The question
My five-month-old son sometimes takes naps during the day. At night we put him down in between 8-9 p.m. and he will wake up sometimes every hour. This goes on until 4-5 a.m. and then he sleeps till 8 a.m. I keep telling my wife it’s one of two things: he is either teething (which I doubt – because he would be uncomfortable all day) or he has gas, so we purchased Gripe water. What’s your take?
The answer
First, be sure that your son’s naps are not too lengthy. This could be the source of the issue: One to two hours is enough. Stick to a consistent bedtime and routine. And consider teaching your baby to self-sooth: in my opinion, when babies wake up as often as you mention, letting them fall back to sleep by themselves is best.
If teething were the cause, you’re right – you’d expect other symptoms too: drooling, inflamed gums, a low-grade fever or even loose stools.
Gripe water, a home remedy often consisting of alcohol, ginger, dill, and fennel, is a safe option for gas. Some parents in my clinic have told me that they solved gas issues by using probiotic drops or homeopathic drops.
Is there associated vomiting, spitting up, blood in the feces and abdominal distention or bloating? These symptoms may indicate a possible obstruction of the bowel or a more serious intestinal issue than just simple gas.
Another cause could be a lactose intolerance or milk sensitivity: try eliminating dairy products which contain lactose for two weeks and see if his sleeping improves. Breastfeeding at 5 months is an ideal situation, but if that is not possible, be very careful when you choose a formula. Your wife should continue to breastfeed try eliminating lactose containing products from her own diet. A lactose-free formula is worth trying if she uses a formula.
Send pediatrician Peter Nieman your questions at . He will answer select questions, which could appear in The Globe and Mail and/or on The Globe and Mail web site. Your name will not be published if your question is chosen.
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