Help! My placid 8 week old now screams if i do anything other than hold him...

[bigredtractor]

Hi, I have a healthy 8 wk old, feeds well, sleeps 5-6 hours in one go at night, bit of reflux but we've raised his mattress up at one end which did the trick.

Over the last week or so he will no longer fall asleep or even lie in his crib or anywhere without screaming - and i mean proper screaming - warp speed 10 kind of crying.

He has alwas cried but only for a reason - food, nappy, wind etc. and does have playful periods (generally in the mornings), but i'm wondering what's changed?

He's getting fewer daytime sleeps as a result - even when he nods off on my shoulder he'll wake as soon as he's put down in his crib. He's averaging 12 hours sleep per 24 hrs and i'm worried this isn't enough.

Anyone had anything similar? Any tips?

reflux getting worse? does he need to be held vertical or is he happy if you hold him 'lying down'. If he needs to be upright could be the reflux.

He will allow us to rock him to sleep horizontally or will nod off over our shoulder, so i'm not sure...

This is your child's way of reminding you who is in charge and that you must not get too comfortable in your routine or assumptions about said routine.

Sympathy bigred, my 9 week old ds started doing this last week too. I've gone from having a calm happy baby to having a hysterical wreck of a baby - and he doesn't even have reflux for an excuse!

I'm completely exhausted as a result (he's not doing well at night any more either) and I can get nothing done during the day. Washing up from a dinner party on Sunday still isn't done

I don't know what to suggest I'm afraid. HVs told me to just leave him to cry, but it seems awful so I've ignored them. He genuinely seems distressed, there are tears :(

Hoping it's just a phase and they'll grow out of it?

Fingers crossed!!