Advice & Input Sought on Sudden Fussiness in a 12-Month Old

Have there been any changes in his routine? Are you gone more? Is dad gone more? Is he in daycare? Is there a new pet? It sounds like he is upset about something that he has no control over so he responds in ways that he can control.

If you haven't already, you might want to take him to his pediatrician. Crankiness, and waking in the night, can be signs of an ear infection.

Do you remember if he has had a recent fall where he may have hurt his ribs or arms? It actually sounds like he may have a vertabrae out of place and if I were you I would take him to a chiropractor. When you say that he cries when he raises his arms...whether you are trying to put on onesies or shirts or when you try to walk with him. These are the three possibilities that come to mind for me. A vertabrae out; a bruised rib or an arm out of socket maybe.

Get him to a Chiropractor or Doctor to have everything checked out and good luck!!

Hi L.,

So sorry you are going through this. It could be a combination of teething (which can cause pain and sensitivity and moodiness) and other things. Sounds to me like vaccine reaction, especially if it had a sudden onset, so definitely look at your calendar and figure out when he had his last ones to see if there is a correlation. If I were you, I'd get your son to a chiropractor pronto and look into natural supplements and dietary changes that can help eliminate heavy metals and other things he might be reacting to -- and the chiropractor will reset him neurologically to function at his best. A chiro can even adjust his neck and ears to help reduce teething pain and they can recommend good homeopathic remedies for teething.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

S.

iT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE SOMETHING IS HURTING HIM. TAKE HIM TO HIS DOCTOR AND HAVE HIM CHECKED OUT.

I would say it is his ears, I never know when my children have ear infections because they do not get fevers. As they have gotten each ear infection, I have learned a little bit more about the signs. One of the first signs is their behavior. They start to act out and get really cranky.

My other thought is that he might be frustrated that he can't walk yet. He isn't able to move in the ways he wants and this can be making him angry and cranky. He doesn't know how to express these frustrations, so he whines and cries. If it is not his ears, I really think that this might be the problem. Both of my children have gotten overly fussy when they are trying to master a major milestone, it seems to disappear once they have mastered it!

Hi L.!

My 13 month old is just about finished with those terrible molars and I can't tell you what a relief it is. It's not surprising to me that your son is reacting differently with the molars than he has with his previous teeth. Since molars are larger and have a flatter surface, they are significantly more painful when pushing through the gums.

Some of the crankiness is probably caused by your son being overtired. His teeth hurt him more at night, when his head is at the level of his heart and all that blood throbs in his little mouth. Because of this, his quality of sleep just isn't as good. The next day, he's overtired and cranky and the cycle just repeats itself that night.

I would try giving him some Motrin or Tylenol just before bed. See if this seems to help at all. If so, don't be afraid to continue dosing him at bedtime for as long as you need (within reason). Rotate the two medicines and try and skip a night here and there...but if he's in pain, there's no harm in giving him some relief.

Just to be on the safe side, I would also recommend taking him in for a check-up. His fussiness might be explained by an ear infection (which is often caused by teething.) And ear infections don't necessarily come with obvious signs such as fever or ear pulling. It's best to be on the safe side and get him looked at by a doctor. At the very least, they can offer you some advice on pain relief.

In the meantime, try and hang in there. Before you know it, those terrible molars will be through and life can return to normal.

Best of luck!

-S.

My daughter will be 15months on Friday and she is going through some of the same things. She will get really cranky and only want me or she will get frustrated and start crying and screaming for no reason. She is teething too but I don't think her molars are coming in. I have heard a lot of other people say that molars hurt the most, to the point where the child doesn't want to do anything else.

My best advice to you is go with what you feel. If you are worried it is something to do with his health call the doctor immediately!

My daughter wakes up in the middle of the night and cries, she has been doing it for about a month now every once in a while(probably once a week) and it's just because she wants to be with mommy and daddy because she calms down when we get her.

Have you ever checked for pinworms ? Sometimes little babies that like to put things in their mouth and crawl around on the floor can pick up pinworms from other kids or animals. The way to check is at night use a flashlight and pull his little bottom apart and check to see if there is any little tiny white things that look like lint in there, If there is then the Doctor will give you medicine.

Maybe something with his tummy? Is he going poop all right? Maybe appendix?

Did this behavior come on after a vaccination? If so, research the side effects of the vaccine and contact your doctor!

The important thing is that you know your child and what his personality is normally like. You know there is something wrong. It could be anything from constipation, to a mild stomach bug. Call your doctors office and let them know his change in behavior, bending over crying while playing, etc. It might be he needs to go in just to make sure everything is OK. I am not one to run to the doctor for every little thing, but I always error on things like this in favor of what is safest for the child.

get to the doctor immediately if not sooner.
is this baby left at daycare or with a sitter?
sounds like a dislocated shoulder to me, but i'm not doctor.
but that happens easily at this age with lots of pulling up, falling and walking.

it might not be intentional, but it might have happened when you weren't around and nobody thought of it.
especially if somebody had to grab him from falling or if somebody picked him up using one arm.

for your peace of mind and your son's health, get him to a pediatrician post haste.

Hi L.,

Did you son recently have immunizations? Possibly at his one year check up? It sounds like he could be having a reaction to them. If that is the case call his doctor pronto to discuss it. It also could be teeth or just a phase (neither of which is very helpful to you, I know) I know that a 1 year old can be such a challenge. It is a huge transition time for them so be gentle and consistient and you will make it.

It could be the molars. When you pull the clothes over his head, it could put just enough pressure on his head that it hurts. There are many different things that can trigger the pain when teething, and molars can be a lot worse. My son was crabby when teething too, and had many symptoms that I never thought of with teething, like not wanting to eat, and not wanting to lay on his back. As far as the walking, it is very common for them to start trying to walk, but if something else is going on (like teething) they are more focused on that, and the walking takes a back seat to other things.
But, I always say, go with your gut, if you just aren't feeling right about saying it is teething, give your doc a call and talk to a nurse.
Good Luck!

As much as I cringe to have to ask this and pray I'm not right,
Has he gone to a baby sitter or day care in the last 10 days since this has started? If so I would ask if anything at all scary or a little bit upsetting has taken place with him or around him. He sounds like he is mad about something.
I went through a similar experience with my son when he was younger. My father has always been good with babies and my son had no problem with anyone until, one Sunday night football game. My dad didn't realize that my son was on the floor playing ever so sweetly, when suddenly my fathers team gets the ball and he leaps to his feet and starts yelling and ranting at the t.v. and startled my son half to death. Now this happened when my son was about 1 1/2. My son is 6 now, and sadly is very distant with my father. After the trauma he felt, he displayed similar actions and reactions that you explained in your letter. Now I hope that no such thing has taken place for your child, but it is a path that you might need to research. Good Luck.

Has he had a cold at all? I ask because my daughter was the same way when she had an ear infection. The main thing that stands out to me is pulling the clothing over his head and it may be bothering his ears when you do that. I had no clue when my daughter ( now 10) got her first ear infection but that was what made me think she did have one...and she did :)
Molars can be very hard on little ones and much more difficult to break out so that really could be a cause there....one word for teething...MOTRIN! Tylenol never did a thing for my kids....Motrin worked miracles! Good luck L.
I would make a Dr. appt if you think it could be something more.And another thought is new foods. Have your tried anything new? Something could be upsetting his tummy.

L.,
I have worked in Peds in the past and now in urgent care see a lot of kids. I'd reccomend that you see your pediatrician ASAP. It could be just teething but the stopping during play is kind of a red flag.
Hope all goes well.

Our sixteen month old has been getting his molars in over the past month and they are still coming in slowly but surely. It has been a roller coaster ride! Some days he is fine, happy, and smiley and the next he is fussy and won't eat. I suspect due to the size of molars, it probably makes their whole head ache and their mouth/jaw areas in particular. We have had some nights where we literally got no sleep. There was one night where I stayed up with him until 3am and then my husband took over until 5:30am when he finally went down to sleep. You can only give a little one so much Tylenol and/or Motrin. My husband bought some mini popsicles and let me tell you; he loves them. They are great for during the day to soothe their poor aching mouths. Otherwise, it is pretty much just a waiting game. It will be over----eventually. We just need to be there to soothe them in their time of need.