How to keep an infant awake when doctor orders sleep deprivation for EEG?

First up, I wouldn’t worry about it until you hear from the pediatric neurologist about the test. It may not even be an issue.

Secondly when you have seen the pediatric neuro guy and have the test booked they will no doubt give you some advice on how to keep baby awake if it’s needed. Sleep depriving a young child is something out of the ordinary and I don’t think they would expect you to know how to aproach it without at least a few tips.

In the mean time I would talk to your pediatrician about it. I expect he was only mentioning it now so as it did not come as a big shock just before the test, but even so if it is bothering you then he should be able to have a chat, perhaps evn over the phone, to help put your mind at ease.

I am sorry – this must be so stressful.

Vaccuum cleaners always kept me awake, but that may not be practical.

In my experience, young children babies included like to stay awake for new and interesting people. Can you enlist the help of friends and grandparents to come over and be interesting to baby? Your daughter would be less likely to go to sleep if she didn’t want to miss the fun. Then, when friends and grandparents leave, she may be too exhausted to go to sleep which sounds odd, but with a 7 month old, I’m sure you’ve experienced this before. If this is not a viable option, I used to know a baby who wouldn’t go to sleep if someone held her without her bottom or legs being supported. It sounds kinda mean, but it just might work.

Are you usually quiet when she’s asleep? If that’s the case, try not to be so quiet. Play movies, somewhat raucous music, be talking either with your partner or on the phone.

Good luck, this does not sound like a fun job. :(

It just so happens an old college friend is a leading pediatric neurologist in the country… and he finds your docs recommendation a little outdated (or strange) He would keep your child wired for as many days as it takes to get useful readings. The process itself will stress the baby without need for sleep deprivation. The full harness and wrap is scary, but not invasive in any way. 7 months is a delicate age… this should be taken seriously but until you get the prognosis, you shouldn’t stress either. I will light a candle for your daughter, even tho I’m an agnostic…

Gee….that does not sound fun at all! I would do whatever the doctor says. The only time my babies were awake aside from normal wake time is when they were hungry…

how horrible…..I’m so sorry…..sugar water. juice.

The dr will have great ideas, i hope.

Oh no! Sugar has dreadful effects on the brain… especially processed sugar.

If it happened to me, I would get second and third opinion. That doesn’t really make sense to me. Talk to the doctor who told you that and ask for more information.

I suppose a lot of noise and foot thumping. My daughter had childhood seizures and I was never instructed to keep her awake prior to EEGs. Is your neurologist a pediatric specialist?

@Lightlyseared Yeah, I am definitely going to take my final advice from the neurologist – I just wanted to hear from people who may have dealt with this before.

@Draconess25 Actually, at this age, repetitive noises like vacuum cleaners and fans put her to sleep faster.

@KatawaGrey I definitely know what you mean by getting her too tired to sleep. She will stay awake if other kids are here, which I didn’t think of before, but her grandma puts her to sleep the minute she picks her up, lol. I also noticed, since she has two lesbian mommies and a lesbian grandmother and hardly any men in her life, when her father comes by she wakes up and stares at him, I guess to figure out what all that facial hair is about. I’ll definitely ask for his help too if I do end up needing to keep him awake.

@Tomfafa Wow, thanks for that input… I’m hoping your friend is right! (My pediatrician doesn’t speak english too well, so he may have just misunderstood my question or said it in the wrong way). And don’t worry about the candle – I’m agnostic too – well wishes are good enough. :)

@perspicacious Yes, the neurologist is the only pediatric neurologist in the area, which is why we are still waiting to hear from him about a date and time for an appointment. I haven’t spoken to him (or her) yet, so hopefully my pediatrician was mistaken.

@stemnyjones Really? They use to make me cry. Now, they just annoy me. I have to wear earplugs when vaccuuming.

@stemnyjones: Just out of curiosity, you mentioned a father. Did you or your partner carry your daughter after being artificially inseminated or did one of your get pregnant prior to entering the relationship? Hope this doesn’t derail the thread. :)

@KatawaGrey It was a pretty rough situation. I was out of the closet as a lesbian (and hadn’t met my current partner yet), and I was also just coming clean from 2 years of every day drug use. I was in an NA meeting and met the now father of my child. At the time I was naive enough to think I could trust people in a group such as NA, but he actually ended up taking advantage of me at a later time. Although technically it was rape because I continuously told him “no” and “stop”, I didn’t get the police involved, and the only reason I allow him around right now is because I know that at the time he was in a very sick state of mind (actively smoking crack cocaine) and I don’t fear him – the minute he makes a wrong move he will regret it. My girlfriend hates him of course, but because he is helping out a lot financially with the baby right now, we allow him to come see her a couple of times a month. The minute he relapses, though, he’s out of her life forever.

@stemnyjones: That is a rough situation and I admire you for holding it together for the sake of your child. As the child of odd circumstances myself, I think you are doing the right thing in letting him be in your daughter’s life as long as he is clean and a being a good father. With a caring mother like you, I have no doubt your baby will grow up to be a happy, well adjusted person. I hope her father stays clean and continues to be a helpful and good influence.

@KatawaGrey Thank you :)