Sweet Jesus the screaming

[fruityb]

DS has just woken up from a nap and is screaming the house down. He's had a 6oz bottle two hours ago, he's brought up wind, his nappy is clean and he's not too hot. The screaming started earlier when I put him in his car seat and it was as if I'd abandoned him in the driveway!!

He's seven weeks old and is just getting louder!! I realise a lot of this is just temper but ye gods it's just so loud. When does the crying subside any!! Before his nap I'd read him three books and he was giggling and cooing and smiling. He nodded off in his swing and I did a bit of ironing then half an hour later wakes the whole street up! Back in his swing listening to his beach noises and he's laid there happily now. He's not asleep but is silent.

I know ten minutes can seem like an hour when it's just the two of you. And he's so good when we go out! He's awesome in the evenings as well. I just cop for it in the day times it seems.

I am in desperate need of an afternoon off. I've been away from him to get my hair cut since he was born - about 90 minutes. All other time I've been in the house when OH has been in charge or with him out of the house.

Sorry I just needed a vent. I love this boy so much and my OH is great as well, though seems to manage to get out on his own somehow!, but it's so draining emotionally! Going to brave a mummy and baby group I think - i need more human interaction.

[thatsn0tmyname]

My son was similar. I found stepping outside with him wrapped in a blanket helped. The cool air made him snap out of his scream.

[passingthrough1]

I read 8 weeks was when crying and screaming peaked? actually seems about right for me.

[PotatoBread]

My DD managed to both cry with rage and smile at the same time last night - Jekyll & Hyde.

[fruityb]

8 weeks is next week, I can but hope! He is such a happy baby generally but when he goes he bloody well goes! He actually goes high pitched now as well. Arms and legs kicking out. I know he won't do this when OH gets in as well. He would eat another 6oz if I let him but he'd then bring it back up.

I've learned to cope with it to a point as sometimes there's just nothing I can do other than ride it out. But it's more wearing than I ever thought it would be!

[catsofa]

Earplugs were a godsend for me, foam ones take out all the most annoying frequencies so you can mentally manage things like how to make a cup of tea while someone is screetching 1cm from your right ear.

[fruityb]

Ear plugs? Am I just going to have to accept that sometimes the crying has no reason and they're just bawling because they're tired or because they want to?

[passingthrough1]

Mine screams when he's overtired the most but what exactly are you supposed to do? It's not like I can make him sleep. When he seems slightly sleepy I try and hold him and rock him to induce sleep.. never works and then 10 mins later he's "over"tired and inconsolable.
Actually does it a lot less now, or when he does it lasts maybe 15 mins and used to be hours.
I hate it though because before I had a baby I never really imagined crying there was nothing you could do about I sort of assumed there would be a cause and a cure.

[MonkeyBrainsInPickle]

If he's going through a growth spurt he might be hungry again after 2 hours. My DD often was. I'd try milk!

[fruityb]

I always thought there'd be a cure to the crying! I didn't think there'd ever be wailing I couldn't find the answer to. You learn every day lol.

He's having a bottle now. I'm sure I'll be boobing before the last one. I'll give him a bath in a bit that always chills him out.

[Caterina99]

My DS definitely fed every 2-3 hours until he was about 3 months and then not much longer than 3 hours until he started solids (although he didn't take much overnight). He was formula fed mostly too. I'd offer more milk.

At that age I did the EASY routine. It made my life easier as it helped me work out if he was crying for food or sleep

[fruityb]

He's every four thereabouts though I nearly fell out with OH who was making him wait last night. He was clearly starving!!

He was awake and smiling and giggling for about two hours last night the lil sod. So cute though.

[fruityb]

And bollocks DS has got so upset just now there's no way I'm keeping a baby crying till three, boobs out!!

DS is FF for the most part but I still BF once a day maybe. Since he was rooting and screaming I'm giving in - he's now fast asleep. I did point out to OH if he's hungry he makes a sandwich, DS being made to wait is ridiculous.

[ALongTimeComing]

More than 2 hours is such a long time for a little one. Mines would feed for 30-45 mins every 2 hours.

[fruityb]

In fairness he used to sleep and wake up for his feeds so set the pace himself. He takes 6oz and drinks them all but I know they can't be overfed. He very very rarely spits up any as well. I think we need to be responding to his demands more but OH insists we don't. I'm seeing HV next week so I'll ask her advice; he'll listen to her more! He has five or six feeds a day depending on how long he sleeps at night so has around 30oz a day. I still have my boobs to fall back on. He sleeps through the night and is a wee chunk so I'm not concerned there. I just can't cope with him getting upset and being made to wait.

[BarbarianMum]

Honestly, if he's crying because he's hungry just feed him. That's what the NHS (UK) advises. What is your OH's profession that makes him such an expert in infant nutrition?

[fruityb]

You're right. I'm making it sound worse we don't usually have to wait but occasionally DS can not be settled when he's crying for food and I hate making him wait. He's not typically greedy he's just a growing boy.

And he's awesome. He's sleeping like a log today bless him.

[Sparrowlegs248]

Your oh needs a good talking to. At 7 weeks ds was feeding every hour. He was around 7 MONTHS before he would happily go 4 hours between feeds. And evennthen had food in between.

[kiki22]

Mine is 7 weeks and likes to cry from 3.30 when we get home from the school run so his poor brother gets no attention. From what I remember the more things ds1 could do the less he cried

[fruityb]

I don't think DS would be able to cope with 6oz every hour lol. He's mainly FF now and he can wait that long, I just hate seeing DS sad.

DS has been much better the last two days. He's slept so much today and is currently asleep in my arms now. I'll give him a feed when he stirs as I don't think I'd be able to put him down without him waking right now. He's also responding to being talked to and can happily lay on the floor looking around for about an hour at a time.

OH isn't an ogre and he wouldn't let DS pass out starving or anything - he's an amazing dad. He's just trying to create routine where it may not work brilliantly yet.

[Strawberry90]

Some babies are just louder than others...

Be more responsive and try and feed more on demand.

If he's mostly ff give him a dummy or your boobs for the comfort sucking they need

Make sure you are winding him enough and using an anti colic bottle

Make sure he's not overtired - put him down after 1.5 hours of being awake max at his age

Try wearing him in a sling more

If all else fails have a nice bath with OH looking after baby and put your ears under - best way to not hear them!!

Don't listen to your OH - you are much more attuned to ur baby's needs than him right now because hormonal and physically that's his youvd been designed to be

[Strawberry90]

Ps baby def needs more and smaller feeds at his age... you are making him uncomfortably full and then starving him - you can move to this feeding pattern you're on in a few weeks/months - Google or read more about 7/8 week feeding needs prob should be more like 8 feeds a day at his age

[Sparrowlegs248]

I wasn't suggesting you give him 6Oz every hour, but he is still very little and his stomach is tiny. Feeding on demand at this age is far preferable (for the baby) than a four hourly routine. As strawberry said, he needs smaller feeds more often.

I don't think it's reasonable or very nice of your oh to expect you to leave the baby to scream.

[Sparrowlegs248]

When feeding might comfort him I mean. Obviously there are times when a baby will cry regardless of what you do, but if feeding will settle him I don't know why you wouldn't.

[fruityb]

Thank you all for your advice. I'm first time here so learning all the time. Will speak to HV next week. The routine is borne out of how DS was when he was born so we didn't just pluck it out of thin air. But will try less and more often. He is gaining weight and is healthy so I'm not worried there but if we can make him happier between feeds that's always good.

[PotatoBread]

I feed my 14 week DD 6oz every 4 hours during the day. Not because I wanted to establish a strict routine but that seems to be what she wants - am following her lead. Have tried smaller amounts less often but she's not interested in having milk more frequently. Has been this way for a while now. Every baby is different - my HV said some babies like little and often, others bigger feeds at greater intervals. Whatever works for your baby as long as they continue to put on weight