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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

urgent advice needed please!

10 replies

nervousmum · 27/10/2005 19:50

my son is 4 and a half weeks old, and up until today has been a 'model' baby, feeding 3-hourly and sleeping well in between.

However, today, he has been a grumpy so-and-so, crying constantly in between feeds which he's demanding more frequently. We've checked his temperature which is normal, so i don't think he's coming down with anything, but we really need some advice as we're totally at a loss as to what to do. It's horrible to see (and hear!) him so very distressed

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

nervousmum · 27/10/2005 20:04

Anyone?

OP posts:

hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 20:04

Could be a growth spurt - just feed him when he wants it, don't try to schedule his feeds - keep an eye on him for temp, but otherwise, he should settle in the next day or so - only to do it all again in a couple of weeks' time!

SenoraPostrophe · 27/10/2005 20:05

either a growth spurt or colic, probably (has it been all day, or worse at certain times of day?)

or possibly teething (any red cheeks? extra dribble)?

beccalanismum · 27/10/2005 20:07

Does he appear uncomfortable - eg arching back or moving stiffly - could be colic - my DD started this at 5 weeks and would scream for hours on end and take many very small feeds. Would check with your HV. Good luck - I can still remember these terrible colicky days 3 years later so I feel for you.

Davros · 27/10/2005 20:11

My first thought was that he might be hungry. I think 3 hour feeds is quite far apart for a 4.5 week old. Not sure what to advise though if its been working......

Original poster

nervousmum · 27/10/2005 20:20

i thought the same thing re being hungry, so have been feeding him 1.5-2 hourly today (not his normal pattern). He's already known to have colic, and gets infacol with every feed which usually works really well.

He's been crying like this all day. He's quiet during and immediately after feeding, then 'wakes up' after half an hour and starts howling again. He's only had a couple of hour 'proper' sleep all day (again, very unusual for him).

As for teething, he has been dribbling more milk in the last 48 hours and has been sucking furiously on his fists, if they are signs?

OP posts:

SenoraPostrophe · 27/10/2005 20:22

fist sucking can be a sign of teething (but some babies do that anyway).

I think it's either that or the colic has got worse (I always found all remedies to be quite useless other than spacing feeds a bit and rocking)

spookyboo · 28/10/2005 11:38

Have you tried Gripe water. I found that to help more than Infacol. Always got an enormous burp after having gripe (DD that is, not me !

Original poster

nervousmum · 28/10/2005 12:38

Thanks so much for all your support - i love MN

Joey is seemingly much better today, and we had a relatively good night with him, so fingers crossed that he was just having an 'off' day.

OP posts:

bramblina · 31/10/2005 23:00

my ds is 12 wks and I can vividly remember those days where he really wasn't himself- you sound just like I did a lot of the time- no-one told me how much they can change from day to day. He is also a model baby and therefore on the days where he was just not himself it was really obvious- I eventually realised it could be something so simple as a growth spurt but can have awful effects on him so just had to let him be like that. Someone said on MN "tomorrow is another day" and I realised how much I'd assumed he'd be exactly the same everyday. We like to think they'll always be perfect, but they won't! Take it a day at a time and in a couple of weeks you'll be amazed how much more he can tell you, I still am. Relax and enjoy!

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