Baby driving me insane

[misspiggy42]

I love my 6 month dd so much but she is such hard work. These holidays have seriously tested me and I've done nowhere near as much as I would normally do with older dc because of how difficult the baby is.

She screams. Not just whines but full on screams in a blood curdling, someone is seriously hurting me kind of way. It's awful. The latest thing is that she simply won't be put down. If we are out she has to be in my arms, not the buggy or even the sling. Only in my arms. Of course this reduces the things we can do and places we can go. I'm already dreading school runs as I just know she will scream the whole 40 minute walk if I dare to put her in the buggy. I could ignore it but then she would scream and it's so embarrassing and upsetting.

She isn't hungry or in pain. She just wants to be held. It's making me really resentful, I'm tired. I've hurt my back as she's a big lump now. I just don't know how to manage her. She can be so happy one minute and the next she's gone crazy. How do I deal with this? I'm at my wits end.

Sounds really tough, OP. I don't have any answers but i do have lots of sympathy. My baby is about to turn 6 months and is not dissimilar- won't be put down for more than 5 minutes. He was also up every thirty minutes through the night last night. I loved my first maternity leave but my eldest was a very easy baby in comparison and this is such hard work.

Like every stage good and bad this will pass you just got a power through it and don’t worry about what anybody else thinks we’ve all had a screaming baby in a buggy on the school run.

@Bimbil19 thankfully she does sleep quite well. I'm not sure how I'd cope with this on minimal sleep too. My older dc were also a breeze in comparison. And even if things did get tough I could bundle them in the pram or go for a walk. No such luck with her. She just wants constant contact/attention. I wish I knew how to deal with it because right now it feels like I have 3 choices - stay home, go out in the buggy and put up with the crying or carry her everywhere. None are very practical

Have you tried a carrier? Tula, wompat or ergobaby omni 360 are all good imo. Try your local sling library. Some are better than others for back carrying. And remember that nothing lasts with a baby!

Are your other children school age? I've just signed up to a few free trials of classes this week on days my toddler is at nursery in the hope that will a) entertain him long enough for me to put him down and b) tire him out!

Maybe it's a 6 month thing? Fingers crossed it ends soon!!

When you say you’ve tried a sling, was it a forward facing one? My baby hates being parent facing but is happy as Larry if she’s world facing

Yes so far we've just used a forward facing carrier and sling as she's only just 6 months. But I will try a world facing one as she is quite nosey!

Just put her in the pram, let her scream and just brazen it out. My first baby was a constant crier and It became a bit like white noise in the end.

As long as all her needs are met, what can you do? You just need to let her cry. You can't carry her everywhere. Does she take a dummy? Have you put a load of clip on toys in the buddy with her?

You’re going to have to let her scream.

If you had a toddler as well you would have to put her in pram or carrier and get out .I totally sympathise but that is what I would do

I've tried everything. She has rattles, toys etc in the pram with her. White noise will soothe her if she's tired but if she's just woken up I've got no chance. I always say I'll let her cry but when it comes to it I feel so self conscious. It's not so bad it I'm somewhere where I can sit and get her out like a park or a cafe but shopping and long walks are impossible.

Feel for you @misspiggy42 , my 5mo cried relentlessly for the first few months. He's better now, but everything's a season and he could get worse again.

I think 6mo is when seperation anxiety supposedly kicks in, which might explain why she doesn't want to be put down as she wants to be close to you.

Is she parent facing in the pram too? Have you tried turning her around? May provide some extra distraction?

She is parent facing yes. She seems better when she can see me initially but then it's like seeing me isn't good enough and she wants to be picked up. If it were just a whinge I could handle it but the screaming is off the scale. I'm sick of the funny looks as if I'm deliberately ignoring my very distressed baby. I will try turning her around now she's getting bigger.

She doesn't have a dummy for the pp who asked. Never took to one. I did try.

Is she getting enough sleep during the day?
Mines an absolute bloody terror if he doesn't get enough sleep! (That said he's still VERY clingy)
He seems so much better when dad's at home 🤦‍♀️😂

All of this.

Apparently i was exactly the same as a baby to the point i had 3 drs opinions that there was nothing wrong with me. The 3rd dr said unfortunately mrs x some of us have good babies and some sh1t babies and your mrs x has a screamer. My bro never gave a peep but complete roll reversals from toddler phase. Good luck, you are doing well and ignore the stares (my mum used to put me in back garden in pram ha ha, not that i am recommending that though) x

Turn her round in the buggy. Try a dummy again (some prefer them when they're a bit bigger) give loads of snacks. Just let her cry, the more you give in and pick her up the more she'll do it. And I don't know any parent that would bat an eyelid at a screaming baby in a buggy on the school run so just go for it.

Maybe she's screaming because she can see you and doesn't understand why you aren't holding her, maybe she would be happier if she could see more. I'd definitely try facing her away from you. She'll probably still scream but might give up a bit sooner if she's busy looking at stuff.

One of mine screamed his head off in the pram as a baby. I then discovered if I sat him up so he could see he was as happy as Larry. So much for the expensive lie flat pram!

Does your pram have a car seat attachment? My DS used to prefer being wheeled around in the car seat for some reason - more upright I suppose.

I do sympathise though, my DS was constantly unhappy until about 8 months when he really cheered up! It’s hard work being screamed at constantly.