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nearly 6 mo grumps all the time, driving me bonkers! What to do????

7 replies

redspottedfrog · 11/04/2012 20:59

I started this thread a few weeks ago Here and things have not improved...

He's six months next week and he still spends a large chunk of the day being very grumpy and / or crying. It's almost impossible to put him down for any length of time without him bawling his head off. But then even holding him all the time doesn't help either, unless he's being bounced on your knee (which you can on'y do for so long!)

We still have to take him out for his daytime naps, and he's having about two naps a day now. One early in the morning and then another mid afternoon. For the last few weeks he's started to reliably go to bed around 7 (but not for the last few days, argh). We've discovered if he falls asleep after about 3.30 in the afternoon then he will not go to bed without a big fight even though he is definitely tired by 7pm. This has caused problems for the last few days as we've had to go out in the car / pram where he has fallen asleep, cue HUGE upset come early evening and us giving in and getting him off to sleep in his pram in the hallway (where he now is still...).

His night time sleep has improved and he's waking less (touch wood!!!).

We're going to start weaning this week (and I am SICK of the comments from family about how he needs food blah blah blah) but I don't thik that'll make any difference, I firmly believe he gets all he needs from milk at the moment (he's ebf), he hasn't upped his feeds or anything and is waking less for feeds at night.

He's been trying to crawl for a while, bless him, and rolls around the floor like a crazed thing, often getting jammed under / next to things. Today he seems to have "got" that he needs to use his arms as well as his legs and can now shuffle himself forward quite well but it's a lot of effort and I know he is getting frustrated.

We've been to a few groups to get a change of scenery but he was grumpy there too....

No sign of any teeth yet but lots of dribbles and chewing etc.

He will stay happy for little bit longer if we sit him in the high chair, but it doesn't give us that much extra time. Thankfully DH is around to share the load but it's really really starting to get me down now (I have PND too so it adds to it).

We also have the added problem of getting him to take a bottle. We started about a month ago so I could start to have some time off. He had begun to take one bottle a day of ebm from DH but the last few days this has been refused too, so I can't go anywhere for very long either.

Sorry this is long, but I needed a bit of a moan I'm afraid! And if anyone has any ideas, please let me know! Smile

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
redspottedfrog · 11/04/2012 21:14

bump??

OP posts:
redspottedfrog · 11/04/2012 21:43

Bump again???

OP posts:
pegster · 11/04/2012 21:56

Not sure I can help you much but my 6 & 1/2 month old has also become very grumpy and unsettled the past week. Won't be put down, wants constant jiggling etc and I know what you mean about it wearing you down. However with my DS all has been revealed today with the appearance of his first tooth - nothing much is helping his obvious upset but at least I understand it a bit more now!

fondantfancier · 11/04/2012 22:03

Can't be much help but just because he's grumpy now doesn't mean he'll be grumpy forever (or vice versa as my friend found out). Have you got a door bouncer? (only cheap of ebay) My DD sits in this quite happy for long enough for me to go for a wee/make tea/etc...maybe that would help?

It will get easier, my DS was terrible at getting to sleep and we resorted to cars/buggys. We tried the baby whisperer sleeping thing at 12 months and it really helped....it's suitable for younger babies so maybe try this as it could be that he's knackered a lot of the time.

I don't know I'd bother with a bottle, maybe just go straight to a cup so he doesn't need to change again? I had to go back to work at 6 months with DS and he refused a bottle or cup and basically went hungry (except food) til I got home. He survived on lots of yogurts and cheese so don't panic too much about this.

Fingers crossed he gets crawling soon, and enjoys pootling about. If not could you put him a nursery at let them deal with it for a bit, even if it's just half a day to give you a break?

Kaloobear · 11/04/2012 22:07

DD is 7 months and can also be very grumpy. I think it's frustration and not being mobile or able to communicate. I'm praying this is true and the minute she starts walking and talking she'll turn into an angel!

redspottedfrog · 11/04/2012 22:22

Well he took a bottle a little while ago (though he wasn't very happy about it!).

Pegster every morning I expect to see a tooth emerge, I'm sure they can't be too far away and hopefully that will help the poor little mite.

Fondant I've considered the door bouncers again and again and have decided not to get one. I'm not a great fan of them (personal reasons) and I don't think he'd get a huge amount of use out of one now anyway, though maybe I'll return to it.

Kaloo I really do think a huge part of it is frustration at wanting to be able to move more than he can now. DS1, who's a whirlwind, was also an early crawler, but I don't remember him being like this, he was quite happy to lie under his baby gym.

Ho hum!

OP posts:
Nikkim30 · 12/04/2012 12:46

Hi
Can't offer any advice but just want to say you are not alone, my dd is soo grumpy, has been for ages and is the same age as yours. Just praying it improves. X

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