Arching at naptimes and bedtime

[Anonymous]

Tyler has begun to arch at naptimes and bedtimes. He has never does this before this just started over the last week. Reflux is definately up a bit but I find it weird that he can be happy as a clam then obviuosly start to get very tired so I pick him up to put him to sleep and he begins flailing arching and crying as if in pain. The only time it is this bad is when I try to put him to sleep. I have tried postioning him a hundered different ways in my arms – I have tried swaddled and not swaddled. Nothing works. He will only fall asleep if he is held and he is obviously very very tired but as soon as I hold him to sleep it starts. I have to basically wrestle him and hold him very tight to stop it and then he relaxes and falls asleep. But it is after a battle of epic proportions. Can he have realized that I respond to the arching so he is doing it to fight going to sleep? How can he suddenly be in pain as soon as it is time to go to sleep?

[Anonymous]

I think it sounds like he’s throwing a fit and fighting the sleep.

[Anonymous]

I agree with Stacey – it sounds to me like he might be overtired and
then fighting sleep. Marisa often arches when we do something she
doesn’t want (like try to put a hat on her, heaven forbid). Maybe try
putting him down before he gets too overtired? Does he have a crib toy
like a Ocean Wonders aquarium or the like to soothe him?

[Anonymous]

I think that you are both right. I guess since he has sandifers syndrome I just assumed at first that all arching is reflux related. Since I posted last night I found some online articles addressing the fact that babies often arch their backs to get away from any uncomfortable situation and especially when they are overstimulated. I guess it is just strange that he just started to become overstimulated with the same routine we always have. I do think that has become much more sensative and high maintenance as he gets older. This morning’s nap was a dream. We eased into slowly in a dark room with him facing away from me. I think looking at me was adding to the overtimulation. Anyway he went right to sleep. No fit – no arching.

It is just so hard to keep up with his changing behaviors and signals. As soon as I think I have something figured out a week later it is different. UGH!

Now I question how much of his arching is reflux and how much is overstimulation.

Please tell me this parent thing gets a little easier!

[Anonymous]

Oh, trust me when I say it is a constant guessing game! Hailey is 20 months old and she still has me guessing! Not about reflux of course! It does get easier.

[Author]

Posts