miserable baby :-(

[gnomie08]

Hi everyone - just wanted to find out if anyone else has experienced what we're going through at the moment - my little one is 8 1/2 months and for the couple of months or so has been very grumpy and screaming a lot

He really seems to have changed and is behaving completely differently to ever before. He won't nap easily (i've tried lots of things) and he always seems to be tired.

He is on and off with his food and really screams the minute i'm an more than a foot away from him. It's completely exhausting and finding it hard to cope. Especially as up until now he's always been a really calm and chilled out happy baby - just don't really understand what's happening :-(

He got his first 2 teeth about a month or so ago and maybe is getting more - but it really seems to be more than that.

I also stopped giving him his dummy about 2 weeks ago as he is going to nursery in Jan and didn't want him to have it then - i thought at first that he was missing it - but not after this long surely?

Has anyone got any ideas?

Thanks

maybe he does miss his dummy and needs it back?

Also it sounds like he has separation anxiety, which is normal at his age. It makes them scream the second you might look like you might maybe be thinking about looking in the direction of the door!

I agree. My second child became very anxious around this age. Try the dummy again, and let the baby be with you as much as possible. The only thing that will cure it is time I think. It will stop as suddenly as it started. A friend had the same problem and tried to 'cure' the problem by not giving in and basically pushing the baby away - aged 8 he's still crying going to school.

I agree with both of the above. He's still very little so I would keep on reassuring him with love and cuddles and dummy if necessary (plenty of time to get rid of that yet). Always explain what your're doing if you have to leave the room for a second, otherwise take him with you - even for a poo!!!
IMO he more reassurance you can give them when they are little the happier and more confident they will feel growing up.

It will pass I promise.

Definitely give as many cuddles as possible.

DS was a bit older than this when he went through a really long patch (several months) when I couldn't really remember him giggling (he had an amazing giggle as a little baby). With hindsight, I could only think that it might have been his first set of molars coming through.

Whatever it is, keep giving the cuddles and try to get DP to give you a couple of hours off when he can for your sanity. It's exhausting, isn't it?

Calpol and teething gel, sticks of chilled cucumber to chew on all are your friend. We found Mam teething sticks which are fantastic for applying the teething gel once they've got more than a couple of teeth (ouch! my fingers!). We put a tiny smear on all the sides and hand it over to DS to apply it where he wants it. Seems to help.

Good luck!

Thank you everyone

I have given him lots of cuddles and now an generally letting him come with me - even to the loo!

I tried giving him cucumber and all kinds of teething things but the last few days things have not been very good with his eating.

I am very conscious on not 'pushing him away' as you say your friend did as i also have a friend who did the same thing and her little boy is whingy and screamy all the time and i dread that happening to my little man.

thanks again x

Don't worry about the eating too much - DS is just like that, and particularly seems to go off fruit when very teethy.

Cuddles sound great. Hope it gets easier soon.