A happy baby turning into a screaming baby

We were away for a 6 weeks holiday in Toronto and London and today is Day 4 since we have returned to HK. My 10 months old girl has been waking up at night (midnight to 3am,or 2:30am to 5am) screaming her head off and only calms down if I pick her up or if I put her in our bed.

She has always been sleeping in her cot in her own room - never shared a bed with us till we were in London where we stayed with our friends and we didn't want her to cry and wake up everyone so we let her slept in our bed when she woke up in the middle of the night - it was just a few nights. I am trying to figure out the reason for her midnight screaming - she is 100% ok when we put her to her cot at 8pm after her bath and feed - but she will wake up around midnight screaming her head off. Before we went away for holiday she was an angel, always slept from 8pm to 7am. Is she still jetlagging or she's used to sleeping in mommy and daddy's bed? She's got some new teeth coming out but I don't think she has pain as she's fine during the day and no fussing in her day naps.


Also, when we were in Toronto, we stayed with my family and the house was always full of people so baby always had lots of attention; and at meal time she would eat with us (usually at least 6 people). Now we are back in HK there are always just me and my helper - and baby seems to seek attention all the time (she used to be able to play alone happily) - and now it's very diffcult to feed her (she doesn't eat with us as she eats earlier than our normal meal time), lots of screaming and crying. Now she just wants to be with someone all the time, doesn't want to play alone. Do you think it has to do with all the attention she got in Toronto and now it's difficult for her to adjust to a quiet home?


For the crying at night - we finally tried the Control Crying last night - she woke up at 11:45pm crying - so I went in to check on her and changed her nappy and gave her some cuddles. By midnight I put her back in her cot (still awake) and as soon as I lowered her body to the cot she started screaming. I left the room and let her cry, and she cried non-stop (wailing!) for 40 mins! In the next 40 mins it was on-n-off and we could tell she was tired, and she finally fell asleep at 1:40am. It was so hard not to pick her up, and I was constantly worried that she might vomit and choke. If she sees me she will just throw her arms up and wants me to pick her up so I had to stay away but I felt so bad.....>_<


Does any of you share the same experience? How do I get her back to sleeping thru the night just like the old days? Your advice is much appreciated.

oh poor you!! sounds so hard...sorry no advice as mine is only 7mths but hang in there!

Hi Chrispy,


How are you? Are you still BF? i remember we said we'll do it til 6 months, i am still doing it to this day...


We moved house last month, baby in his old same cot, same everything except for the room, but he was cranky and wakes up middle of the night too for a few days, doesn't like to be put in his cot while still awake, perhaps he was adjusting to a new environment. I did control crying after a few sleepless nights, but i also carried him and not just leave him, if i put him down he will start crying, i'll picked him up, put down again over and over, my heart breaks if he's crying for a long time, i timed it for 5 minutes only then i'll pick him up.....i don't know what method is this, but after a few days only, He adapt and now sleeps back to his normal routine.


Your baby might be adjusting to the "new" environment. Babies are intelligent, if you put her in your bed - even for a few nights only - she will know that she should be sleeping in your bed. You continue doing your technique and after a few days she will go back to her usual routine.

hi Chrispy. yeah, went down that road before.


Went back to Australia for 6 wks and my daughter, then 1 yr old, cried countless times at night. And I agree with above posts - wait a little longer and let her adjust herself while keeping at what you were doing before holidays -but have to disagree with the control crying bit. Never a fan of that, never will. My daughter adjusted all on her own after 2 wks, with admittedly lots of cuddles and reassurances. Well, she is just a bub of course she would feel a little lost and disorientated with change of environment.


Yes, must say you tend to be more relaxed abt things if you fully brace yourself for such difficulties after a holiday.

I have heard from a midwife in hong kong that give up to 2 weeks to get babies to recover from time change and jetlag. Perhaps waking up and thinking it feels like time to play and doesn't know what is going on especially if she slept with you while away. but iagree stick to your routine (whatever that is) and she will work out what is happening and settle down again. i agree though that i think you are meant to check every 10 mins then slowly extend eg 20 then the next time 25 mins etc.


The crying thing is a tough decision - I swore i would never do it and didn't beleive in it but after trying everything else and my own health starting to suffer we had to start something for both of us. but if your daughter never had issues before you went away i would think she will go back to that so don't worry and maybe if it makes you feel better just comfort her she is probably confused about things.


good luck

Thanks all for sharing your experience - one thing is my girl is very stubborn and when I go in to check on her she just wants to pull herself up and wants to grab me - so I am not sure if I should go in every 10 or 15 or 20 mins as she will just see it as a chance and will hope to be picked up again (and she won't calm down and be relaxed). I just quietly peek thru the door to make sure she's not vomiting. Any good tips on how I can reassure her without making her think "if I cry mommy will come and stay or pick me up"?

By the way Honeypie - I am well and thanks for asking - I have stopped breastfeeding after 6.5 months - baby was happy with formula and solid meals. She's now over 12.5kg and 80cm tall, guess she's quite a big girl for her age. =)

simply the best and others who have tried the crying thing did you also need to do for daytime sleeps or were they ok anyway - i assume you need to take the same approach every time you put them to sleep

chrispy06, only day 4...hang in there, it will get better, give it sometime.


just try to re-introduce her routine based the local time gradually...you'll get there!

Thanks ladies - baby is now sleeping thru the night and back on her pre-holiday schedule - thanks for your advice and support!

Unfortunately she has just picked up a cold - having running nose and coughing and getting quite cranky - have consulted with doctor and got some medicine to help with the stuffy nose. Any other good tips on handling a baby with a cold?

I like to put adult vicks vapo rub on hankies - and tie them around the crib - the vapors sometimes help. Ayr saline drops in the nasal passages also help loosen mucous.


I always think that the most important thing for recovery is good rest - and kids that rest more when sick, get better faster. If you are still breastfeeding, you can take some vitamin C and see if you can't get some into her via breastmilk.

Thanks hkchoichoi, will try the hankies trick. I have stopped breastfeeding already - baby is 10 months old - do you have any suggestion on Vitamin intake for her? I have not introduced orange juice as many books said citrus is not recommended for babies below 1 yr old. Thanks.

hi chrispy,


Glad to hear baby is back to her normal routine.


My baby just recovered from runny nose and cough, i have him drink lots of water and juice. I haven't given him orange juice yet, just apple and pear. I did not give him any western medicine, though i went to see the pedia to check if his lungs are clear, the medicine given was standby just in case i badly needed it. Instead, i went to a homeopath, and was given few pills, it works after a week, all is OK now.

have you tried flax or cod liver (nordic naturals brand) oil? Both are supposed to help boost immunity in infants. I used about 1/2 teaspoon for the kids from about 7 months up.


Apple juice does have some vitamin c. as do mangoes and papayas.