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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

15 week old wont stop screaming

25 replies

curiousgeorgie · 04/10/2013 21:00

It's been pretty bad since she was born, but really unbearable for 3 weeks now.

If she's not feeding (which also involves crying & spitting it out!) she's screaming. And I mean uncontrollably, like a banshee, gutteral screaming.

I bounce her, change her, burp her, feed her, put her in swing, chair, carseat, basket, crib, playmat, big bunny, on the floor etc... She is happy nowhere.

I took her to the GP who said reflux, and prescribed gaviscon. I don't think it is reflux, as although she is a total knob nightmare all day, she sleeps perfectly all night. But I'm giving it to her. And infacol, and Ashton & parsons, and sometimes calpol.

Nothing works. My DH is out tonight and I am on my 14th hour of her crying and I really need some help before I cry again

About 50% of the time a drive works but my 2 year old is asleep

Please advise!!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Norem · 04/10/2013 21:06

Does she feed at all during the night?

Tiredemma · 04/10/2013 21:07

colic?

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 04/10/2013 21:11

She doesn't feed in the night, sleeps from about 11 till about 9am (sometimes earlier & sleeping a bit later but clearly not today!!)

What can I do about colic and when will it end?

OP posts:

Norem · 04/10/2013 21:12

Could she have an allergy to the milk, which might be why she settles at night when she does not feed?

CreatureRetorts · 04/10/2013 21:14

Er why would you say not reflux when your GP says yes? She screams after feeds? Is she bottle fed?

Go back to the GP - you can get other medication.

Also her bedtime looks far too late. It could be massively overtiredness causing the screaming when she wants to be asleep. It's common for reflux babies to scream themselves exhausted and sleep for a long chunk at night and she's not a knob

beckslovestimmy · 04/10/2013 21:14

I feel for you, sounds really awful and very hard on you. Does she nap in the day? Could she be over tired? Does she have any 'times' of the day when she's not crying? If so when? What is she doing at these times? Do you go to any groups with her? Does she cry at these?

minipie · 04/10/2013 21:16

Sounds like probably a combination of reflux and overtiredness.

Reflux babies are sometimes known to sleep all night as they're so exhausted from the screaming in the day.

If Gaviscon doesn't help, I would go back to the GP and ask for Ranitidine, much more effective than Gaviscon, esp if she is breastfed.

If you are breastfeeding you could also try cutting out dairy and soya and see if it helps (tho it's a faff and takes up to 2/3 weeks to see effects).

If formula feeding you could buy a tin of nutrimagen hypoallergenic formula and use it and see if it helps. if it does you can get it on prescription.

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 04/10/2013 21:23

I said not reflux because she sleeps at night, on her back, which usually makes it worse doesn't it?

She doesn't nap in the day as such, she falls asleep for 5/10 minutes in arms / in shoulder then wakes up crying as soon as you try to put her down. She is very rarely not crying atm. It's just about killing me and my toddler is starting to be naughty (which is unheard of) which I think is a result of this.

I take her to Gymboree and she is okay for a couple of minutes at a time but then cries again. My older DD went at the same age and hardly ever cried, and the other babies are mesmerised.

Most of the other stuff we do is for her older sisters benefit and she's just along for the ride, but still sounds, bright colours lots of children, but she cries so I'm stopping going because my DD1 is hating not getting my attention at these places and its just easier to handle at home by getting loads of toys out / TV on etc.

Doctor said I can't go back for a week to give the gaviscon a chance to work. I've been doing it since Monday. Nothing's changed. I bought those anti colic bottles too...

OP posts:

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 04/10/2013 21:25

Oh, and I'd love for her to have an earlier bedtime! But the screaming is out of control at the moment and its keeping DD1 awake, and she cries herself out about 11.

OP posts:

CreatureRetorts · 04/10/2013 21:32

She only sleeps on her back in the night, not in the day. Possibly that's because by night she's exhausted so sleep wins. she won't lie on her back in the day right?

Gaviscon is always the first thing GP's try. They did it with both of mine. It didn't work so I went back and got ranitidine - much better.

In your case as you're bottle feeding and she's being sick I would suspect the milk is your problem. So try comfort milk (but no gaviscon) as that might help.

Also get a sling if you can.

What time does she scream? Are you holding her or leaving her to cry? I'd have her in the sling from 6pm if possible.

MyNameIsAnAnagram · 04/10/2013 21:34

Have you got a sling? I also think she sounds massively overtired. A sling will keep her upright which should make her reflux more comfortable and she will probably have some longer naps in there as well.

bonzo77 · 04/10/2013 21:38

Have you tried a sling? A wrap one that snuggles them in really close and warm a bit like in the womb it won't cure her but will make it easier. Oh and your GP is an arse. If gaviscon is going to work it does so in a couple of days. Ranitidine is so much better. Also, a dummy is really handy, especially with reflux. And a vibrating bouncer. And white noise all at the same time. With DS2 that combo was like an off switch.

BlissfullyIgnorant · 04/10/2013 21:58

I have no idea if this works with any other babies, but I used to cradle mine in my lap, rocking myself back and forth holding baby tightly and singing the same song over and over. Not necessarily a lullaby but something gentle and not at all modern. Has to be worth a try?
I think they liked the personal attention.

beckslovestimmy · 04/10/2013 22:21

I was going to mention a sling. You could try a sling library to get advice and try a few different ones out. Mine was a life saver for the first few months. I would definitely work on the daytime napping. Will she sleep in the pram?

Do you have a bedtime routine? At about that age DD brought her own bedtime forward from 10pm to 8pm. If she was up any later she would get very unsettled and took a long time to go to sleep, she's just done the same again now she's crawling. We've gone from 8pm to 7pm bedtime.

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 04/10/2013 22:43

Thanks everyone, I'll definitely look into the sling.

I was thinking of changing the milk, so I'll do that too. A different brand or just the comfort one of what we already use?

She doesn't sleep on her back during the day, no, so maybe you're right and it is reflux. She doesn't just start screaming in the evening, she starts first thing in the morning and mostly goes on all day ( for the last 3 weeks at least), she wasn't great before but wasn't even nearly this bad. By 10am I'm at the end of my tether. I literally can't put her down all day. I've got a swing that has a white noise setting, and a vibrating bouncy chair but neither are doing the trick at all.

She's finally asleep upstairs now thank god!! I think I need a bottle glass of wine!!

OP posts:

Original poster

curiousgeorgie · 04/10/2013 22:44

Oh, and she will sleep in the pram, and we go for a walk most days, but again, in the last three weeks she's started to not last long in there. Maybe 20 minutes rather than the couple of hours she could do a few weeks ago.

OP posts:

beckslovestimmy · 04/10/2013 22:47

If she doesn't like being put down a sling will really help. She'll feel like your cuddling/carrying her but you'll have your hands free to be able to deal with your older child. If your little one sleeps in the sling you may be able to go to the groups again with your older child, or at least out for some fresh air.

Changing milk and/or getting some other meds from the doctor may help too. (It can't hurt to try)

Enjoy your glass of wine sounds like you deserve it

CreatureRetorts · 05/10/2013 06:33

Yes I strongly suspect reflux or intolerance to the milk and think the GP is right. It's the screaming in the day and fighting feed which are classic signs.
You can switch to comfort milk of the same brand and go back to your GP on Monday don't wait a week. Write down exactly what your days are like, take a video of her screaming after a feed/during a feed and show them that. Ask for hydrolysed formula because there's no point in having reflux medication if your baby is also reacting to the milk.

I found white noise worked with a dummy and I had to rock both of mine to sleep. None of that leaving in a cot to self settle - they are in pain with the reflux so need the comfort of your touch even if they still scream with it. Mine got more hysterical if I wasn't with them (I will admit on occasion I had to put them down and walk away as was at the end of my tether) so better to carry them. Hard with a toddler in tow but we got through it.

saggybaps · 05/10/2013 06:42

Have you seen a baby Chiro/ Cranial person? Also could she be overstimulated with all the bright colours, venues etc. try putting her in front of a totally blank wall.

Good Luck & I hope you enjoyed the wine.

newmum001 · 05/10/2013 07:22

My daughter had reflux but gaviscon didn't touch it. I took her back to the doctor and he gave her Ranitidine which was much more effective. My dd also slept through from 8 weeks despite the reflux so I wouldn't rule it out. Perhaps make another appointment with the doctor and tell him/her that the gaviscon isn't working.

minipie · 05/10/2013 08:22

Definitely sounds like reflux and major overtiredness.

If it is reflux, the acid in her stomach is rising into her throat and burning it. So, things that should help with the reflux:

Burp her half way through each feed and after a feed (as air bubbles can otherwise rise up later bringing stomach acid with them)

Keep her upright for 20 minutes after a feed (this is where a sling comes in handy, or upright-ish buggy once she is old enough - but not a car seat as this tends to make reflux worse)

Carry her upright in a sling as much as you can

Prop up one end of her cot mattress so she sleeps at an angle.

Get Ranitidine from the GP.

Comfort milk might help, as it's thicker so will stay down better - but most mothers find it doesn't do much for reflux.

About a third of reflux cases are caused by dairy allergy. Is there any history of dairy allergy in your family?

To help with the overtiredness: just get as much sleep into her as you can during the day. Long walks with the pram if she sleeps in the pram... though sounds like this is stopping working.

honestly I think your first step should be to get Ranitidine from the GP. Good luck, hopefully you will see a changed baby.

Jellyandjam · 05/10/2013 08:38

My son had silent reflux as a baby. He cried all day, wouldn't nap, never seemed happy but generally slept okay at night time. This was because he had worn himself out with all the crying and lack of sleep in the day time, it's apparently quite common with reflux babies.
As others have said go back to the doctors. Gaviscon didn't do much for my DS, I tried comfort milk but with only little effect. The major change came when he was prescribed ranitidine. I had to keep going back as he grew to get the dose adjusted but it was a god send to us.

NotQuiteCockney · 05/10/2013 08:44

This sounds to me like it could be purple crying - look here.

Jellyandjam · 05/10/2013 08:46

Oh I wold also add that I found any jiggling/ bouncing etc only served to make him worse. I found holding him close, as upright as I could, but very still, maybe just slow rocking in the dark was useful. The sling is a good idea, although my ds hated them too! As well as propping up his cot, I also slightly propped up the mattress in his pram too so that he wasn't flat in it.
Good Luck xx.

AngryAndLost · 05/10/2013 22:41

This sounds like my DS few months back. I was BB him at the time. My mum came one day, had a look and simply said that he was constantly hungry. Sure enough, when I started bottle feed him, all problems stopped. As you are already bootle feeding him, maybe, increase amount of milk/feed more often, especially, if suffering reflux. My son had exactly same: sleeping during the night, but only in a moving buggy during the day, and you could see him not deep-sleeping. Sleep in a buggy was decreasing all the time until it was only 20 mins at the time. No amount of cradling, talking, swinging was enough to calm him down.
Good luck to you. I too had 2 year old DD at the same time, it was truly a nightmare! My DD started being naughty as well.
Maybe, Gaviscon or other meds will help keep more food in, so, baby is not hungry and grumpy all the time? Who knows, but try giving more food. It really made a difference for me.
Good luck!

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