My baby is driving me crazy

[Peaceandquiteplease]

She wont stop screaming. 7 month old. I've only started to realise how whiny she is. She cries over anything. And it's not a just cry she screams. I'm talking piercing of my ear drums. Screaming at the top of her lungs to the point she chokes and gets herself into a state. She is fine of course. She has had everything she needs. I attended to her but she will just fling herself around in protest and scream. She just wants to be on me all the time and if not its tantrums all the way. I feel awful but I'm resorting to letting her scream. I'm recently a new single mum and only now have just started to pick up on this. Its overwhelming. I can deal with crying but not screaming. Its draining me emotionally and making me become annoyed at her when I dont want to be. Please tell me what I can do I'm at my wits end with her I have so much going on right now and we may potentionally be homeless soon. I cant cope with her screaming and constant need for me ontop of it 😞

Has she seen a doctor to rule out any health concerns?

It's so tough. My best tips are 1. It's a phase and 2. Put some earbuds in with music you like. It'll take the edge off the screaming...

Is she in pain? Teething? Maybe her crying seems worse becuase you are already very stressed with the break up and housing issues? Have you got any help from family or friends? Make a trip to the doc or ask your health visitor to rule out any illness?

That sounds really rough OP.

Can you figure out what's up? Over tired, hungry, too warm or cold? Seems old for reflux or cmpa to just be cropping up, any reactions to food?

It is absolutely fine to let them cry for a bit while you sort something or give yourself a few minutes off.

What stops it? Cuddles? Buggy? Car?

M not sure 7 month olds actually have tantrums....I agree she might be in pain. Or maybe she’s just a very clingy baby who needs a lot of attention? Maybe make her a gp appointment? Look after yourself

@MindyStClaire cuddles. She is fine and smiling/laughing when I hold her

It's like a switch she goes from screeching to giggles. Honestly I know it's not anything serious and I eliminate every option to make sure it's nothing serious first.

My 6mo also does that high pitched scream. When he's outside with lots of different things to look at he stops doing it so I figure he must be bored.

Babies are complex little people because they have lots of needs and wants but can't express those to us so we basically just have to figure out a solution. What's her sleep like? I work with babies and I believe sleep begets sleep so an overtired baby will scream more because they need sleep. Eating well? It could be teething? I'd find some activities that she will happily do with you being sat on the floor but not necessarily engaging in just so that you can have a small break..
It sounds very tough and I think you're taking on a lot. Do you have any one you trust to look after the baby so that you can have a break..

Can you get a back carrier? I found my little one very clingy at that age. It always coincided with developmental leaps or teething. Whinged all summer long because she wanted to crawl and couldn't yet.

I'd pop her in a baby carrier and just go about my business and she'd love it! Bit of a learning curve if you've not used one before but it really did stop the whinging and crying on the whole.

My older child never did it but he was out at baby groups all the time so never got a chance to be bored.

My baby was like this for months, turned out to be silent reflux. Go to your GP and get them checked out, ask for support while you're there. Theres no shame

Is she in a routine in terms of regular naps? Some babies really do need one and just get overtired without it.

I feel you. I'm the owner of a similar baby after a very chilled baby #1

Practical things to do:

Put in pram and get outside for a walk - fresh air and motion has a magical effect.

Pace up and down the garden with the crier.

Lots of distraction: loud white noise or nursery rhymes sometimes really do the trick on the Alexa.

Have her close to you in a sling while you go about your chores/ day.

As pp said - earphones/ earplugs. A bit of a cry won't harm her and it's okay to admit as a parent that you don't like the sound of constant crying. No one does.

It will all pass, just keep going mama.

Can you contact your health visitor and ask her for some help or advice?

Hi peaceandquietplease, did this get better?? I could have written this myself about my little girl and I’m at my wits end! One second she’s giggling, the next inconsolable and in a minute or 2 smiling again…..

My baby was unbearably fussy at 7 months and it turned out she was just learning so much. She crawled, stood and then walked by 8 months and I think she was just incredibly busy brained and also frustrated. I just had to ride it out and it helped that I made sure she got 3 solid naps a day (tried 2 naps and she was horrifically overtired). I coped by getting out in the pram all the time as that's when she whined the least, and the rest of the time I carried her in the carrier/sling as she just wanted to be that close to me. Tons of practice of the skills she was learning too to get it out of her system. It was rough though.

I had this with my second baby. I swear it nearly drove me insane. She would scream from the moment she woke all day apart from a 2 hr nap in the middle of the day. I’m convinced she only slept because she had worn herself out crying. My two year old used to run around the house holding her ears and I actually sent her to a playgroup three mornings a week to give her a break from the screaming ( I was a SAHM at the time and felt soooo bad).
One day I had a call from a friend from the US and she told me about lactose free formula that was not available here at the time. I made the difficult decision to cut back on BF and got my GP to prescribe it, this was 16 years ago so was not generally available and the difference was utterly amazing.
I fell in love with my baby when up until that point I hadn’t bonded and really dreaded every day with her. Thankfully my DH was amazing and insisted on gentle sleep training so she slept so well, it’s what saved our family.
She is now the most outgoing, happy and amazing young lady and I’m so glad we got through those dark days. Sometimes my lovely DH actually does know best!

OP so sorry I didn’t say so sorry for what you are going through. Your circumstances sound so tough, I hope you get some support soon. Hang in there and keep posting.
Insist that your ex partner and family step up, you need help and support. If that's not forthcoming go to citizens advice and get legal advice.
You have a long time ahead being a mother, father, carer and friend. He needs to play his part. Walking off into the sunset is not an option. 😡

According to wonder weeks app, weeks 29 and 30 your child realised that you can walk away from them this will make them cry, cling and cranky. It’s a new skill but it’s scary for them. It will pass

We’ve had unbearable phases of fussy behaviour. I think some babies just feel things more and are more highly strung m. We went through all the usual things: reflux, CMPA etc. He was a bit refluxy, but 95% of it was frustration and separation anxiety. He’s just not a chilled out, easy character! It’s so hard when you are in it, but it does get better - DS is 1.5 and still has these phases, but they last less time and crucially it’s so much easier to distract him. It got better when he could walk. I’m sure it’ll improve again when he can talk.