Sleep **** -- reflux or just ****?

Okay, I have officially had it. We have been working with the girls on sleep for a few weeks now, and although there are glimmers of hope (Celeste went down with no fussing at all this afternoon), things just seem to be getting worse and worse -- or maybe they are the same and my patience is wearing thin.

At night it takes up to an hour to get them to go down. Sometimes they will go to sleep "on their own" (ie not being held) and other times we have to give up and walk or rock them down. Giving up is generally preceded by an extended stretch of screaming that is virtually inconsolable (they scream even when held, walked, rocked, whatever for anywhere up to 30 minutes before finally calming down). And once they are "down" we still aren't done. We then have 1 to 3 hours of wake-ups to deal with -- again, screaming even when we pick them up, writhing in our arms, pulling away and arching their backs, etc.

They have reflux and are on zantac. A lot of their night behaviors seem like what the books describe as reflux behaviors, so maybe the zantac isn't working as well as it needs to. But the weird thing is that they have no troubles when they are awake. They now have no troubles with feeding, they lie happily on their backs for long stretches to play -- so why would the reflux show up only around sleep?

Kim

 

Okay, I have officially had it. We have been working with the girls on sleep for a few weeks now, and although there are glimmers of hope (Celeste went down with no fussing at all this afternoon), things just seem to be getting worse and worse -- or maybe they are the same and my patience is wearing thin.

At night it takes up to an hour to get them to go down. Sometimes they will go to sleep "on their own" (ie not being held) and other times we have to give up and walk or rock them down. Giving up is generally preceded by an extended stretch of screaming that is virtually inconsolable (they scream even when held, walked, rocked, whatever for anywhere up to 30 minutes before finally calming down). And once they are "down" we still aren't done. We then have 1 to 3 hours of wake-ups to deal with -- again, screaming even when we pick them up, writhing in our arms, pulling away and arching their backs, etc.

They have reflux and are on zantac. A lot of their night behaviors seem like what the books describe as reflux behaviors, so maybe the zantac isn't working as well as it needs to. But the weird thing is that they have no troubles when they are awake. They now have no troubles with feeding, they lie happily on their backs for long stretches to play -- so why would the reflux show up only around sleep?

Kim

 

I have no idea why they can lay on their backs to play all day, but act reflux-y at night, but it really does seem like they are having reflux problems nonetheless. I think a call to the pedi is in order, they may need to have their meds upped.

Hugs, hang in there Mommy!

 

the 2 things that saved our sanity:

Zegerid reflux med. www.marci-kids.com

Good Night Sleep Tight book by Kim West (aka Sleep Lady)

 

Our GI Dr. told us that reflux gets worse throughout the day and is at its worst at night. So that's probably why they get worse around sleep times.

As for Zantac, it just didn't work for my son and we were switched to prilosec (which is a custom made formula-- aka: very expensive to buy) but it works well for both my boys.

From what I understand, Zantac relieves the acid reflux irritation in the esophogus, but priolosec actually limits the amount of acid being made in the stomach and therefore works more efficiently for my babies.

As for sleeping, my kiddos had similar issues around the same age (they just turned 5 months, and in December we had big sleep issues). In December, I felt that my whole day was cudding babies down to sleep between naps and bedtime and I decided I had had enough. after the holidays, I started putting one son down drowsy but awake for naps and then soon after I did the same for bedtime. He cried a few times but is really a champ at it.

You may want to try putting them down earlier. We found with this son that he'd get overstimulated and then he'd be inconsoleable. Scream crying even if we were holding him etc. The only thing that worked for mhim was to swaddle him, binky him and put him to bed -- and let him cry. Once a baby is that overstimulated, it's my understanding that the crying is a stress reliever -- and the only way they can detox.

We changed our 7p bedtime which I had arbitrarily set and started watching the boys for sleepy signs. When I saw an eye being rubbed, I'd scoop the baby up, do the nighttime ritual, swaddle them and put them down --- and voila -- they were going to sleep.

Our bedtime is now between 5-6pm.

Once you get the reflux issues resolved, you can tackle the sleep ones. I think babies naturally start getting better about naps and sleep in the 4-5 month range, so you're on the verge of a change.

Good luck

Teri D

 

I agree with everyone. I have good sleepers but they were not until the reflux was under control. I am a nurse and know tons of children with reflux and I only know one baby that really did well on Zantac. I definately would work on switching. My babies are on Prilosec and as long as they have their meds we really don't have any problems at all.
Also, I do think it is worse at night. Even adults with it will tell you that theirs is worse at night than in the day.
Good luck and hope things improve soon!
Allison

 

Oh my goodness you sound like me at that age. Push your pedi until he/she gives you a referral to a GI. My life was pure **** until I MADE our pediatrician send us to a specialist. Their reflux was so severe it was no wonder they screamed every night when we laid them down! I believe that is your very problem and I agree that you need to get this issue taken care of before you work on the sleep habits. Zantac did nothing for my girls, but I owe my sanity to prevacid. The liquid is a compound (meaning it has to be mixed and it is only good for 2 weeks I think?), but it didn't cost me any more money than anything else. My girls are on solutabs now and they love them (taste like strawberries!) so it totally painless to get them to take it. Please force your pedi to do something more and do not take no for an answer .. reflux is very painful and can cause long term damage. Good luck!

 

quote:
Originally posted by tdemarco01:
Once a baby is that overstimulated, it's my understanding that the crying is a stress reliever -- and the only way they can detox.




Whoah, spooky - my MIL said nearly this exact same thing to me yesterday!!

 

You sound just like I did at that point. HSHHC is what truly helped me. I would try an earlier bedtime if you can- mine were in bed by 5:30 or 6. My family made fun of me for weeks. But it worked. I also was told it was reflux, but I was not convinced. After a visit to a GI specialist in Flushing,she actually took them off zantac and gave them maalox. After 3 weeks, we were sleeping 6 hour stretches. Around 11 they woke up for 5 oz bottlkes, which I allowed until they were 6 mos. Then done with bottles and 8 hour stretches. At 10 mos now, we finally sleep at least 10 hour stretches and they naturally progressed to a 7:30 bedtime. I also found the same regimen night after night helped-but not baths-they woke them up. I know how it feels-mine both cried 11-14 hours daily for 3 1/2 mos-but it WILL get better. See if you can get someone to help even just once a week at night-every minute counts. Good luck!!

KimM
Mommy to James and Mia
3/5/06