5 months in and still no clue!

[Oopla]

DS is 5 months old and really hard work. Mainly I think he's constantly overtired but can't be sure. He doesn't really nap during the day - will do 10 mins here and there. We cosleep at night so can catch a good few hours there but the deal seems to be if I move or stop holding him he screams. Basically I've been constanly holding him day and night or pacing round town with the pushchair for five long months.
He's not my first baby and I do get that all babies have their own personality but honestly he doesn't do the same thing 2 days in a row so often when he's crying I have no clue what he needs. It's really getting me down, feel utterly useless, tired and our lives are chaos.
We've been back and forth to the GP for check ups so he's not ill. Find myself constantly having to explain his temperament to friends family and random strangers.

Has anyone else been through this? Help please! x x x x

Yes! Search for 'high need baby' threads on here and you'll find lots of others have been in the same boat too. Dd loved being in a sling, mostly when we were out and about (would only tolerate the pushchair as long as it was moving, as soon as it stopped for a second 'WAAAAAAH') but we did use it in the house too when things got really bad. Dr Sears has some good advice - I remember feeling massive relief reading 'the fussy baby book' that dd's crankiness wasn't just the result of my useless parenting (she is my first!).

She is now 16 mo and it has got easier over time. She is still sensitive and highly-strung (we get some nerve-shredding tantrums) but she is also very energetic, fun, affectionate and bright. It helped a lot when she started crawling and then walking, and I think talking will help further. As they get older it becomes more obvious what they want.

Thankyou diyqueen
Will go have a look at dr sears now... Yes I know the feeling about stopping the pram! Glad your dd has got easier as she's grown, gives me hope!