Is my 8 month old gaming me? 🤦

[Richteafinger]

Hi all,

Just wanted a sense check. My 8 month old daughter is really struggling with a cold and teething. Usually breastfeeding would calm her right down/send her to sleep but at night she is not latching I think due to her teeth and also congestion from cold. So she's screaming, A LOT. All medicines and teething aids given, tried settling in cot, me rocking her, husband rocking her, bouncing etc etc, all screaming, nothing calms her down.

UNTIL I briefly get my phone out to message my husband downstairs, then SILENCE, as if the light of the phone is enough to distract her. Same with the TV - instantly silent and relaxed if the (bloody) twirlywoos goes on.

I try to limit TV generally and don't let her have my phone, so I'm a bit confused as to whether she can really be that upset/in that much pain if she is so easily distracted from it by these screens? If they are turned off, the screaming starts again.

What would you do?

I remember around that age when my eldest wouldn't settle, nothing I did helped- just seemed to wind her up and upset her more! Until I put her in her cot and would phone my mum while I was sat outside her bedroom- instant silence while she listened in. It'd calm her down and then she'd settle.

Weird little sods aren't they?