HELP! my baby cries all day!!

[Mummy93]

Hi I have a almost 5 month old little girl, she always been a cryer since she's been born but the last month or so it's got really bad, she will wake up screaming after only 10 mins sleep. She's had colic stuff, paracetamol and teething treatment over last few weeks and nothing helps! I don't know what's wrong with her! I looked online and thought could be her not sleeping very much so could be overtired, I put her upstairs where it's quiet and shut the curtains so it's not too light in there during the day and she just won't settle she don't cry she just constantly screams. I took her to GP and the health visitor and all they keep saying to me is its what babies do and she'll grow out of it but she's nearly 5 months old now it's getting a joke! Got the all clear from the doctor there's no medical issues going on. She's fed, changed, winded, cuddled, not too hot or cold and she just refuses to stop crying and go to sleep. For instance she's only had 10 mins sleep today since 6am this morning, she doesn't settle when I comfort her or rock her, I've took her out for a walk which has made no difference. She's on 7 ounces of extra hungry baby milk every 3 hrs. I really don't know what else to do! I also have a 2 yr old who walks around all day with his hands over his ears she cries that much! Can anyone help??

[JuliaScurr]

sounds very hard work and the GP & HV weren't much help. Have you tried changing milk? hope someone with ideas will be along soon. meanwhile -
hope you all get some peace

[StrawberryGashes]

That must be so tough. My little girl used to just cry and cry too. Baby gaviscon stopped the problem pretty much straight away and she was so much happier.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Is there anything else? Anything that doesn't seen related but is there like eczema or constant congestion?

What are her nappies like? Is she being weaned at the moment or not?

[Kelly1814]

This was my baby and I do sympathise, it is grim. Do you have the white noise app on an iPad or iPhone? This used to help, we still use it now and DD is 6 months!

[Pocket1]

You poor thing. It's torture - I know as that was me 4 months ago. Turned out DD had an allergy to milk protein so she had a very sore tummy and reflux. She never slept for long and cried a tonne. She has special formula now and for a few months she also had meds for the reflux. My GP and hv were useless (much like yours) - and we only got help and the diagnosis when we saw a private gastric paediatrician.

Would you consider that? If private isnt an option, your GP can refer you. Just don't let them fob you off. And keep on pushing till you get some help.

Good luck

[batteryhen]

My son was like that at about 3 months. I took him to the Dr thinking it might be reflux. The Dr took a urine sample and it showed he had an infection so was in quite a bit of pain. If all else has been checked then maybe ask for a urine sample to be sent off?

[Marne]

You have my sympathy, I had a baby like this (she's now 10 years old), she used to scream at everything, would never settle in the car, I seemed to be constantly feeding her, holding her, changing her, burping her and pulling my hair out. Sadly some babies are just like that, I felt so useless as she was my first, thought I was doing something wrong, it wasn't until dd2 came along that I realised it was just the way dd1 was, dd2 was so much easier, would sleep for hours and when awake would just sit in her bouncy chair looking around, I had to wake her up to feed her.

I was told to wean dd1 early by hv, apparently she was crying because she was hungry, so I started weaning and it didn't really make any difference, it wasn't until she started moving around and walking that the crying died down .

Hang in their, it will get better, if you have friends and family that can help then get them involved so you can have a break from time to time, and remember that leaving her to cry for a while whilst you go outside and scream wont hurt xxx

[beachesandbuckets]

You poor thing, its difficult to retain your sanity in such circumstances, so you are doing a great job. My 7 month twins are generally quite easy going but have been awful today and I feel like putting my fist through a wall (and have sworn under my breathe most of the day) so you have my sympathies. Some advice - get her checked out by docs, it could be an ear infection/ urine infection etc etc. If not, just get out of the house, its the only way I cope myself. I go to loads of groups (I have a 3 year old as well as a five year old), go to library, errands, powerwalking when toddler is at pre school, being looked after by a relative, and its the only thing that keeps me sane on a rough day - babies tend to sleep when out, or distracted and quiet, and allows me to blow the cobwebs away and also toddler occupied. Good luck x

[beachesandbuckets]

Also, get your health visitor to come around, say you are desperate. That's their job. Mine visited when babies were 6mths old and wouldn't sleep in cots in day, she advised me to give them each a teddy to comfort them when I put them down (a replacement for me) and do shushh, pat until they stop crying then leg it out, repeat as necessary until crying stops. Wasn't that convinced it would work but after a few days I had it nailed and now they go down to sleep for 2hrs in daytime (a bloody godsend for my sanity, and even cooked biscuits with my 3 year old today whilst they slept) and its helped them settle better at night too.

[GingerMaman]

Poor you, it sounds awful. It sounds like something may be hurting her. It certainly isn't normal. Don't let the GP and HV fob you off.

Would you consider trying another milk? I think it's definitely worth while trying a hydrolysed formula incase she has cows milk allergy or intolerance. Ask the GP to prescribe you Aptamil Pepti 1. If you are in London, I can give you some.

Or it may be silent reflux? Does she prefer to be upright?

Does she have any rash on her body?

[Quinteszilla]

My son was like that. Health visitor suggested cranial osteopathy, thinking he was suffering from headaches due to ventouse and forceps delivery. He only needed three treatments, and was a changed baby.

[GingerMaman]

I wouldn't rely on cranial osteopathy for this - my DD was seen by three different ones, none could make announce if difference. At least one was honest, and told me to get her treated medically and there was nothing she could do. I wouldn't waste any money on it at all.

[Quinteszilla]

Well Ginger, in your baby's case the sleeplessness and the crying was not caused by headaches but by the milk it would appear so trying to relieve pressure and tension on the skull and spine would perhaps not work.

I am not suggesting cranial osteopathy as a means to treat colic but possible headaches and tension in baby's skull.

Op does not yet know the cause of her baby's unhappiness, and would of course be wise to explore all venues for her baby.

Some information about Cranial Osteopathy for babies here: www.cranial.org.uk/page3.html