My 2mo DD cries when put down in evenings..

[mammainlove]

My 2mo DD is so relaxed and content in her baby bouncer or on my knee in the day, then at night she changes to being very fussy, and cries if she is put down and isnt constantly moved/jigged about. This can get quite tiring for my DH and I, which i dont mind so much, but i'm wondering if i'm missing something and she needs something else. Can anyone relate or have any advice? Thank you x

I recall this just being something babies tend to do - they get very fussy in the evenings. Dd used to be like this from about 5ish to 9ish. She nursed almost or actually constantly during that time. Other parents told me their babies also got very fussy about that time.

It's just what they do unfortunately!

We used to keep DS on our laps (well actually mostly mine because he'd be feeding!) until we went to bed ourselves and took him with us.

Both of mine were grumpy in the evenings at this age. Improved around 3 months for both of them. I know of several babies who just fed all evening. DH used to walk ours round the streets in the the pram listening to his ipod to give me a break. 'Tis very tiring but does get better.

Have you got a wrap around sling? This was a life saver for us.

We also used a swinging crib because the motion used to calm her (she always hated the chair swing).

It's totally normal - lots of babies need more physical contact when they are sleepy, and will complain until they get it! It's a security thing - a very deep-seated instinct for most young babies.

Yes, agree with us except our little one usually started around 9pm, having nursed all evening or slept.

It can sometimes be because they want to feed feed feed before the 'long' night, sometimes referred to as cluster feeding. You could try that if you're breastfeeding. (No idea with formula I'm afraid.)

The other reason is often simply that they're tired but don't know how to switch off. In this instance, a dark room can help, as can swaddling. My boy was dreadful at this, but darkness and swaddling persistently for every nap and bedtime helped him learn to relax and go to sleep whilst one of us held him.

Sorry to go off topic, but can I just say that I love my oboe too - great name

Phew thank you, that's a relief. Besom i have a wrap, but i find that i still need to constantly move around whilst wearing it, as when i'm still she gets agitated. I breastfeed loads too. She turns very 'animal-like' when i do, flickering her eyes about,wrestling with my breast and sticking her fingers down her throat etc. It's very cute but bizarre! Boobmeister- sorry if this is a daft question but, what is oboe? X

Wind!!! My equally lovely baby was a poppet most of the day but in the evening, if he hadn't been well and truly winded, he would complain on being asked to lie down. 'Flickering eyes' was one of the symptoms.

We used to put sling on and then sit and bounce on an exercise ball (well it was a birthing ball). It's quite funny when I think about it now.

If wind, try some infacol or similar and try holding upright, rubbing back and burping after a feed (this can take some time).

It does pass, and then you'll be on to the next thing!

Oboe = a double-reeded wind instrument. Nothing to do with babies!

Its just sth they do, unfortunately. I well remember hiking round the block with DD in sling at that age! When I got back I would have to manouevre her and sling off without waking her and sneak her into her moses basket!

Early evenings were particularly challenging - eventually we hit upon doing bath, feed and then putting her with dummy awake in moses basket at our feet, while we watched TV. She seemed to be OK with that as she could see us. And eventually she'd drop off.

THe next step was putting her in her basket upstairs, did that about 4 months I think. From that point she had a sort of bedtime (although she would wake for a feed at 11 and then again once in the night).

I am so lucky with my LO, she has (fingers crossed) so far slept pretty well, and not really been a fussy baby in the evening. However, until we worked out that a) she had bad wind and needed to be winded far longer than we'd realised and b) rocked her gently to a lullabies CD, she would take time to settle. The Fisher Price CD of Tender Lullabies would be chucked on whichever room we were in and we would just gentle bounce around until DD started to doze. The CD is now part of our bedtime routine - play CD, change nappy, feed and then bed and allow lullabies CD to finish (its about an hour in length), so now, despite waking once for a very brief feed, she is in bed from about 8pm until 8am at 3.5mths. Just can't wait for her to grow out of night feeds and I'll be one very cheerful and lucky mummy!!!

Do you breast or bottle feed?