Patience, or lack of it :(

[Taler]

My 6 month old DD screams! Not cries, screams!

I have posted on here before about it asking if anyone else's LOs do this too as I felt it wasn't "normal". And the reason why I felt this was because they were never 'happy' screams, always done with a real look of agitation, frustration on her face, like she's really annoyed about something!

There was never any pattern either, it would happen brier and after a feed, before and after a nap, during play and whilst being held.

I finally went to see a paedeatrician about it as I was finding it really hard to deal with (some days she would scream on and off all day!!!!!).

Having done some checks on her and establishing that (thankfully) she was developing and growing really well, he was unable to determine why she was screaming and said I should try not to worry about it.

In fairness I had prepared myself for that response as realised there may be no answer.

The ironic thing is that after that appointment, which was 2 weeks ago, she simply stopped!!! She waited for us to hand over £150 and then decides to stop ;)

Or so we thought...... :(

Yesterday the screaming reared it's ugly head again, and today.

I feel quite upset about it (without that sounding too selfish) as really thought that was the end if it.

I had wondered previously, and now this time too, whether it could b teething related, but am just not convinced it is as she has been teething FOR MONTHS (still no teeth, hence the capital letters - will they ever come????), including the 2 weeks with no screams (albeit not as badly).

Does anyone have any idea at all what as why????? My patience levels are dropping! Not knowing is the worst thing!!!

You say it sounds frustrated, that could very well be it. 6 months is an iffy age, they are desperate to get mobile, but physically can't yet. Any developmental milestone brings frustration. Has it come up around learning to sit, crawl etc?

Could she be bored? Do you rotate toys so that she always has something 'new' to play with? Can you give her different objects from around the house to play with? (As long as they aren't dangerous of course!)

Also dds separation anxiety kicked in around 6 months. Whenever I leave the room dd screams her head off.

Does she do it when being carried around? Could you put her in a sling so she can be carried while you get things done? Then she gets plenty of stimulation from looking at things.

Do you go out everyday? Is it worse at home?

Teething can take ages and ages, seeming like nothing happening. Then suddenly they have little sharp edges showing and it isn't as bad after they've cut through the gums.

My ds has been teething all 4 canines (he's 21 months) at the same time, and for weeks there's been nothing visible. Just in the last week the tips are through and the pain is a lot less. It's going to take another couple of weeks I think before all 4 are through fully.

Or it could be boredom/frustration. Some babies hate not being mobile, and as soon as they can crawl they are like different babies. Does she crawl yet?

She isn't crawling yet but shows signs of wanting too (I think) as sometimes when on her tummy she'll lift her bum or bring a knee up. She's a way off that I'd say! She is sitting fairly well but I couldn't leave her, but don't think it'll be long before she's able to be left sitting.

She generally doesn't scream when being held (although has done before), but is it wrong of me to not want to put her in a sling? I have read (in The Wonder Weeks) that she is now at an age where she is understanding distances and therefore will realise if I leave the room which could distress her, but if she does show signs of this, which thus far she hasn't, then surely you don't give into it as she 'll then not learn to be in a room on her own. Surely it could be managed by, for example, talking to her when I'm not in sight so she can still hear me?!?

We have a few baby groups a week and on the days when we don't we always get out for walks and/ or see friends or family. It's rare to have an entire day in doors.

Re her toys, I do try to change them around as often as I can, plus I show her household objects too, hold her up in front of a mirror, show her things out of the window etc.

I am at a total loss as to what these screams are :(

My dd, also 6 months, does exactly this. However she has done it since she was about 8 weeks old. I can't leave room, eat, drink, answer phone etc (though it's like she knows I'm on MN and lets me do this!) she has also been teething since 7 weeks old and nothing! It's like her teeth get to a certain point and stop then another starts to grow! Can feel them under her gums. I feel for you OP I really do! I'm fed up of everyone telling me to leave her to cry, but it's not a cry it's a scream! She has only just learnt to roll onto her side, no interest in bein on her front. I think we just have screaming babies

I would bet that they are frustration screams, not that it's possible to find out of course! Especially as she's making motions to crawl.

I do like the wonder weeks for the info about developmental leaps, but some of the "advice" is truly awful. It implies that babies can be manipulative, and that they need to be somehow squashed.

My opinion is that at this age, you can't overdo contact, closeness and responsiveness to their needs. I think that the more you do this when they're little, the more independent and confident they are as toddlers. I took ds everywhere with me and really minimised the moments where I had to leave him on his own. He's a really confident and outgoing toddler now. Could be a complete coincidence of course, seeing as that's a sample of one.

My lovely friends DD used to scream like this. It sounded like a kettle whistling!

Her doctor said part of it was teething pain, part frustration and partly because she just liked the sound of her own voice.

I don't have anymore helpful advice other than what wise PP have already said. Just wanted to show you that you aren't alone!

for you!

Thank you all for the support x

I agree with exbrighton, this isn't the time to worry about her learning to be alone. The separation anxiety is a phase that passes in its own time. Do whatever it takes for a more peaceful life!

Theres a wonder week at that age. Week 26 I think. I remember that being a particularly bad one and I thought I was going to lose the plot. She got through that and I remember her being lovely around 6.5 mths but the run up to it was truly awful and sleep was dreadful. I remember that at 6.5 mths she suddenly had a good run of sttn until ww 37 hit. Say no more.