At what age to babies start crying less?

Flosie1989 · 2012-08-21T10:45:57+00:00

My DD is 16 weeks old and still cries a lot, probably about 3 hours a day in total (feels more like 10) Can anyone tell me when the crying in baby eases/peaks? Obviously when she does cry I go through the list of what could be wrong etc.

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NCForNow · 21/08/2012 12:26

They're all different. Is she crying with wind?

Original poster

Flosie1989 · 21/08/2012 12:31

No because she always brings up wind so easily and burps/farts frequently. Plus she has infacol with each feed as she has been quite a colicky baby.

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Purplehonesty · 21/08/2012 12:36

Get the baby whisperer book and try following a routine. Feed, play, sleep and repeat.
I don't think they should cry for three hours a day if there is nothing wrong with them IMHO.
I have had two babbas and used the baby whisperer routine with both. They only ever cried if they were ill as I got really good at spotting their cues after reading that book.
Have a go!

MaliKat · 21/08/2012 19:43

DS (was worse) stopped at 7 months (

Original poster

Flosie1989 · 21/08/2012 19:56

Thank you MaliKat lovely advice.

Well I actually timed her crying intervals today and it only actually added up to 1 and a half hours so not as bad as it first seemed.

It seems to me that she cries out of frustration because she is so strong and I think she just wants to leap out of my lap and run around! She's always been so alert and active so I think she just wants to be off crawling etc.

I think her crying seems worse because it's sooo loud and ear piercing! Ear plugs loud like a good idea!

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Original poster

Flosie1989 · 30/08/2012 17:26

Just to update.....

Never gave DD a dummy before as everyone told me not to and because of how hard it can be to lose the dummy later down the line.

Anyway, I've started giving DD a dummy and I can't believe how content she is! Had hardly any crying today I'd say only about half an hour in total!

What are your opinions on dummies??

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Rubirosa · 30/08/2012 17:34

Dummies are brilliant. Just get rid of it by 12 months.

Original poster

Flosie1989 · 30/08/2012 17:36

Thank you rubirosa

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TyrionTheImp · 30/08/2012 17:39

Babies do sometimes just need to suck. This is a reflex they are born with. If it works, it works.

I never gave a dummy so can't really comment on them but I do know that both of my children hated being stuck in their bodies. Once they were up and moving, they cheered up immensely. DS in particular hated being a baby. He was on his feet at 6 months and now at 11 months he's happy as larry running around and climbing. He just needed to be master of his own body. Of course the separation anxiety kicked in just as his body started working properly but that's a different story...

MaliKat · 30/08/2012 20:45

They are a godsend! The trick is to get rid of it by around 1 year. Leave it too much later and they notice and then you're stuck with it until you can reason with them.
I always swore we wouldn't give DS one. By 4am on the first night home, in desperation, I gave him one and we managed to get to bed!

We got rid of it no problem just after his first birthday but then he got bronchitis and it was the only thing stopping him coughing dreadfully at night so I gave it back. I tried again when he was better and he was having none of it (also DH wouldn't try and calm or distract him when he cried, just said to give it to him). I waited til DH was away on business and threw them. The first night I had to sing his lullabies through twice instead of once. That was it. (From about 9 months he was only allowed it in the cot/sleep)

DD on the other hand won't take one (also won't drink from a bottle grrrr) and has found her thumb. That does not please me, but there's nothing I can do. I tried swapping thumb for dummy. She's having none of it.

Glad to hear things are better :)

Jojay · 30/08/2012 20:50

Dummies are brilliant - and sod getting rid of them by 12 months! If you limit it to sleep times, let 'em carry on, I reckon!

My Ds2 was similar to yours, so frustrated at not being able to do anything, hated being held etc. He was much much happier once he could sit unaided, even better once he could crawl and turned into a very easy toddler.

diyqueen · 30/08/2012 21:08

I don't think you've said how you're feeding (apologies if you have and I've missed it) - but just a note of caution if you're breastfeeding, that sucking a dummy regularly can stop babies feeding as much as they need to, which can lead to slower weight gain for them and reduced milk supply for you. Sorry if this is irrelevant or you already know... just thinking of a friend who ended up with these problems due to dummy use.

diyqueen · 30/08/2012 21:10

I don't think you've said how you're feeding (apologies if you have and I've missed it) - but just a note of caution if you're breastfeeding, that sucking a dummy regularly can stop babies feeding as much as they need to, which can lead to slower weight gain for them and reduced milk supply for you. Sorry if this is irrelevant or you already know... just thinking of a friend who ended up with these problems due to dummy use.

Original poster

Flosie1989 · 31/08/2012 06:33

Thank you diyqueen but I am formula feeding

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Original poster

Flosie1989 · 09/09/2012 16:00

Ok I think I spoke too soon, she is now refusing her dummy. Maybe she didn't like it much after all.

The last few days have been so difficult! Help! She's just been so wingy and whiney. Not proper crying but the thing is there's nothing obviously wrong with her. She's satisfied food wise, has clean nappies (obviously), has had naps, she doesn't have a temperature as have checked several times also I don't think she's teething at the moment coz can't feel any new bumps. Plus I did give her some pain relief just in case but it hasn't changed anything.

I'm really stuck and feel pretty useless. I just feel I can't really be meeting her needs as she's so wingy all the time. Something must be wrong but I can't think what

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CailinDana · 09/09/2012 16:10

It's likely that there's nothing at all wrong. IMO (might be bunkum, but hey ho!) all children have a stage of their development that doesn't suit them, a stage that they hate and that makes them grumpy. For some it's being a baby, for others it's being a toddler, others it's being a schoolchild and so on. They just seem to suddenly grow out of it one day, usually when something changes and they have left that annoying stage behind. It seems like your DD doesn't like being a baby. One day something will improve for her - she'll start crawling, or start to be able to use her hands more - and she'll cheer up. That's no help to you right now, I know, but with any luck she'll be a great toddler and you can be fine and smug when others are struggling with whirling dervishes and your angel is skipping along beside you :)

Hang in there. As long as she's gaining weight and is sleeping enough across the day the chances are she is fine, she's just frustrated or annoyed about something. Maybe a trip to the HV (if your HV is nice) or to the GP would help to ease your mind?

Original poster

Flosie1989 · 10/09/2012 05:47

Thank you callindana that's reassuring.

I just feel like im not doing a very good job if she's unhappy all the time....well what feels like all the time anyway!

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CailinDana · 10/09/2012 06:39

I can honestly say it's very unlikely to have anything to do with you at all. It's frustrating but babies at that age are a bit of a mystery - they just cry and you have to guess what's wrong, and sometimes you just can't figure it out. Very stressful, but it doesn't last at all. As they get older they start to make it clear exactly what's wrong. Toddlers are a pain but at least they can show/tell you what they want!

cupcake78 · 10/09/2012 06:48

I agree, my ds was a really grumpy baby! He cried in hospital, he cried at home, he got colic, he still cried. I was at my wits end. He began to settle the more he could do. He likes mobiles and inflatable rings. He was happiest on his back on the floor. As he got older he got calmer.

He was a tough tough baby, not helped by my hidden pnd and work stresses (was made redundant). He's a proper character now, has his moments still but hang on in there.

I used to pick up ds and look him
In the face and ask him whats the matter with you then. Sometimes it worked

smearedinfood · 10/09/2012 10:19

Have you considered that it might be teething?

Original poster

Flosie1989 · 10/09/2012 10:46

Yes she has been teething but I don't think she has in the last few days as not showing any signs. Plus I did try pain relief just in case and it didn't make a difference.

Thank you though

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