4 m.o. Moaning and Thrashing All Night
3 answers /
Last post: 25/02/2024 at 7:48 pm
Hey everyone. I was wondering whether anyone could help with the above? Baby is 19 weeks old, and has been thrashing and moaning in his sleep the last few nights and so I've not been able to get many sleep stints much over an hour. Could this be reflux or the 4-month regression? Temperature? I'm EBF and feeding him to sleep, which I know isn't the best practice, but it's worked ok in the past, with only 1-2 wakings per night. Baby does quite a bit of daytime reflux, both spit up and swallowed, but I'm not sure what's normal for this age. He contact-naps during the day and doesn't thrash or moan during these sleeps. He also seems fairly happy and healthy generally.
I've just recently started cutting out dairy to see if this helps, but is there anything else we can do? Also, I'm considering shelling out for a sleep consultant, but is it worth trying to wait this out or using other methods first?
Thanks.
Hi Sophie,
We've moved your thread into our drop-in clinic baby and child health, so you can get the advice and support you need
Hello Sophie
Its good news your LO is normally happy and healthy. This does help when trying to work out what is causing a sleep disturbance. It could be any of the things you have suggested, it is just about trying to find what works for your baby.
You mention he has reflux, have you tried a remedy for this to see if this helps? I could be that he is finding it harder to manage his reflux symptoms:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/reflux-in-babies/
Your LO settles so well with contact napping and being fed to sleep. It could be that as he is a little older he needs these things to soothe again after waking in his normal sleep windows? Do you think you could try helping him self soothe to see if this makes a difference?
https://www.netmums.com/baby/self-soothing-or-settling
It could be that your LO is unwell. You mentioned a temperature as another possible reason. Does your LO have a fever Sophie? If he has it would be good to work out the cause of this, as this is another reason why your baby may not be able to settle well.
I can understand wanting to ask for sleep support, but before you link in with a private consultant, you may find some other ideas in our huge sleep section:
https://www.netmums.com/baby/sleep
Your own HV is well placed to offer you support too, so it may also be worth giving them a call too.
I do hope this helps
Best wishes
Tracey HV
