HELP! constant crying at 2 months old??

cbowden · 2006-07-27T19:33:49+00:00

My 7 week old baby girl, cries constantly. She wakes up, and cries straight away, plays for a few mins or so then cries again. Taking her for walks round the park in her pram, she screams and cries. She cries and seems to cry more when she is tired. I have tried gripe water, and infacol, nothing seems to work. She is ok at night, generally going down about 7.30 - 8 waking up about 2 then back to sleep till 6-7am. But she seems to cry more than play. Is this normal. Has anyone got any suggestions, on how I can stop this and make her a more interactive, playful baby. We try playing and things, but sometimes she screams and we do not know what to do.

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Original poster

cbowden · 27/07/2006 20:36

I feel awful as I get angry and frustrated because I just want to soothe her and help her but I can;t seem to.I then get worried I am being to rough or hurting her, which I know I'm not but me and my hubby r so tired and love her so much. What can I do? any suggestions.

OP posts:

HonorMatopoeia · 27/07/2006 20:38

Oh god Hon, I so remember this and I'm sending you big big hugs. I'm afraid the first few months of Dd are a bit of a blur but I do remember that I had to hold her constantly and got very tired from doing that. How was your delivery? I only ask because Dd's was complex and in the end a trip to our chiropractor really helped her out. Of course every baby is different but it may be worth thinking about if delivery was awkward.

morningpaper · 27/07/2006 20:39

Babies at this age often scream and cry if they are doing anything apart from being held. My youngest hated the pram too - bad luck. Slings are great - does she like a sling?

Babies of this age will often scream and you won't know what to do - you just need to keep trying things (rocking, cuddling, slings) - I would do 20-minute "shifts" with DH during crying marathons, so that we each knew when our shift would end and we didn't go mad.

She will grow out of it, I promise.

HonorMatopoeia · 27/07/2006 20:40

I'd second the sling - Dd lived in one for the first 5 months!

Jaysecond · 27/07/2006 21:28

Two words ; Crainial osteopath....... my DD was the same for the first three months, two sessions with the head 'shrink' - my DH's terminology not mine, and she was cured, well the crying was 80% better. Id give it a go, its painfree and isnt too much money ( £30 ish a go) beats all the stress the crying gives for both of you!

rodillagrande · 27/07/2006 22:25

Our girl is 8 weeks old and was pretty much the same. Though she did like the pram. Constant movement until she was dozy worked for us either in the pram or in the baby bjorn.

She still doesn't have a very long attention span. She will play on the floor mat for 5 or 10 minutes and then start crying. But, just to cheer you up, it does seem to be getting longer every day. Week 6 was a nightmare for us with crying and refusing to sleep but by the next week she had learnt to smile and coo and was much more settled. Perhaps they are just unsettled while learning something new.

Our girl was also diagnosed with reflux. Now that she is taking medication for that she is much happier.

Tiggerish · 27/07/2006 22:30

I would recommend the cranial osteopath too. Worked a treat for my dd.

Well worth the money.

Original poster

cbowden · 30/07/2006 19:35

Thank u so much. We are going to try the osteopath I think as anything is worth a try. Everyday seems to be different, but her crying is awful (makes me upset too.. which isn;t good when breastfeeding her). We are going to try one of those fisher price ocean swings (anyone tried it????) bit expensive but if it works.. Its just really hard. Tried the baby carrier but she doesn;t seem to like it, although it seems massive so she has the material in her face.. maybe I should try a different one?
My delivery was a normal one, quite quick for my first (established labour 2 hours) contractions and things were awful though and the cord was round her neck twice. I just feel helpless, when she is looking at me, and screaming and I feel I should be able to make it all better. Thanks so much for all your advice, it is greatly appreciated and I will keep coming back, to see if I can offer any or if you have any more for me. going to go bed now as little one is asleep for now...

OP posts:

Original poster

cbowden · 05/08/2006 10:22

i have been given gaviscon for reflux and colief for c, but it doesn't seem to be working. i have made app to see osteopath. she just seems to b really hungry constantly now, and i am breastfeedin so don'tr know how to give her more or produce more milk? i want to keep breast feeding if possible until she is 6 mnths. any ideas?
she seems to stop crying in car seat & on swing, but not 4 long.

OP posts:

wrinklytum · 05/08/2006 11:18

My dd was like this.Im afraid you just have to weather the storm in the early months.Sling was useful.DD had silent reflux but not dx til 5 months.Its awful going through it but it will pass.Your dd may be having a growth spurt if constantly hungry,mine used to bf every hour in one of these phases.Get as much rest as you can and keep drinking and eating well.You will provide baby with all the milk she needs but it is exhausting.If you are completely at your wits end dont feel guilty about givig her some formula if you feel you want to go this route.(I would discuss this with hv as to which type to use though if your dd has reflux as formula didnt agree with mine much).REMEMBER it wont last forever though I remember being really low at around this time.Good luck

wrinklytum · 05/08/2006 11:21

My dd was like this.Im afraid you just have to weather the storm in the early months.Sling was useful.DD had silent reflux but not dx til 5 months.Its awful going through it but it will pass.Your dd may be having a growth spurt if constantly hungry,mine used to bf every hour in one of these phases.Get as much rest as you can and keep drinking and eating well.You will provide baby with all the milk she needs but it is exhausting.If you are completely at your wits end dont feel guilty about givig her some formula if you feel you want to go this route.(I would discuss this with hv as to which type to use though if your dd has reflux as formula didnt agree with mine much).REMEMBER it wont last forever though I remember being really low at around this time.Good luck

justamum · 06/08/2006 00:31

don't feel guilty for just sitting with her on your lap feeding on and off as much as she wants for a few hours, gather all your essentials around you (phone, tv remote, water, snacks, book etc) and get yourself comfortable, put a good film on and just give yourself a break, the more she sucks the more you produce and if you just relax and chill it will do you both the power of good. The joy of bf babies is that they generally shut up as soon as you feed them and don't take any notice of all this routine business, if she is hungry or needs closeness take the easy route and just hold her. I seemed to bf constantly with my ds for about the first 4 months until I started weaning him-just enjoy sitting with your sleeping baby on your lap for a few hours, have a doze yourself and let the world pass you by (also who cares if they are just comfort sucking- we give them dummies so they can comfort suck why not let them do it on the real thing and provide all the benefits of stimulating your milk supply) I don't mean to write an essay and I have a 16 week old dd myself so I know where you are coming from. seriously, I know it is frustrating sitting with them when you have stuff to do but she is only tiny and it will pass. apparently 2 months is the worst time for screaming; another few weeks and she will be happier to spend more time in play on her own as she learns how to wriggle around and turn over. good luck & sleep when you can!

muma3 · 06/08/2006 01:36

try laying her on back and pressing her knees on her belly , then rock her from side to side with knees up still . dd3 found this really relaxing and if it is colic or any tummy probs then it shifts all wind and helps then to fart

keep her upright over your shoulder and keep patting her , i used to do this and tidy up at same time . picking things up around the house perfect chance to tidy up

sing to her ? she may just need to hear your voice and be soothed that way??

cant think of any think else tight now have a 14m old who is still awake and i cant help myself right now
good luck

threebob · 06/08/2006 04:59

Growth spurt explains the feeding - keep going you are probably over the worst for this time.

Use the sling or carrier more. She is not old enough to "not like it" so keep going. After all if she cries all the time how do you know?

I know people for whom swings have saved their marriages and their sanity, I don't like them personally as I think if a baby wants to be held then you hold it.

But I wouldn't get a fussy one with lights and stuff - she sounds as if she is easily over stimulated and that FP one will simply stimulate her even more. Buy or borrow the cheapest one.

doodledo · 07/08/2006 14:35

Hi,

Your post really struck a cord with me. DD2 was just like this and I remember feeling guilty and doing the whole "is it me?" thing. All I can say and it probably isn't much of a consulation is that it will pass. I tried cranial osteopathy as well and I think it did help but I came to the conclusion that my dd just didn't like being a small baby very much!
She is now a very chatty and happy twoyear old. Things got better around three months as her attention span/desire to socialise increased . She was very easily overstimulated as a small baby.(and unfortunately she hated her swing but lots of my friends swear by them- can you borrow one to see if she will like it?)
HTH

clairemow · 07/08/2006 14:47

haven't read the whole thread as have to go and get DS up.. so sorry if I repeat, or am off track...

Could DD be going through a growth spurt and be extra hungry? Does she settle easier after a feed? do you express at all - if you feed her and do some additional expressing, you'll find that you begin to produce more milk, as it's all supply and demand (sorry, I've assumed you are bf - if not, maybe offer another ounce or so?). I think 6-8 weeks is classic growth spurt time, and I remember feeding DS almost constantly at that time (or that's what it felt like!!).

saffymum · 07/08/2006 14:52

HI, you poor thing, this sounds so familiar, you aren't alone. I recommend the 'sit back and relax' thing suggested already, let the chores and shopping take a back seat and just sit down with the baby and relax. She needs you, keep her close, that is all she is saying 'mum I want you close because you give me comfort' try relaxing let her feed as suggested and you will giveyour body a chance to make more milk. Otherwise, have you thought about a bit of topping up with formula after a feed, maybe with this growth spurt she just needs that bit extra. Also when you are so tired it really affects your milk quality so maybe it will jsut take the strain off you. Do it after the breastfeed. Try a 25 ml to 50 ml mixture first. Also, that sling idea is great, I used to put my son on my back and do the chores with him (an old African tradition makes babies happier and more stable because the are always with their mum and the motion helps them sleep) Good luck.

clairemow · 07/08/2006 14:55

hi again, pinknfluffy be wary of topping up with formula though, as that won't help your supply - better to feed DD more often or express to increase your supply - you'll see the results quickly.

Good luck

Joggers · 07/08/2006 21:05

My dd was diagnosed with reflux at 10 weeks, by this time she had refused to feed from breast and I had to change her to formula. She refused to have Gaviscon and none of the formulas meant for reflux agreed with her.

She eventually settled on Omneo Comfort and hv suggested giving baby rice from 14 weeks as solids help to settle reflux. I kept her upright for at least 30 mins after a feed and we also went to baby massage classes which helped. She was realy grumpy and constantly crying until about 4 months, then all of a sudden after giving more solids she changed and is now really happy.

Keep your chin up it will pass sooner than you think.

CanSleepWillSleep · 07/08/2006 21:19

Can't read a thread like this and not contribute. I would agree with whoever recommended cranial osteopathy, but also have a few questions. How much sleep does she get in 24 hours? It may be that she is overtired. How often does she have a dirty nappy? The things that caused our DD to cry constantly for the first 4/5 months (as well as head compression which osteopath sorted at 6 weeks) were milk intolerance (discovered at 15 weeks) and silent reflux (discovered around 22 weeks). Are you eating much dairy? If you're at the stage where you're prepared to try anything then give up dairy completely for a week and see if it improves her mood at all. If it does then post again for more info on cows milk protein intolerance.

hermykne · 07/08/2006 21:25

cbowden, might it be colic, i have a friend whose first daughter totally breastfeed had your symtoms.
just let her feed , and that willensure shes satisfied, if you are set on feeding to 6mths oyu will and maybe longer, but stay off the solids til 6mths. your milk is more than adequate.

as some of the others said you may have to ride this one out, and if so , try to get a friedn to give u a bit of respite in the day between a feed so you are not weighed down by it.

i hope it gets better soon

hermykne · 07/08/2006 21:28

talk to la leach league too, have u a rep nearby? they can help with enusring the latch is good and your diet as cansleep william mentioned

PomsMum · 07/08/2006 21:38

My 7 week old was exactly the same, hated the pram, lived in a sling the whole time, sleep pattern virtually the smae as yours too. We did the cranial osteopath thing within weeks of her being born which helped a bit, identified a problem with her tummy but didn't fix it totally. At her 6 week check she's just been diagnosed with 'silent' reflux she's now on Infant Gaviscon and a changed child - we can finally enjoy her - might be worth asking the GP about it....

jollyfolly · 07/08/2006 22:02

ds cried and cried and cried until 7 months when he started crawling and dicovered a whole new world.... the only time he was quiet was when being cuddled and made to feel safe.... he was never interested in toys or anything until he was crawling..... felt like my life was on hold for 7 months as i literally had to carry him everywhere!... now at 15 months he is the busiest but happiest baby i know!
some people have mentioned cranial oesteopathy a few of my friends have tried it (i would have liked to but just could'nt afford it) and it seemed to help thier kids.... worth a go!

dreamteamgirl · 07/08/2006 22:36

A 2nd (8th?) for the cranial osteopath. Definately worth a try. www.cranial.org.uk (sorry cant be arsed to do a link)

But can also relate that its partly just age, and they get better by the day with self entertaining, and DS was happier when he was more upright.