else it could be. We thought teething but it’s been weeks and Motrin/Tylenol makes no difference.My gut feeling tells me something is off and I wonder if there’s anything else I could be missing. But whenever I search for sleep problems all I see are pages of “sleep consultants” saying I just need to teach my baby to sleep. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

What is your objection to sleep training? If it work, problem solved. If not, it can go back to the ped and rightfully say sleep training hasn’t helped and can they investigate further whether something might be wrong.

[Anonymous]

I would ask for a referral to an ENT. You can also get a sleep study done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is your objection to sleep training? If it work, problem solved. If not, it can go back to the ped and rightfully say sleep training hasn’t helped and can they investigate further whether something might be wrong.

I’m not against it and have used it for my other child. We’ve attempted it with DS and even broken down and tried cosleeping. He used to sleep in big chunks but now he wakes up constantly as if in some type of pain. He will even try to lay down in his crib but keep leaping up like he can’t get comfortable. I’m wondering if beyond an ear infection, there is some other medical cause I’m missing like stomach pain from a food allergy etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your objection to sleep training? If it work, problem solved. If not, it can go back to the ped and rightfully say sleep training hasn’t helped and can they investigate further whether something might be wrong.

I’m not against it and have used it for my other child. We’ve attempted it with DS and even broken down and tried cosleeping. He used to sleep in big chunks but now he wakes up constantly as if in some type of pain. He will even try to lay down in his crib but keep leaping up like he can’t get comfortable. I’m wondering if beyond an ear infection, there is some other medical cause I’m missing like stomach pain from a food allergy etc.

Co-sleeping is pretty much the opposite of sleep training.

[Anonymous]

Is he crying? Is he able to self sooth or do you have to put him back to sleep? Does he take naps longer than 90 min during the day?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is your objection to sleep training? If it work, problem solved. If not, it can go back to the ped and rightfully say sleep training hasn’t helped and can they investigate further whether something might be wrong.

I’m not against it and have used it for my other child. We’ve attempted it with DS and even broken down and tried cosleeping. He used to sleep in big chunks but now he wakes up constantly as if in some type of pain. He will even try to lay down in his crib but keep leaping up like he can’t get comfortable. I’m wondering if beyond an ear infection, there is some other medical cause I’m missing like stomach pain from a food allergy etc.

Co-sleeping is pretty much the opposite of sleep training.

Op again. I get that but my point is I’ve tried both sides of the spectrum and it’s not making a difference. My point of this post is to see if there are other reasons instead of the only reason a baby doesn’t sleep is because they haven’t been “trained”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he crying? Is he able to self sooth or do you have to put him back to sleep? Does he take naps longer than 90 min during the day?

Not so much crying as full on shrieking. I’ve seen him attempt to self sooth but eventually we have to help him back to sleep. Originally, all it took was 5 minutes of cuddling/rocking etc. But now even if we pick him up and try to soothe him he is still extremely upset for another 10 minutes. He naps okay but that’s only because 90 minutes is his max sleep time. The first 6-8 months of his life he was following a regular sleep pattern and it was clear when he was waking up out of separation anxiety etc. This feels very different.

[Anonymous]

The sleep training bullies will be along shortly seeking validation for their own choices by guilting you into the same.

I chose not to sleep train due to some medical issues my baby has. I’m not sure what would cause waking up and possibly due to pain just because it could be so many things from the benign to the unlikely and severe: inner ear fluid or infection, sinus issues, sleep apnea/obstructed airway, CMPA or other allergies, brain tumors (not likely!), low ferritin or magnesium, periodic limb movement disorders, the list just goes on and

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would ask for a referral to an ENT. You can also get a sleep study done.

This
Has your pediatrician ruled out issues with tonsils or adenoids?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would ask for a referral to an ENT. You can also get a sleep study done.

This
Has your pediatrician ruled out issues with tonsils or adenoids?

+2. The pulling at the ears sounds like he's trying to tell you something. Get the ENT as a precaution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would ask for a referral to an ENT. You can also get a sleep study done.

This
Has your pediatrician ruled out issues with tonsils or adenoids?

Yes, definitely worth seeing an ENT. My bad sleeper improved significantly within a few weeks of adenoid removal. Enlarged adenoids can also cause sleep apnea.

[Anonymous]

I’d advise against sleep training right now. Your gut is telling you something and you should follow it. Right now I think beyond getting to an ENt is trying to find ways for him and you to get sleep. He must be exhausted poor lamb and you too. If he will sleep more and better co sleeping then do that. Whatever works. No one goes to college still in their mothers bed. One unlikely possibility I can think of is reflux. Maybe try to see if Positioning changes things. Is there a way you could get him to sleep with a bit of elevation? Will he sleep longe did you you hold him? Just spitballing. Will he sleep in the car? If so take him out and drive around and then when he’s asleep come home and you can sit in the car with him and read or put the monitor in the car in your garage if you have one and see how long he sleeps sitting up. I’m so sorry OP but your instincts are probably right.

[Anonymous]

ENT definitely.

Really bad reflux can cause ear pain.

[Anonymous]

Does he wake up on his back or stomach or both? Have you tried sleeping with him on you at an incline, belly down?