When a new mother walked into my clinic recently, looking weary and desperate, I knew something was very wrong. Little did I expect to hear that her 6-month-old baby, Ditya, barely slept three hours a day. As an Ayurvedic physician with over 25 years of experience, I have seen my share of sleep issues. But this case of infant sleeplessness seemed exceptionally severe and distressing for both mother and child. The situation called for empathy, expertise, and some out-of-the-box home remedies to help this family get the rest they need.
Examining the Extent of the Issue
Manpreet, a first-time mom, tearfully explained that Ditya has never been a good sleeper. However, her little one’s minimal nighttime sleep has recently dwindled to only two hours total. Additionally, Ditya squeezes in just one hour of shut-eye during the day. “My happy baby has turned into a cranky, crying mess with dark circles under her eyes,” Manpreet lamented. “And I’m not doing much better myself.” As Manpreet described her fatigue, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion, I felt deep concern.
This case seemed highly unusual and warranted a closer look. I began asking Manpreet some key questions to get to the root of Ditya’s sleep struggles.
– How would you describe her daytime habits and temperament?
Cranky, clingy and constantly rubbing her eyes. Not my happy-go-lucky girl!
– What is her nighttime sleep routine like?
We have a whole bedtime ritual – warm bath, lotion massage, books. She just won’t stay asleep!
– Have there been any changes with feedings?
She’s still breastfeeding every 2-3 hours. No issues there.
– Does she use a pacifier?
Tried it once, and she spit it out and cried.
– How do you put her down to sleep?
We rock her until she’s sound asleep. It takes forever!
As I suspected, there were no red flags around feedings, leaving illness or underlying conditions unlikely. While Ditya’s sleep associations with rocking were not helping, they were also not the root of the issue. This severe degree of sleeplessness, especially with appropriate daytime sleep cues, pointed me to two potential culprits – teething pain or silent reflux.
Differential Diagnosis
While many babies go through minor sleep regressions around 4-6 months old, Ditya’s case was extreme. As I weighed the potential scenarios based on my expertise, I narrowed it down to two likely causes fueling her sleep problems.
Teething Pain
- Common around 6 months old
- Can cause significant discomfort
- Disrupts ability to settle and stay asleep
Silent Reflux
- Acid reflux without spitting up
- Causes throat discomfort when lying down
- Frequent waking is common
I needed to dig deeper through some targeted tests and mother-baby observations to determine which one applied to Ditya’s situation, but I was fairly certain one of these was plaguing this exhausted little girl.
Getting to the Heart of the Problem
First, I thoroughly examined Ditya’s mouth looking for emerging teeth. While her two bottom front teeth had already popped through, I saw the beginnings of her upper laterals making their way through her puffy pink gums. The inflammation and white tips breaking through explained a lot. I asked Manpreet to describe what happened when Ditya awoke during the night. She indicated that her little one often screamed out in pain and grabbed at her mouth and ears. “It takes me nearly an hour of rocking and nursing to try to soothe her back to sleep,” explained Manpreet. “But as soon as I put her down, her eyes pop open again within minutes.” This aligns perfectly with teething discomfort, making it the likely perpetrator of Ditya’s sleep problems.
While I was fairly convinced teething was causing Ditya’s sleep issues, I couldn’t rule out silent reflux just yet. I explained to Manpreet that I’d like to do a trial treatment for teething but also have them test a few Ayurvedic remedies just in case. From the bags under Manpreet’s eyes, I could tell that my help couldn’t come soon enough, so I launched right into explaining the home treatment remedies.
Home Treatment Solutions
Teething Relief
Since teething pain seemed the probable cause of Ditya’s sleeplessness, I recommended Manpreet try these safer, natural home remedies to ease her discomfort.
Cooling teether toys – Place some basic plastic teether toys in the fridge to numb sore gums when chewing
Frozen fruit – Soothe tender gums by letting Ditya gnaw on chilled fruit like bananas
Massage – Gently rub swollen gums with clean fingers or a soft baby toothbrush
OTC teething ointment – Rub a small amount of over-the-counter ayurvedic teething gel on the gums for numbing relief
I also instructed Manpreet to give Ditya the appropriate dose of Ayurvedic baby fever syrup as needed for pain and inflammation. Hopefully, easing Ditya’s discomfort would allow her to settle back to sleep more easily.
Acid Reflux Relief
While teething seemed the most obvious culprit, I suggested Manpreet also try a few acid reflux remedies just in case silent reflux was the underlying issue impacting Ditya’s sleep.
Feed upright – Ensure Ditya is upright during and at least 30 minutes following each feeding
Sleep incline – Prop up one end of Ditya’s crib mattress to keep her head elevated
Ayurvedic medicine – gave her zymnet plus syrup
Hopefully, with teething pain diminishing and reflux managed, Ditya would finally get some normal nighttime sleep. I scheduled a follow-up appointment in two weeks to see if these interventions helped resolve the sleep issues. Most importantly, I encouraged Manpreet to trust her mothering instincts if she felt something more serious was going on with Ditya despite these home treatments.
The Takeaway
As babies grow rapidly in the first year, sleep regressions and problems can arise, leaving parents fatigued and frustrated. However, cases of severe infant sleeplessness like Ditya’s warrant the attention of doctors to ensure no underlying medical issues. While every child has different needs, parents should feel empowered to try safer home treatment remedies for common problems like acid reflux or teething pain under the guidance of a doctor. With mutual understanding between doctor and caregiver, combined with affection for the child, I believe we can resolve even the most exhausting infant sleep issues. When a baby sleeps, parents sleep…and that outcome is worth every ounce of effort.
If your infant suddenly develops extreme sleeplessness without explanation, I encourage you to speak to your doctor right away for advice and treatment options. Every baby is unique, but there are hopefully some simple solutions to help your whole family get the rest they need to thrive. Sweet dreams!
