My baby has turned into a monster at 4.5 months!!! Help!

[MadameG]

My DS has gone from contented cute little boy to hellbeast in the last week or two. He's definitely teething, which doesn't help (he has a bump on his upper gum so dr says tooth is on its way) but his behaviour/ sleeping has changed too. He has been sleeping through the night for over a month and its recently got up to 9-10 hours in one stretch, but on and off in the last two weeks he has been waking up in the night. Last night he woke up 4 times and when I walked over to his cot he got all excited! However the two or three nights before that he slept through fine.

In addition, he is taking less milk- he was taking about 240ml per feed before but now its about 100ml instead. Also he wants attention ALL THE TIME. If he is in his bouncy chair, bumbo or on his playmat (all places he usually plays on his own for a bit while I do housework) he wants me to bounce him up and down, or make him laugh, and keeps griping til I do so.

I've heard that 4.5 months can be a grotty time and that development can mean babies get very excited about their newfound power of making mummy come over etc, but has anybody else experienced all of this, and if so how long can I expect it to last? And is there anything I can do?

I miss my happy little boy with regular eat/play/sleep routine!

P.S Sorry if I sound like I don't want to play with him and stuff in my original post, I really do, I am just tired and my brain is fried this morning. I adore my little boy.

Sounds like the dreaded 4 month sleep regression- don't worry, it won't last!

Not sure where you read about babies getting excited about their power over parents but it sounds like utter twaddle to me, babies are not manipulative and he obviously needs you more at the moment due to teething.

What sort of routine were you trying to follow? I never did routines when DD was tiny because I found that some days she needed more food or more sleep, when they are growing so fast every day is different. In some ways this is a good thing because if they are being really grouchy then you know it won't last but if you're the type that enjoys a routine then I can see why it's frazzling you a bit. I would just try to go with the flow for the time being and hopefully your DS will be back to his usual cheerful self soon enough.

I don't think what I read meant that babies are manipulative, more that they enjoy all the stuff they're realising, such as being able to grab things or finding that cooing or griping will get the parent's attention. But this is my first child so I don't know if its twaddle, it might be. I'm always there whenever he needs me, but I'm confused by that big change in him at the mo.

Routine was nothing more than a rough eat, then play, then nap thing. No time constraints or expectations, its just how he was behaving before, but now he's taking less food and acting different. Normally he loves to play and gets very excited in his bouncy chair and stuff, but right now he is very unhappy.

when DD was this small and went through these phases I just used to write off the time we were home for, housework just went out the window and I spent all afternoon in bed/in the bath with her.

when we were out she nearly always reverted to happy baby so we also spent alot of time at playgroups/wandering around the park.

it is just a phase, combo of teething and 4 month sleep regression is tough but it'll pass.

Oh right, I thought maybe you'd been reading one of those mad baby boot camp books I think at this age it is still about needs rather than wants.

Bless him, it's probably the pain from teething that's bothering him. What's he like when you take him out, do you think it will distract him?

Have you thought about trying a sling or baby carrier? That often calms them down a bit if they are down in the dumps.

When you say he's taking less food, what's he having and how much?

I agree it must be the pain from teething. He will get his firt tooth and it might take months! He will calm down but then as soon as starts teething again (in a week or so :) ) it may start all over again! What he is doing is perfectly normal. Including refusing milk. He will get over it, don't worry.

I think this is all totally normal sorry. they are taking much more notice of everything so feeding is boring, and yes they are starting to realise that they get reactiong fron faces etc. They develop so much in the next coule of months, rolling, sitting up etc etc, it's no wonder they go a bit loopy!

Thanks for your thoughts. When I take him out and about he is quiet/ looking around from his pram, so maybe I need to do that more.

Unfortunately a sling isn't really possible as he weighs 17lb now and I've got a very bad back from the delivery.

Here's hoping for things to get better soon!

madameG i may get flamed for this but have you tried solids yet? he may just be hungry (the recent research says all babes are diff) babies change all the time!

How many weeks is he? Sounds like he's working on the big developmental spurt which happens at around 19 weeks (from the due date). The researchers who wrote a book about it - The Wonder Weeks - describe babies as 'clingy, cranky and crying' in the run-up to spurts. Mood, behaviour, sleep and eating can all be affected.

If he is hungry, he'd be taking more milk, not less.

It should calm down once he hits the spurt.

Angeldog, he is 19 and a half weeks. Thats from his birth date though. His due date was nearly three weeks later.

Here's hoping he does calm down.

Ppeatfruit, we are planning to start with baby rice etc in a few weeks time.

Definitely the 4 month sleep regression. Its an awful phase - but it is a phase!

I really struggled with DS2 (he's now 9 months old) but it only last a few weeks and then went back to sleeping through and having long naps - phew! I didn't change anything or give him solids.

Think you've just got to go with the flow and it will start to improve soon Easy for me to say - I know.