Why is my baby rubbing her face on me?

[waitingwaitingwaiting2]

DD is 9 weeks and for the past couple days been frantically rubbing her face on me and also batting at her face with her fists (can’t tell if this is very specific as she’s till not got much motor control). Also a bit unsettled at night doing the same and had a big watery poo.

She does this when she’s already fed and winded. No fevers but her nose does sound a bit congested. Tried using a snot sucker but wasn’t able to get anything. Had her 8 week jabs including rotavirus last week.

is there anything I can do to help her? She seems so unsettled 😥

Sounds like hunger/overtiredness.

Often a tiredness sign. When she’s a bit older, she might rub her eyes instead. Perhaps she’s been sleeping less well due to the cold and needs some extra nap opportunities?

Thank you both. It feels different than a tired face rub, it’s quite aggressive and she’s crying whilst doing it. Had several naps yesterday, slept most of the day in good long stretches of two hours or so 🤔

Gosh that sounds adorable ❤️

Teething?

Or earache

@BlackeyedSusan i thought it seemed like teething, but isn’t nine weeks a bit early??

@GalwayShawl It’s breaking my heart! Poor mite seems so uncomfortable 😢

Not sure if you follow Wonder Weeks at all, but I'm pretty sure 8 weeks is one of the 'tumultuous' periods - where bubs is going through some major development. So her little stress behaviours/ personality will 'shine'. Whenever my babies were unsettled/ seemed upset like this it nearly always coincided with the wonder weeks periods. Doesn't make it easier - but it did help a little knowing there was a reason. Good luck OP! My memories of that time are still a bit blurry!

Never too early for teething, and it can go on for months. Not saying it’s teething as I don’t know. If you have heating on could it be dry itchy skin (possibly but young) could pop a baby moisturiser on. If your worried call health visitor if your able, I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about. Maybe she’s still unsettled after jab, but bunged up. Congratulations on your baby

Could definitely be teething, DD1 started around that time. I'd also be tempted to get the doctor to check her ears - as PP have said, could be ear pain...

Sorry typo’s, really need my reading glasses more

My ds had this and I felt so awful when I finally found that the creases of his ears had a small fungal type growth in the folds only visible when bending the ear out. Must have been horrendously itchy!! Apparently it’s completely normal and you put simple anti fungal cream on or even breast milk rubbed in but do check. I still feel bad and he’s 13!!

@TinyBearCub Oh goodness I’m not ready for teething yet! Might ring the GP to have a look in her ears. DS never had ear infections so I don’t know what to look for.

@MarthanotMarfa hadnt thought to look there!

@Ohdearnotagain76 thank you, she’s lovely! Have been moisturising her as it’s quite dry with the heat on, maybe can look into a humidifier

@Ketakones we did follow it with DS and it was spot on, will have another look

Smell her ears- sounds odd but quite often ear infections smell.

Are people still promoting that nonsense?

I'd do a thorough all over check of everything the untrained eye can look for. Temperature, smell ears, check for sore skin anywhere, look inside mouth, respiratory rate etc. Make sure she's not wearing irritating clothing etc.

Though even if you can't see any problems, if she carries on being unsettled I'd call your health visitor if you're lucky enough to have a good one, or the GP.

@ItsNotReallyChaos thank you, nothing amiss that I can see or smell! Just that she’s a bit unsettled when going down for sleep and keeps rubbing her head in me and fussing, and chewing her fist. It really does looks like when my son was teething but she just seems so young for it?! Will ring round the GP for a look in her ears just in case…

Is she feeding well?

@ItsNotReallyChaos shes a bit fussy at the breast but normal output of wee in her nappies, had one massive watery poo overnight but nothing else poo-wise.

Any history of CMPA or other allergies in the family?

@JustCakeInDragy oldest had CMPA so I have eliminated dairy and soya as recommended by the GP.

I was hardly 'promoting' it 🙄and when you are mum to a wee bubs (or in fact, any age child), you can take information in from all places and you don't need judgment. Just because it isn't for you doesn't mean it doesn't work for someone else.