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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

7 month old has been discontent/whiney/crying since the day he was born

45 replies

emungavin · 12/03/2015 21:43

I'm looking for some help/advice from anyone who has had experience of a very discontent/whiney baby - I'm starting to worry that there's something more serious going on with my boy.

My little boy is 7 months old and he is really really hard work. He had a really bad tongue tie so breast feeding was nearly impossible. This was followed by colic and terrible reflux (which he still has a bit of). He was then hospitalized with bronchiolitis eight weeks ago which he is only now recovering from. Despite this he has reached all his milestones, many before the expected time and is a very bright and inquisitive little boy.

He has been very unsettled since the day he was born. He has never ever sat on my knee/cuddled without crying, he doesn't sit still, he whines every second of the day and when he's not whining he's full-scale crying. No-one wants to hold him because they don't know how to soothe him.

All along I've been thinking he's just a high energy baby but I'm starting to wonder if there's an underlying health issue. I should also add that he barely ever sleeps. He wakes up 3/4 times during the night and at nap time he cries his heart out for at least 45 minutes before falling asleep for 30 mins - he never EVER naps for more than 30 minutes. He seems to be exhausted but can't relax enough to get a good sleep.

I really have tried everything. I absolutely love my little boy, he is the most beautiful, funny little man and I just want to help him. He seems so terribly unhappy all the time. I sing to him and read to him, I dance with him, massage him, stroke his back/head to try and help him relax. Nothing works.

My mother's instinct is telling me there's something more going on. Also - he was an assisted delivery with a ventouse - have heard this can create unsettled babies!? Advice would be much appreciated!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MrsFlannel · 12/03/2015 22:21

first...the sleep issues are not that unusual in a 7 month old. far from ideal but alone, what you describe....waking 3-4 times per night is not unusual at such a young age.

The constant crying is more of an issue....it would either indicate pain or discomfort to me but what matters most is your instinct...if you say there's something niggling you about him then there could be something. How is he feeding? Is he having any solids?

tinkerbellvspredator · 12/03/2015 22:24

Is he being treated for the reflux/silent reflux?

mawbroon · 12/03/2015 22:28

Did you address the tongue tie issue?

Does he also have a high palate?

These are linked and can cause a shit load of problems.

evenafterall · 12/03/2015 22:30

Reflux is probably stopping him from sleeping and that creates a very cranky baby. I would investigate that. My d's had it and did not keep until he was 24 months. It's very hard but I would insist on tests and not being fobbed off.

Original poster

emungavin · 12/03/2015 22:31

He feeds very well - he was taking way more than the normal amount up until around 4 months but was then diagnosed with silent reflux which explains the over eating as he was most likely taking more than he needed to soothe his throat. He would bring most of it up but was telling us he was hungry! He now has 5 6oz bottles a day (doesn't quite finish a few of them) and some solids 2/3 times a day (not an awful lot as he is having finger food and hasn't quite managed to eat a lot yet).

We tried various medications for the reflux, none of which made a difference and he has been on Aptamil Anti-Reflux milk for a few months which really helps him!

OP posts:

kilmuir · 12/03/2015 22:31

cranial osteopathy

RandomMess · 12/03/2015 22:33

Keep going with the reflux meds and yes try cranial osteopathy.

I'm afraid with my cranky baby (due to silent reflux) it just took time, a long time

Original poster

emungavin · 12/03/2015 22:34

Yes we got his tongue tie fixed at 6 weeks. I'm not sure about high palate, would we know that already if he had one? Is that linked to tongue tie?

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Original poster

emungavin · 12/03/2015 22:35

I was in a bit of a state today and called a local osteopath and got an appointment for tomorrow morning - very skeptical but also really wishing for it to work!

OP posts:

stargirl1701 · 12/03/2015 22:39

DD1 had silent reflux and was a very unsettled baby. Things got better at 11 months.

britishbakeoffblues · 12/03/2015 22:39

My son was like this - I decided he had cows milk allergy which was FINALLY agreed by the local hospital. I changed him to soya milk and he was better. Not completely normal, but better,

Crazyqueenofthecatladies · 12/03/2015 22:40

Sounds like a textbook case of cows milk protein intolerance. He ticks every single box going. Sod the osteopath get him on a hypoallergenic formula - neonate or nutramagen lipid - and you'll both have your lives back. Seven months is far far too long to be living in constant pain.

MrsFlannel · 12/03/2015 22:41

I agree with bake and CatLadies. That makes sense OP.

Manic3mum · 12/03/2015 22:48

I was about to suggest milk intolerance - he sounds as if he's in pain a lot of the time. Try swapping milk and see what happens. See your GP or HV.

mawbroon · 12/03/2015 22:50

If you know what you are looking for then yes, a high palate would be obvious. The tongue smooths out the palate in utero and beyond but if the full swallowing movement can't be done by a restricted tongue then the baby is born with a bubble palate. Have a look for images and compare.

What to you know about the revision? Was it an anterior tie or posterior? Sadly, there are many hcps out there revising ties and either not doing them properly or perhaps revising an obvious anterior tie but failing to spot a posterior tie.

Revision alone is not a magic bullet, ties can create tensions in the jaw, head and neck and this can gave a knock on effect on the whole body. A cranial sociopath who understands about ties would be able to sort this hut no amount of homeopathy will help if the underlying problem ie the tie is not resolved.

There are pics on my profile of my DS. He was much older before I figured it out and he had no end of problems when he was wee. It affected his ability to eat, sleep and breathe, all of which are needed for good health.

There are a couple of tongue tie groups on Facebook which you should maybe ask to join.

omama · 12/03/2015 22:54

Agree sounds like reflux/milk could still be bothering him so def get that checked out, but I wonder if he is also overtired with you saying he only ever takes 30 minute naps. This would certainly contribute to his whining & crying & might explain the long periods of crying at naptime too.
How often does he nap during the day & at what times? Can you post what a typical day looks like?

standingonlego · 12/03/2015 22:57

3 topic plan.

Tongue tie - mr Griffiths at Southampton was awesome. Get it rechecked.

Milk intolerance - see above. Check it out and see if helps.

Cranial osteopath

latenightmum · 12/03/2015 23:02

occ.uk.com/

Original poster

emungavin · 12/03/2015 23:05

Thanks for all your suggestions. Crazyqueenofthecatladies Have looked up milk intolerance and sounds very like my son! He's had heavy breathing since a few weeks old and the GP can't find any reason for it (apart from that he may be asthmatic when he's older).

omama

A typical day looks like this:
6am: Feed 6oz
7.30am: wake up
8am: breakfast
9.30am: nap for 30 mins
10am: play/walk
12pm: Feed 6oz
12.30pm/1pm: nap for 30 mins
1pm/1.30pm: lunch
1.30pm: play/walk
3pm: Feed 6oz
3.30pm: Desperately try to get him to nap - sometimes naps but mostly not
4pm-6.30pm: screaming/whining/trying to eat dinner
6.30pm: bathtime/6oz feed/storytime
7pm: bed

Sorry that is so detailed but it gives you a good picture of what our day is normally like!

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Original poster

emungavin · 12/03/2015 23:06

Thanks standingonlego I'm determined to work my way down the list and work out what's going on! It's a shame the poor little things can't tell us what they're feeling!!

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pintofwineplease · 12/03/2015 23:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mawbroon · 12/03/2015 23:16

Allergies and intolerance are pretty common in tied kids. There appears to be a link between ties and gut health but no "proof" as such.

You may find that there is more than one thing going on.

You mention breathing. Does he snore or mouth breathe? A high palate can restrict the nostrils causing breathing problems.

HootyMcTooty · 12/03/2015 23:23

Sounds exactly like my DD1 who was also a ventouse delivery. She became a very happy child eventually (though she's now in the terrible twos). Some babies are just criers, but you should see if you can rule out any health problems and the advice you've received upthread is all good. I was a bit sceptical of cranial osteopathy, but it worked wonders for a friend's child.

Original poster

emungavin · 12/03/2015 23:27

pintofwineplease we were given ranitidine and then omeprazole - neither made a difference. Was going to try gaviscon but was told that anti-reflux milk basically has a type of gaviscon in it already. Do you think I could get a GP referral to a dietician? He does get red cheeks but I thought it was teething. He never gets the runs, he is constantly really badly constipated!

mawbroon he does snore - I mentioned it at his 6 week check up thinking it was very quick and the GP quite sternly said 'babies this age should NOT be snoring' but she checked him over and he's been checked over because of heavy breathing many times since and we've been given no answers! He does mouth breathe sometimes.

OP posts:

Original poster

emungavin · 12/03/2015 23:29

*cute not quick

OP posts:

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