What is wrong with my baby?

[Listeryne]

4 months. He had a virus the past couple of days - bunged up, tiny cough, slightly raised temperature. Last night he was up every 15 minutes (not an exaggeration) completely inconsolable and didn't even want boob which he's usually nuts for. He has fed and still has wet nappies but is feeding much less than usual and his poops have been paler than usual too (still yellow but very pale yellow). He had both calpol and nurofen to no avail.

I took him to the GP first thing and she checked his breathing, ears, oxygen, temperature, skin and inside his mouth and everything was fine. But he's absolutely beside himself and I'm at a loss to explain why. He doesn't have a hair tourniquet or nappy rash. Does anyone have any ideas? I really don't think it's teeth because 1) I can't see any and 2) I'd have expected the calpol and nurofen to help.

Right now I've got him to sleep by putting him in the sling and bouncing him but he's very fretful in there still.

This is unusual for him, he's generally a happy and settled baby.

It's not much help for you but 4 months is the age where there is a horrendous sleep regression, my dd was inconsolable and just didn't sleep, this on top of the virus and he probably feels awful. Obviously this is an arm chair diagnosis but given the gp has said he's okay it could be an explanation.

I agree with pp. My first thought was it sounds like he's over tired. Aim for some movement naps be that in the slig or buggy to try and take the edge off the tiredness.

My youngest was very very chill in general and went through a phase like this.

I don't think it is the regression, it has coincided with him being unwell. He's in pain somewhere I just don't know where.

He obviously just a bit poorly and feels rubbish and wants comfort. Sound pretty standard for an ill baby.

You must have it pretty good if you went to the Dr after 1 bad night.

My little girl did this at 4 months when she had a cold. She wasn't feeding as much because she was bunged up. A friend told me another reason a baby may breastfeeding strike is because they have ear ache and sucking can make it worse.

It only lasted a couple of nights for us.

Hope it passes soon for you and you both get some rest.

I think comments are a bit unkind, yes this is often what babies do but you also know your baby best and you are allowed to trust your instincts.
Go for a walk with him in the sling so you can get some fresh air, give him calpol. If he's bunged up it'll be hard for him to feed so he might be tired as well as hungry.

Oh naff off 🙄. Even the GP said they'd always rather see a baby than not.

He never sleeps well, he's always up every 90 minutes or so, but this was a night where he refused to feed and was utterly inconsolable so yes, I did want him checked out thanks.

When my son was five months old he was showing symptoms similar to this and my family doctor, after two visits, sent him to hospital (because I was fretting so much!) It turned out he had a urine infection and it was caused by the urether being kinked and kidney reflux. He was transferred to a bigger hospital for an urgent operation. I instinctively knew that there was something more to it than a virus. Trust your instincts and don't be robbed off. Hopefully it's nothing but if you're unhappy insist on further investigation.

Probably just has a virus and feels unwell and not able to feed well because of being bunged up.
Carry on with the calpol.
Also you could look at a decongestant, calpol do a plug in diffuser that's supposed to help.
Hopefully he'll be back to normal in a couple of days

Ps I would have taken a 4 month old to the GP with these symptoms too x

He could be bunged up so finding it hard to breathe and stay asleep.
My little one gets like this when her nose is snotty and she has to breathe through her mouth. It keeps waking her up.
Then she's over tired and grumpy, and it's a vicious cycle.

It's great the doc found nothing wrong and hopefully he's improving each day.
If you're still not happy with him, don't be afraid to bring him back in to be seen; you know him best.

Your poor little one and poor you. Does the calpol help with his temperature? Every time I experienced something like this with my babies, it turned it to be hand foot and mouth. It's so hard to diagnose as the spots and sores are the last thing to appear, and usually the previous few days have been hellish, just like you've described. Obviously your baby might not have this, but keep an eye on his mouth in particular for any sores. Fingers crossed in another 48 hours he will be on the mend. But if you are really worried that he is getting dehydrated from not feeding, then take him to a children's A&E to be checked out. It is never worth taking any chances when they are so small, and you should always follow your instincts as the mother. My doctors have always said they would rather you waste their time than take unnecessary risks with you baby's health. Let us know how it goes.

Not necessary. This is supposed to be a forum where worried parents can come for advice and support. If you don't want to to that, then perhaps leave the thread for people who do want to help.

Thank you.

And thanks to everyone else for the kindness and advice! Reading through now.

Sorry to hear your DS is unwell OP. I think the key thing here that others seem to be missing is that your baby is inconsolable. That counts for a lot more than any obvious physical symptoms ime. Yes babies get temps and colds and sleep poorly when unwell, but if a baby is consistently crying and cannot be settled then there could be something more going on.

Trust your instincts OP. If Calpol and neurofen aren't working and he still seems to be in pain, don't be afraid to get him checked again by someone else. No one ever minds seeing a poorly baby.

I never bring my kids to the doctor, but I would with those symptoms. Obviously.

Hopefully it's just the all round misery OP, fingers crossed he picks up soon.

You did the right thing going to the GP, he is a tiny baby still and they can go downhill very fast. I hope he feels better quickly.

Ah man I’m another one to kindly say I wish I’d only had one bad night (pls don’t come for me I’ll explain) I had a few nights like this a month dotted around. I killed muself thing to work out if he was too hot too cold, poorly, thirsty etc. it made the first 6 months of DC1 really hard but in all honesty I never got to the bottom of it. I think it’s harder for people if their babies are otherwise pretty good sleepers.
i didn’t ever take him to the drs unless there were bigger signs like a temperature.

when he was really poorly (RSV and Covid and got admitted) I could really really tell as he had the sucky in chest thing

My baby isn't otherwise a good sleeper, he wakes every 90 minutes. But generally speaking it isn't normal to refuse to feed or be inconsolable all night. For any baby.

Its a combo of cold over tired and being at a age were their sleep patterns vary.Have you tried a humidifier with a few drops of this .May help them feel more comfortable .Its hard but you will get there

www.boots.com/olbas-oil-for-children-12ml-10278613?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc--PLAs---_-pmax_catchall__gg_shopping__v2catchall___pmedia&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA6t-6BhA3EiwAltRFGN6T3PIYmjSPyBdvYfKWPlocPsWcwyXaoCeA8BYEliur8jLN-iA1eRoCnvYQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Yes exactly. My eldest was a shit sleeper and a generally unhappy baby (silent reflux and, well, temperament ) but I would have brought her to the doctor if she was that unhappy - mostly to check her ears.

I literally reassured that this was normal for a sick baby. The Dr found nothing hugely wrong with the baby and she's asking what's wrong with the baby. Would you like me to start listing random ailments or something, to worry her?

Babies are hard. It is normal for them to have horrible nights occasionally when sick.

We went to a&e overnight and baby has been admitted as his oxygen dropped low. So my instincts were correct and I was right to worry.

Well done for following your instincts... I hope your baby feels better soon. Take care of yourself too, it's very hard when they are in hospital and they look so helpless and little.

Nah @RabbitsEatPancakes

“You must have it pretty good if you went to the Dr after 1 bad night.”

You were being a dick