Handhold - my baby won't stop crying

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He's 8.5 months. For near 3 hours since I've got home he hasn't stopped crying

I feel terrible saying this but I'm actually getting frustrated and want to shout at him. He's been fed, had Calpol (I suspect he's teething) and he's had bonjela.

I'm trying to distract him but it doesn't work for too long. Suddenly he will start the crying again but even louder than before. And then repeat.

Please somebody talk to me before I lose my sanity.

Oh I am so sorry l remember those days

Bless you, take deep breaths and leave the room making sure he’s safe. Phone a friend / relative or go outside to catch your breath. Once you’re back to yourself maybe a warm bath and skin to skin. Hope you’re ok

Joining you in solidarity - I have a teething 9 month old who's full of the cold and expressing his frustrations by shrieking constantly and bursting into tears at the slightest thing

I used to try and work from the bottom up, check nothing like a thread or hair caught round the toes, check nappy, then feel tummy to see if felt distended from wind, feel chest to see about temperature, feel ears to see if hot. Are they feeding/drinking ok?

@TitianaTitsling I think I'm about to go insane. The neighbours have been banging on the walls, they must be fed up too

Is there anyone with you? Anyone you can call and ask to pop round? It possible, leave your baby and go for a walk round the block to clear you head. Or stand in the garden and rage at the world.

It will pass. Your baby is (annoyingly) normal and you’re doing a great job.

I do too. It’s so bloody hard. Have you got anyone that can help you and take him off your hands for an hour or two?

And echo the skin to skin, would get in bed, strip my self to waist, and baby In nappy then just hold against me and cover us up with a wrap. It's bloody awful, but you will get through it.

My partner is away at the moment so it's 10x harder dealing with it all alone. My mum doesn't live close but I've had to call her because I'm in tears and I've just had enough. He's been like this all week and it's so wearing.

Bath? Always made 2 out of my 3 happy at least for a while. The other one used to just get more enraged though.
It absolutely sucks. Handhold and positive vibes sent. This too shall pass!

I would suspect an ear infection. Does he have a temperature? If you’ve died everything and he continues to cry (and it’s out of character) it’s fine to call for medical advice.

@TitianaTitsling Every time I pick him up to soothe him he flings himself about

Bloody neighbours, how the hell do they think that will help?! As above this is normal (as long as you've checked for anything external that could be irritating them) it's the only way babies can communicate, what do they expect!

Have you tried a white noise? It is hard

I feel for you. I have just spent the longest 3 days of my life with a screaming 6 week old, thankfully today Lactulose has taken effect and I got my first smile since last week. This too shall pass OP but it is hell.

I sympathise. My youngest was a howler. Do you have a baby carrier/sling? I used to strip her off and take my top off for some skin to skin in the carrier (yes, even when she was 8/9/10 months!). Can you take him out in the car or for a walk? Perhaps a warm bath might distract him or ease any aches.

It will pass. It really, really will

He's had the most awful cold since last Saturday. Running nose and terrible cough, this must be the cause of what's making him so unhappy but I think he's also teething too

Will he handle a sling? When mine did this I would put them in the sling and after a bit of protesting they'd normally drop off.

It's awful. It's ok to hate it (and him for a bit too).

You can try giving baby Nurofen as well if you have any, can you go for a drive with the baby ? At least that way you get a break from wrestling with them. If things get really bad call 111. 3 hours crying is a really long time, but if it's nothing serious they will give in soon to sleep. Try playing some white noise for babies off YouTube. That helps calm my baby x

Is he colicky? How are his nappies?

Oh bless you, that sounds tough. Are you on your own?

Do you have a thermometer, are his hands and feet warm? 111 might be able to advise further. However, trust your instincts. OOH GPs and A&E are happy to see little babies as they can go downhill rapidly.

If it is teething, Anbesol liquid is brilliant and I have found it much better than Bongela. The liquid doesn't slide off like gel does and soaks right in. It also really does numb the pain. Also perfect for ulcers but it does sting like you wouldn't believe on them for a few seconds before pain-free bliss. You'll need to buy it from a pharmacy though as it's usually behind the counter.

Have you got any nurofe (ibuprofen) If not can someone go and get you some? (Personally I would pay a taxi to do the round trip and pick some up)

You can give nurofen with a couple of hours between calpol and I found this so much better for peak teething. It also allows you to try and keep on top of their pain.

Sending positive vibes to you. It’s so hard when you can’t just ‘fix’ the problem.

P.S fuck your neighbours, they can turn the tv up

Hi remember such a day, firstly summon all the help you can mom/sister/ friend. Could it be gas? A technique that worked for my boy was this www.reallyareyouserious.com/how-to-do-the-i-love-you-baby-massage-for-gassy-tummies/

He is 7 and still asks me to massage his tummy sometimes.

Oh you poor thing, it's so hard when they do that. Is it in character for him? If you've ruled out any kind of unusual illness/pain etc, have you tried the old classics:

• breastfeeding, or giving a bottle or snack
• wearing him in a sling or carrier
• wrapping him up and going for a walk in the pram in the dark (even if it doesn't distract him/send him off to sleep, at least you're not trapped in the house)
• warm bath together
• anyone else who could come round and take him for a bit/just keep you company
• leave him in his cot for 5 minutes while you go and make a cup of tea and something nice to eat and just take a moment to calm down. You might find that just that few minutes to walk away and get your blood sugar up again gives you a second wind for trying to comfort him
• if you feel close to snapping, remind yourself that it WILL stop, he WILL eventually become exhausted and fall asleep, and even if you can't stop him crying you can just try to be there for him and you will feel so much better about how you handled it afterwards

And ignore the neighbours! Babies do cry. They were crying babies once themselves too - we all were.

Oh no, it can be frustrating can't it, especially when it's down to just you (my DH works away a lot too). Is there anything that calms him down? I found the calpol plug in works wonders at night when they have a cold, if teething have you tried nurofen as well maybe? Will he settle in front of the telly or with something to chew on for his teeth?