Help! 8 month old crying and tantrums 75% of the time then has hyper crazy moments.

[rhirhibumblebee]

Hello!

Looking for some advice with my son who's almost 8 months old. Here's the lo-down... He has reflux and so has milk prescribed. He had colic as a young baby but grew out of that. He has plenty of stimulation, toys, trips out, friends round etc etc. He eats three meals a day and enjoys it. He sleeps through the night 8/9 til about 7.

So this last two weeks he has been a real devil, crying, not letting me put him down, wingey all the time, no longer enjoys the bath which he used to - he now screams! Constantly has these tantrum episodes of screaming which I can't figure what's up! It's got to the stage where I'm now worried something is actually wrong? GP and health visitor are dismissive and say it's his reflux. But he's not sick anymore as such. Just small bits.

Thing is, he will then have a patch of being this lovely, funny little boy and being crazy and giggling. So I just don't know how to deal with the screaming fits?! He constantly bangs his head too. His dad walked out when he was three months old so I'm on my own too.

(By the way, he is almost 8 months but crawling amazing, standing and saying mom mom)

Hope someone can give me some advice! Thanks Rhi! (rhirhibumblebee) xxx

Hi

Feel for you. DS2 had reflux and screamed 16 hours a day for the first year. It was heartbreaking but also I found it really emotionally draining.

It could well be the reflux still. Just because he's not throwing up doesn't mean it's not. He could be in severe pain. Bad reflux leaves internal scars and the acid that rises in the stomach and throat is really burning and agonising.

I'd go back to GP and insist on some meds to help alleviate his pain, or if he has them ask for his dose to be increased: Ranitidine (Zantac) Domperidone etc even baby Gaviscon will help and you can use all three simultaneously afaik, as they work in different ways.

If you can, try baby massage as well. I was taught some really good techniques that helped when his stomach was bloated and in knots.

Lots of people swear by cranial osteopathy. If you live in or near London there's a training centre that doe sit for free. We never tried it but it worked magic on friends' babies who howled and were unsettled.

Any chance it's teething or separation anxiety? Sounds a good age for both to be honest.

There can always be a bit of screaming when they get used to their voice, get frustrated because they can't walk / run / drive / vote etc

Fickle little things - as soon as you crack the reason for this, he'll find something else to perplex you with.

Most likely a phase and will pass, but if your gut says otherwise, try the GP again. In the meantime, if he's fed, dry, the right temp and still being a grumpus; distract, distract, distract

Thanks chinamoon, yes I will go back to the GP and ask if he can have some extra medication. Gaviscon didn't work. He's prescribed enfamil formula milk though. He perhaps is in pain still with his reflux yes.

And that's a good point NorthEasterlyGale, it could be a bit of seperation anxiety. I hadn't thought of that as yes he is happier if I'm holding him. It could be that he stays overnight once a week at his dad's, maybe this has something to do with it. I'd rather it was every two weeks but don't know where I stand with that.

Thanks! Guess the key is remain calm through the screaming! :-)