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

[emungavin]

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!

pintofwine very interesting - it's beyond me why GPs haven't thought to make the connections and suggest an intolerance?! He constantly breathes heavily so it's hard to tell when it's worse. He has had dry skin behind his ears for a few weeks and a few little red lumps have been appearing around the eyes. No eczema anywhere else though. I have eczema, asthma, hayfever, allergies...he's probably gotten everything from mummy!!

My DS was a crier. It was never anything medical, just his character. He is and always has been very open with us about how he is feeling about things and this remains as a teenager.
His brother was what you would call a model baby, rarely cried or got upset. He as a child and now teen is far, far harder to read and will often bottle things up before letting us know what is wrong.
Just something to bear in mind as an alternative to a medical issue....

Thanks piggychops - I did just mention to DH that I need to be careful not to assume there's a 'cure all' solution and that maybe our little man is just sensitive! So thanks for that.

Those who have mentioned milk intolerance - do you think it's ok to try him on Cow & Gate Infasoy over the next few days and see how he goes - could that cause any harm and is it worth a try or should I really seek more medical advice before doing that. I only mention that particular one as it's all I can find in the supermarket online!

pintof thanks - bought some soy formula today, it's worth a try I reckon!

Had appointment with osteopath - didn't make even a tiny difference, didn't even chill him out when she was doing it.

Looks like it might be the milk, if anything. Thanks everyone for your help, thought I was just being over sensitive or losing my mind but hearing about your experiences has really helped!!

Get him tested for various conditions: my DS1 was like this and wasn't diagnosed with cystic fibrosis until he was 5.5. It does sound like he's ill.

Sounds like our LO, but be careful with the soy formula - there can be a high cross-reactivity so he might not show improvement. We sucked it up and spent £130 on a private GP appointment - Chiara Hunt - she diagnosed CMPI instantly and gave us a script for Aptamil Pepti, which has helped quite a bit along with omeprazole (the omeprazole made everything much worse for 2 weeks before better). She also sent our NHS GP the script recommendation so we now get the formula on prescription.

Soya milk is not the best choice for a dairy intolerance trial. Babies who are intolerant to cows milk protein can also be intolerant to soya. Plus its not really recommended for boys as it mimicks oestrogen in the body. There's loads of info on this online so do have a read up.

Your best bet is to see your GP and tell them you think he might be intolerant, and ask for them to prescribe enough milk eg Aptamil Pepti/Nutramigen/Neocate for you to do a dairy free trial. I would suggest at least 2 weeks, but preferably 4 weeks supply as it can take a while for the cows milk to fully pass through his system.

You would also need to make sure you eliminate all dairy from his solids - 'Pure' dairy free sunflower margarine and 'Oatly' oat milk are good alternatives available in most supermarkets.

With regard to his routine, I do wonder if he's in a cycle of overtiredness (esp with you saying he's difficult to get down for that last nap). If he's fighting it most days, I would perhaps try an early bedtime instead, say 6pm instead of 7. You might just find he sleeps til the same time as usual & he will be that bit better rested. If you continue getting 30 min naps in the morning I would try bringing his lunchtime nap 30 mins earlier so he goes down at 12. (as a temporary measure). This may encourage a slightly longer nap if you can catch him before he gets too tired. This in turn should help him last the afternoon without that last nap (if he still refuses it).

Hiya I had one like this v similar history, reflux, milk intolerance. Reflux went at 18 months, dairy free diet, still miserable. Had him checked for anemia (if bleeding from oesphagus, can happen with reflux), no. Also flipping snored. Snoring noise was caused by floppy larynx, linked with reflux. Grew out of floppy larynx also 18 months ish.

To cut a long story short he started having tonsilitis every month from 10 months on. Consultant's theory is the reflux caused his tonsils to sort of permanently be on alert - they were grade 4 when removed and blocking his airways. Adenoids also enlarged. He had sleep apnoea which was making him tired, grumpy, miserable, poor appetite caused by tonsils - vicious circle really.

After removal at surprisingly early age he was loads better. Still glass half empty personality but also full of fun and a joy to be with.

I really feel for you it is horrible having a miserable baby. I got PND around 8/9 months ish cause I'd held out and held out for him to turn a corner and it just didn't happen.

pintof - no criticism of your advice intended - sorry if you took it that way - I realise that for some people soya will be the best option. Just want OP to be fully informed as she could switch to soya, see no improvement & assume he isn't intolerant when he could actually be. As above - GP is the person she needs to be seeing to rule out any possible medical issues.

I searched for different milks and formulae. My DS wouldn't take neocate or aptimil pepti.
But it's a case of getting a milk with enough calcium in it.
My ds got diarrhoea from soya milk and I was aware of the oestrogen thing which is why he's not on it now.

Hi hun. I feel your pain but it will get better.My llittle boy was exactly the same apart from the tongue tie. He cried an whinged and would never settle. He sleep patterns were awful and he too hardly slept the HV came a number of times but just said he was very difficult to entertain he eventually y was diagnosed with silent reflux and milk protein intolerance he also had constipation which contined until we went onto movical. He didn't want t go on his tummy and didn't crawl until 13 months at around 12 months we slowly moved him to cows milk which he could take OK and then he finally started to sleep better from 13montgs he slept through and he is now 2 years old and has slept well for a year now day and night. So there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hang in there its tough at first x