Struggling

[Taler]

My DD is nearly 7 months and for around 3-4 months she sometimes screams. Not cries. Screams!

I have posted on here before several times about her screaming and unfortunately never received any explanation of why she does this. Even the paedeatrician couldn't tell me.

I just find it SOOOOOOOO hard not knowing why!!!! Most of he time I think its teething but am not totally convinced as sometimes the screams come with no other teething signs, plus I will sometimes give her Calpol and she still screams!

I also thought it may be boredom/attention. As example myself and my DH took her out today around some beautiful natural herritage gardens and she screamed for pretty much all of it! But if it was boredom then why on other similar occasions does she not scream?!?!??

It CANT be her "finding her voice" cause she'd do it all the time and she doesn't!

I have no patience left with it and its so hard to listen to!!!! I hate not knowing why and i feel so down :(

What have you ruled out?

When she is screaming what is she doing?

Have you tried sticking her in a sling, making sure she isn't hot (eg in warm weather she'd only need one layer) and walking by a busy road.

Does she nap in the day? How do you nap her? Dark room, white noise etc?

I can't really rule anything out and over the last months of her doing it I've seen no pattern at all.

I feel I am a very attentive mother and, for example, ensure I offer her plenty of water in this hot weather, she'll only be dressed in 100% cotton and of course only 1 layer.

Her naps have improved (she used to be a cat napper) and an average day she'll have one 30/40 min sleep in the morning, 1 long sleep late lunchtime (anything between 1-2 hours) and an afternoon sleep of around 40 mins to an hour. If we are out and about though like today it will be less.

I am at a total loss!

My DS is the same. Screams all effing day non stop unless I am carrying him.

I have invested in a Stokke Baby Carrier, I also have a spare sling in the car/buggy, he will ONLY stop if being carried, god forbid should I attempt to put him on play mat, bouncer, by other babies, gym etc ...

It is the single most draining situation I have ever been in, I can only offer you sympathy & I am told (they better be right) that it passes, although my DS is 6 Months and has been like this from day 1.

Does she stop screaming when you pick her up??

TheJourney22 - does your DS scream every day? I only ask because my DD (thank god) doesn't. In fact she can go weeks sometimes with no screams!

This is what I find so hard - the not knowing why!

I TOTALLY appreciate your situation must be incredibly trying but you at least know why he's doing it so can stop it (although I appreciate you must be shattered if you are constantly having to carry him).

Yep screams all day, everyday! Tiring beyond belief, however the sling works as I can at least get on with a few bits.

Hmmm! So she has "good & bad" days. How odd it's so sporadic, however, they just like to mess with us I swear to god! As my mother said "they are clever little fu**ers!"

Maybe chat with HV again? I'm going to see mine again this week as I worry about physical development being affected due to being carried around all effing day!!! Arghhhh

Tests your patience doesn't it???

Maybe it is just when she's overtired then. If it isn't every day then unlikely to be anything like an allergy.

Maybe it's frustration, my dd screams when she is frustrated, sometimes its obvious why she is frustrated ie she can't get a toy to do x y or z, others it's not but is the same scream.

Could be food allergy related or any other environmental allergy?

Food allergy: has she had dairy yet for example?

Is she BF or FF? If BF, have you seen any difference when you don't have dairy or do have dairy?

It could be dairy, soya, egg or wheat causing a problem. It could be from your milk and or anything she eats herself.

Has reflux been ruled out? Ear infection?

If you feel there is something wrong, there most likely probably is. Don't like doctors fob you off.

My DD had silent reflux which was only diagnosed after an A&E visit. She was still unsettled and we later found out it was food allergies, dairy amongst others. She is much better after both of us eliminating the allergens from our diet.

Whenever I get the unidentifiable screaming, I tell myself they have growing pains. I've no idea if it's true, but I remember having horrible growing pains as a child, when my joints would ache for ages and nothing seemed to help; it seems plausible for babies too, given how fast they're growing and it helps me be sympathetic instead of the frustration I usually feel.

You are going through a very tough time, so here are some ((hugs)). Honestly you are doing fantastically well to have survived it this far, and hopefully it will pass.

Btw have you tried a sling, jumperoo or a swing?

I used a swing, bought it off ebay for about £20, and it was the only thing that DD chilled when she had those crying days. It was the one with animals and lights going round when you look up. I think it hypnotised her a little . As a disclaimer I must also add that there were days where she refused to go in it, but most days it was a god send. I don't know what I would have done without it.