Acting Out of Her Norm

Updated on December 14, 2006
K.G. asks from Mishawaka, IN
26 answers

I have a 10 month old daughter and I have been very fortunate that she has been sleeping through the night. Just recently within the past 3 days, she is waking up an hour after being put down, and either waking up multiple times in the night crying and going back to sleep for another hour or so, or waking up at 4 in the morning. She never did that before. She always would sleep until 7:30 or later depending on how bright it was outside. She has been acting wired when I get her in the mornings. I give her a bottle before bed and then when she wakes up. She also keeps putting her finger inside her ear. Should this be a doctor visit or nothing that I should worry about?

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So What Happened?

So I did take my daughter to the doctor today because she was just going downhill. She was running a slight fever and her nose was running but yet she couldn't breath. To come to find out, she did have an ear infection, a double ear infection to be exact. She also had a really bad sore throat from what the doctor said. They gave her an antibiotic shot there and then prescribed an antibiotic and decongestant medicine. Obn top of that she is breaking through a couple teeth. Poor baby! Thank you to everyone that responded! The advice really helped me make the decision of not waiting longer.

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C.M.

answers from Sioux City on

You should take her to the doctor. She may have an ear infection, If she doesn't it could be her teeth. the signs are there for both. however the constant waking up sounds to me like her ears. If you take her to the doctor and it's nothing then try tylenol for her teething and teething gel before she goes to bed. good luck and hope you get some sleep.my son is the same age and part of the waking up at night could be the night terrors, be's been starting them lately.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.W.

answers from Davenport on

Hi I am a 1st time mom as well. My daughter is 6months old and this last weekend she was doing the same thing. except she wasn't really messing with her ears. the main resoan why we took her into the doctor was because her eyes looked like she was getting pink eye. so i took her in and the doctor said that this was apart of the ear enfecton. Now that she is on anitbiotics she is back to sleeping through the night! I would recomend to take her in. At less then you would have the peace of mind even if nothing is wrong. But to me that's what is she might have. Good luck.

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S.M.

answers from Evansville on

Is it possible that she may have some fluid in her ear? Is she more stuffy than normal?

Also, she may be teething. Those back molars and disguise itself as ear pain....

I know it is rough when you have a good sleeper and they become a bad sleeper....

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful

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K.H.

answers from Indianapolis on

Is it possible that your daughter is teething? You are describing what how my daughter would act when she was getting more teeth in. Have you tried giving her Tylenol to see if that would help? I would for sure give that a shot. Feel free to e-mail me if that doesn't or hasn't worked. ____@____.com

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A.D.

answers from Lincoln on

Oh yes this warrants a doctor visit. She could possibly have an ear infection. I would take her to the doctor first and then see what happens.

1 mom found this helpful
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N.

answers from Owensboro on

My baby is almost 10 months old also (and a girl also)... she started the same thing at 9 mths old - and from what her Pediatrician says, it's a normal developmental thing. Ped says that stranger anxiety develops around this time and that's accompanied by nightmares - hence the waking up screaming...

Some nights are good for my girl, some nights not, but the Ped assures me that she'll grow out of it and to comfort her but keep putting her back in her own bed to sleep so that she keeps up the good sleep habits.

Good Luck!!

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S.M.

answers from Indianapolis on

I would definetly see the doctor just to rule out the possibility of an illness/ear infection.

Also, does she have a sound machine in her room? Those are very helpful in soothing them and helping keep them asleep.

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S.F.

answers from Indianapolis on

I would say if she starts to tug at her ear then you should probably call the dr. If she is more fussy than normal maybe try some tylenol or motrin before bedtime and see if that helps. Sometimes teething causes fevers but do not everlook the possiblity of an ear infection . . . they creep up quick. Good Luck!!

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W.C.

answers from Lexington on

She could be either teething or working on an ear infection. Either way, I wouldn't bother making a dr's appt unless she runs a consistent fever (which she may while teething, definitely will if a slight infection doesn't resolve itself). The finger in the ear could indicate either one...

Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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T.J.

answers from Waterloo on

Hi K.!

I'd definitely take her to the Dr, because putting her finger in her ear, is a good sign of a ear infection, and that is miserable for an adult, let alone a little one. I'd call your pediatrician asap.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.L.

answers from Lexington on

I definitely think you should take her to the doctor and have them check out her ears. Also, when she is drinking her bottle is she laying down flat? When bottle feeding, the child should always be sitting up slightly, otherwise is can cause problems with their ears.

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T.C.

answers from South Bend on

id say she might have an ear infection. id probably take her in to the drs.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.P.

answers from Louisville on

Sounds like she may have an ear infection. Kids of all ages will tug, put fingers in ears, or if the ears are red than that is a sign of ear infection. It doesn't hurt to take her to the dr. just in case that is what it is.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.A.

answers from Indianapolis on

Might be an ear infection. They get them when they are teething and it seems like my son was getting several teeth starting at that age.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.L.

answers from South Bend on

Ear tugging or rubbing is rarely a sign of an ear infection. It's most likely a sign of discomfort from teething. Whenever my daughter acts like her ears are bothering her I give her Teething Tablets and instantly she's fine. My daughter is 10 months too. I read that a big change in development like beginning to walk will disrupt their sleep pattern.
On another note, if your daughter seems distraught / in pain and that's causing her to wake up then it may be something more serious and a doctor appointment would be a good bet.

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K.G.

answers from South Bend on

K.,
i am a mom of four and it sounds like she might have an ear infection. Take her to the doctor to be sure. it never hurts to be too cautious with the little ones ears.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.H.

answers from Bloomington on

Is she running a fever? I think she is either teething or ear infection. My daughter rarely complains with an ear infection. In fact, we went for her 1 year check up and she had an ear infection and I didn't even know. Some kids have a higher tolerance to that kind of thing. If she has a fever, I would take her to the dr., if not, a little tylenol will help with the teething. Or even something cold to chew on. Hope this helps.

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J.C.

answers from Indianapolis on

my son did this for a while around a year old, only thing I could find to work was to play indian music softly in the background, it seemed to soothe him enough to be more restful sleep. to this day it calms him down when he's getting too aggitated

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A.A.

answers from Waterloo on

If she is playing with her ears, i would call the doctor and see. Or she might be teething. Try some medicine for infants and see if that works. If that don't, talk to your doctor about it and see what they would say.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.E.

answers from Lexington on

is she cutting teeth? my little girl has trouble sleeping when her gums are bothering her. i found that the homeopathic teething tablets found at walmart really help.

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R.K.

answers from Louisville on

She may be teething. My Daughter started getting hers in at 4 to 5 months and acted a lot like your little girl. Check her gums to see if anything is breaking through.
Sometimes they have ear pain when teething, since all the nerves in there are so close I guess.
If it is her teeth try giving her a little ice water or if it gets really bad m y Doctor recommended a small dose of tylenol or Ibuprophen before bed. You might want to check with your own Doctor as well.

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M.T.

answers from Lafayette on

If she is sticking her finger in her ear, and this is something she doesn't normally do, it may be because her ear hurts. Sometimes this is the only sign of an ear infection. I'd make an appointment and get her ear checked.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Elkhart on

Could be a mild ear infection. You might want to take her in to the doctor just to be on the safe side.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.S.

answers from Lexington on

If I were a a betting woman, I'd put money on an ear infection. My little ones (now 6 & 2) both suffered from a great deal of ear infections their first years and did not always get fevers with their ear infections. It's definately worth the drs visit to be sure one way or the other.

Hope your little girl feels better soon!

1 mom found this helpful
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J.L.

answers from Muncie on

It sounds like you baby gorl might have a ear infection.If I were you I would take her to see the doc.

Good luck

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A.S.

answers from Omaha on

Im glad Im not the only one whos baby has a double ear infection, a cold, 2 teeth coming thru and on top of that he has thrush for the 1st antibiotic they had him on..... Just glad Im not alone... Hes 10 months old too! Good luck to you!

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