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Problems with my 5month old - help please?!

15 replies

lisbapalea · 09/08/2010 13:37

Hello,
I am hoping someone has some reassurance for me as I am getting worried about my 5mth old daughter. She's always been a very highly strung baby and definitely lets us know when she's not happy - often cries in the buggy, carseat etc. But that is usually manageable and goes away with a cuddle etc, and the recent addition of a bunny comforter has also helped her. She also sleeps very well at night and during the day, and up until now has fed very well too (4 x 8oz bottles a day). BUT, for the past 5 days she has had massive crying fits at least once a day, usually requiring calpol to calm her, although when I am on my own I can't get her to take it as she thrashes about so much and almost chokes when it's in her mouth. She's also been crying mid-way through her feeds and will only take the full 8oz (which she used to guzzle down easily at all feeds) in her last feed of the day. The crying is beyond normal crying (even by her standards, and she is quite a ferocious cryer) - really roaring with a bright red face and hot sweaty tears. She does have a very runny nose so I think she has a cold, and she does also seem to be showing classic teething symptoms. But do colds and teething cause this massive sudden raging?
I am wary of seeing my HV as they just give the same answer for everything - usually "have you started weaning yet?", but am wondering if I should see my GP.
Does anyone have experience fo similar behaviour?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
pebblejones · 09/08/2010 13:44

I can't really help but I have a 4 month old DS who suddenly started crying in the middle of breastfeeding, it went on for 3 days... we assumed it was teething, so gave him baby bonjela, but it seems to have stopped now and there is no tooth so I have no idea what it was. I'm with you re: HV, my GP doesn't have answers to my questions either. Hopefully some Mumsnetters will help you out shortly.

Igglybuff · 09/08/2010 13:48

Could it be an ear infection? These make it painful for babies to feed sometimes and aren't very nice.

Take her to the docs and have them check her ears and throat etc for signs of infection.

lisbapalea · 09/08/2010 13:54

Thanks - hadn't thought about ears before. Will make an appointment with the GP.

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DawnAS · 09/08/2010 20:04

Our DD had an ear infection and couldn't feed because the sucking motion was just too painful - so definitely rule this out first.

Sorry that you and your LO are going through this - it's heartbreaking when they're clearly not happy and we don't know why. Sad Just wondering, have you tried using a syringe for the medicine? It might be easier.

lisbapalea · 11/08/2010 13:49

I took Katy to the GP yesterday and he ruled out anything like an ear infection. He was really kind and listened to me properly etc but his 'diagnosis' was unfortunately colic, which is about as useful as a chocolate teapot. Everything I have read about colic says it finishes around 3 or 4 months, not that it starts at 5.5 months!

I am now convinced it must be teething but I have never known rage and screaming like it - does this mean I have this expect while her full set of teeth grow through?!

I tried again to give calpo, using the syringe from the baby nurofen bottle, and it ended with a terrifying (for me and her) chocking incident which is putting me off the sodding stuff forever now.

Help!

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burtie2u · 11/08/2010 14:05

One thing we had to do at one point is put the calpol in the end of a teat and administer it that way (very sneaky I know, but hay ho if it works)
But it does sound like teething to me, does she have her fingers in her mouth allot and is she dribbling more than usual?

lisbapalea · 11/08/2010 14:08

Yep, lots of dribble and a very runny nose - clear snot though, not yellow or green.

Good tip for the calpol in a teat - will try that, thanks!

I have just been reading on some threads about anbesol - does that have to be a special baby version does anyone know?

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burtie2u · 11/08/2010 14:21

Ah yes anbesol, was also good, we still use it now (he has his incisors coming through) I also used it on an ulcer I had and it worked a treat Smile. But it's the same one for all, I think you just put a dab on your finger and rub it on the gums.

lisbapalea · 11/08/2010 14:25

Excellent - will give that a go! Think I will be buying half of the contents of Boots this afternoon....

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sunshineandshowers · 11/08/2010 14:43

Try squeezing the syringe into the cheek, that way it won't choke and shock her going down her throat.

Poppet45 · 11/08/2010 14:51

Don't use the nurofen syringes they're crap! You can buy generic ones - or my hubby brings some home from the lab he works at Grin and they work much better. My DS used to hate hate hate taking meds and now worryingly he opens up wide and gulps the stuff - he's only just coming up for 1!!
Good news on the teething too, is that the first tooth is really bad, then the two front top teeth are horrid but they get quite used to the others and while they may need Calpol are unlikely to still be massively screamy. That said my DS's first molars are now coming through and its coincided with a virus so we're not having much fun in this house right now! Also just because the pain/fussing ends and no tooth has appeared don't dismiss it as not teething after all, I'm fairly sure my DS was as bothered by his teeth as they were moving down through the jawbone as he was when they finally cut through the gums. Anyway good luck!

Igglybuff · 12/08/2010 09:23

Just a thought - have you ruled out reflux/silent reflux? A runny nose, the crying and arching during feeds are all signs. Sorry - I hadn't thought of it before as ear infection came to mind first. She'll be associating feeds with pain hence not wanting to finish them.

It peaks around 4 months or so.

if your doc says colic, suggest silent reflux and ask him to prescribe infant gaviscon - you just add it to the bottle of milk. You should rule it out otherwise a risk of nursing strike. have a read of this

FWIW - my DS didn't get this angry or upsets with teething, but he did with his silent reflux.

lisbapalea · 12/08/2010 13:02

Thanks Igglybuff - I had actually thought of that, especially as she has been quite pukey recently. But fingers crossed she is being much better today so far so I am hoping it was a teething phase - still no teeth though!

But if it flares up again I think I might ask for some infant gaviscon to see if that makes a difference.

I have also booked into see a cranial osteopath next Friday - not sure if that will be relevant at all, but I am willing to try anything to make her happier! She didn't have a traumatic natural birth as she was breech so arrived by c-section, but I have read that that can also result in behaviour that benefits from cranial osteo - we will see!

Thanks for taking the time to reply though - really appreciate it.

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VerityBrulee · 12/08/2010 13:10

My dc had really great results with a cranial osteopath for colic and asthma. I went from being slightly sceptical to a total convert. Hope you see some positive changes Smile

Igglybuff · 12/08/2010 13:17

I hope the appointment goes well! And fingers crossed it isn't reflux :)

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