Ok, my new baby girl, she will be 2 months on May 11th wakes up sometimes and seems terrified. I looked up night terrors and they say that ir usually doesn't start until around 9 months. We go to the doctor next week and I am going to ask him about it, but wanted to see if anyone had any advice in the mean time. I wasn't keeping track of it before today, but I think every time it has happend has been during the day and in her swing. I think maybe it is the movment of the swing and she gets scared. It is a horrible feeling to see her like that. She does calm down, i go pick her up and it doesn't take long. Please let me know what you think! Thank you so much!
Hi K., I think it's the swing. I forget at what age I started using it with my daughter, but I remember waiting quite a while, as someone told me it wasn't great for them to move so much when really little. Something to do with their vision and not being ready. Good luck!
If she seems to be in pain it's probably reflux or gas, and if she's just making faces it's normal.
Check out the video "The Happiest Baby on the Block". I'd be willing to bet that the techniques would cure her. It did wonders for our middle son who never slept. Congratulations!
Could be the swing is activating her Moro reflex (which happend when babies feel like they are falling, like when they are laid down too quickly, and which she'll outgrow soon), and this causes her arms to fly open and startle herself.
Good for you for being so responsive to her. You might like a baby sling to keep her close if she wants to cuddle while she cat-naps during the day. The frightened look could be from a bad dream of some sort, but it could also just be waking up with a start from a falling feeling and not being right with mom.
Best wishes!
You've gotten good advice so far.
I wonder if you could manage to get her a cradle instead of using the swing. It seems to me that if the swing is frightening or startling to her, perhaps a cradle would give her some soothing movement without frightening or startling her.
Hi K. - this isnt classic "night terrors" - those are much different than what's going on with your baby.
I think your instincts are correct about the swing. Babies like the swinging motion but they hate that floating falling feeling. I had to really watch that I didnt do it when I was laying my kids down for a nap. I'd hug them close to my body all the way down or else they would get startled and wake up and scream and do all they things your daughter is doing. (btw - letting their feet and bottom touch the bed first and then their heads last helps too)
Perhaps put the swing on a lower setting, stop it once your daughter falls asleep, or reconsider using the swing at all for naps.
I think it is more to do with her being a newborn and them being able to move around and it is a new thing. They really thrive on being swaddled so they feel secure and safe.
If they move their arms or legs their whole bodies move while in the swing and it startles them. I know that sudden moves would wake up mine in a second at that age if they moved their limbs.
Newborns are prone to wide eyes sometimes too, it is cute and I don't think it is fear.
I wouldn't worry, just make sure she is swaddled in her swing as having her hands and feet all close to her body is how she was when she was in you so it is normal that is what comforts them.
Two of my neighbor's 3 sons had night terrors-and both around 4 mos. "They" are not always right. If it's the scariest nightmare you've ever watched, it takes her a lot of cuddling to stop shaking, it's probably night terrors. My son had one & it took me over an hour of him laying in bed w/me, cuddling him so tight I was practically laying ON him before the shaking would stop. It was longer before he fell back to sleep. Instead of letting her sleep in the swing, try letting her sleep in a bouncy seat (if you've got one) on vibrate or w/the "ocean" sound going. Both are a bit more gentle & may be what she needs. I loved the baby heartbeat CDs too-they put lullabys & classical music w/a thumping heartbeat. I'd use it to put my sleep-fighter down for naps & more often than not I'd be nodding before he was.
You probably don't need to take her right in, but at her next check, definitely mention it to the doc. Keep track of what she's doing when they happen (if you're nursing, what you ate before it happened), what time of day they happen... maybe you'll see a pattern in addition to the swing.
Good luck! The one I witnessed was scary enough that I remember it 6 years later.
you are correct that she's a little young for terrors. My guess, based on my experience with 2 children is GAS - it can be painful and startling, often jolting them out of even a deep sleep. One of the best ways to combat this is to make sure she is well-burped before being put down to sleep. Even if you have to wake her (falls asleep while eating/nursing), it is worth it to do what you can to get the air out before putting to bed for the night. Gas drops may help also - you can give "preventatively" before a night-time feeding - confirm with your doc next week. The other possibility your doctor may discuss with you is reflux but rule out gas before agreeing to putting your child on reflux meds, which are over-prescribed for infants. if gas is ruled out and reflux is still suspected, try elevating her mattress so she's sleeping on a slight incline - there are various ways to do this including blocks underneath one side of crib (must be very stable and sturdy), or a towel, rolled up like a bolster and placed under the crib mattress. make sure there are no gaps between mattress and side of crib.
try some of these ideas and do keep track of when it happens and what you tried as a remedy and be ready to discuss with your doctor next week. but, there's unlikely reason to go into the doctor any earlier. it's most likely some form of discomfort and not illness or medical problem. Best wishes to you - motherhood in the first few months is a lot of trouble-shooting and since you're most likely sleep deprived, it's best to do a little documentation about what things led to reduction in these incidents. In the meantime, simple soothing techniques (light gentle patting/burping and "bicycle legs") can relieve painful air bubbles in tummy and intestines. Important thing is to maintain a calm demeanor and darkened room when you go to her and she'll be more likely to get back to sleep quickly. She may also just be hungry, ready for the next feeding. It's amazing how that cry for nourishment can sound so frantic, terrified, and dire in the middle of the night!
I think it's the movement of the swing. You might check her vision, my niece was afraid like that and it turned out she could only see a small circle around her. Here is something she might enjoy to get back to that womb feeling too:
I'm not sure what you mean by "seems terrified" but when my abby boy would wake up from a startle, crying like crazy, my doctor said that sometimes if they wake up someplace different than they fell asleep that can scare them. I'm not sure, but I think it's normal early on. My son outgrew that. if the swing stops moving, and they fell asleep while moving, that might do it too.
I think you are worrying too much mom! Your baby is fine, they just need to communicate and their little nervous systems are still maturing now! You are doing a great job, enjoy this time, I know you are probably exausted but they are so sweet now and you are her everything!
