screaming baby

[Albrecht]

ds is 4 and half months and screams a lot. We don't think it is pain exactly but more like boredom / frustration. He can go from smile to scream to smile in about 3 seconds.

He's always had a loud cry - quite a few MWs and HVs have commented on it and presumeably they've heard a few. But the screaming is unbearable, especially in the night.

Anyone else? Any tips for coping?

DS1 was like this, even in hospital the nurses would joke 'oh, that's X crying, he's got a set of lungs on him'

Re: coping. only thing I can suggest for nighttimes is earplugs, you will still be able to hear him but it takes the edge off it and you don't get that sudden shattering wake up call. It would always take me ages to get back to sleep because the wake ups were so nerve jangling, the earplugs helped to dull it down so it was a bit gentler!

iirc 4.5 months is about the right age for colic - are you sure he's not in pain?

Is he pulling his legs up to his tummy at all?

sorry just wanted to add obviously I only used earplugs whilst he was still in our room so i would still hear him!

Ds is and was a screamer/shouter/squealer/crier, he had colic, for a loonngg time, colic usually lasts from 2 weeks old to 3 months old but ds had it til 5mo and is still very noisy.
Have you tried Cranial Massage? That's what helped us inestimably.
Here is a Thread I started under my old name with all my tips.

Thanks everyone. Sorry to post and run but we've had a (small) electrical fire and have been pissing about trying to get hold of landlord etc.

Pretty sure its not colic. Def not lifting legs up. If anything he arches his back / groin thrusts to attempt to move himself.

Looking at BornAgain's thread, I should probably have been more specific - its not all the time (thank the lord) but he's just very changeable. Sometimes the scream, in the same breath, turns into a coo. He's very vocal so perhaps screaming is just part of his repertoire.

I had thought about ear plugs but (pfb alert) I'd have to take them out to make sure I could hear him breathing...