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Original poster

What the hell is wrong with my baby?

128 replies

Bodkin · 30/03/2008 18:31

DD2 (8.5 months) has always been a bloody difficult baby. Today she has reached a new low. She has been screamign at full pelt nearly all day. The only way I have been able to get her to nap is to put her in the cot and leave ehr to scream it out... any other intervention just makes things worse.

She has had a fever for the past few days and whilst unwell has been very drowsy and placid... now she's feeling better again she is just absolutely foul tempered.

I don't really know what to do with her to make her stop crying.

I have tried a sling - she naps for about 10 mins before waking up, but it's not practical anyway as I have DD1 to look after.

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McDreamy · 30/03/2008 18:34

Have you had her checked over by your GP? I know a doctor who's daughter was like this and she had a hernia. She had a small operation and was a much happier child. Not saying this is the case for you DD but it might be worth getting her checked. Have you considered a osteopath?

fryalot · 30/03/2008 18:36

bodkin, it does sound like there is something wrong.

Not necessarily anything to worry about wrong, but I think it's definitely worth getting a doc to have a look at her, even if it is just to rule out anything medical.

Good luck

Original poster
Bodkin · 30/03/2008 18:37

We took her to the out of hours gp yesterday afternoon... needless to say upon arrival she was all smiles and looked completely fine... doc checked her for ear infection and chest infection - all fine.

I feel utterly in despair and I can't stop her crying. DP is wandering around the garden with her now.

It's like her brain has short-circuited and all she can do is cry. Her voice is going from screaming so much

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McDreamy · 30/03/2008 18:39

What's your GP or HV like? Someone you can sit down and talk with? Sounds like the out of hours GP was looking for signs of an acute infection only. Have you given her any pain killers? Poor wee mite! Poor you too

fryalot · 30/03/2008 18:39

Is she scrunching her legs up to her tummy? Has she pooed recently? Is she getting enough to drink?

I'll try to think of what else could be going on...

Original poster
Bodkin · 30/03/2008 18:47

I can see that she's still not completely recovered from the fever and is clearly a bit wiped out by it... I was assuming (perhaps wrongly) that the screaming was overtiredness, but she had a 3 hour nap this afternoon (which I woke her up from in the end because I didn't want a screaming baby all evening as well)

We gave her some Medised before we put her down for the nap, just to help her get to sleep as she was screaming and thrashing around and sedating her seemed the only way to get her to calm down.

I wish I hadn't woken her up from the nap now.

She doesn't seem to be in any obvious pain - she is quite calm now DP is walking around outside with her, but as soon as he comes inside, she's off again.

Thanks for replying so quickly anyway... it helps just having someone listen

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donnie · 30/03/2008 18:48

sounds like she is ultra tired as well, has got into a circle of crying with exhaustion which keeps her ( an dyou ) awake....I agree a trip to the gp would be worth while. Cranial osteopathy can work wonders, it did for my dd1 who was very colicky.

3littlefrogs · 30/03/2008 18:52

I think it may just be that you woke her from her nap - if she has been ill she probably really needed the extra sleep. Perhaps she will be in a better mood after a night's rest. (Lets hope so anyway).

LynetteScavo · 30/03/2008 18:56

I agree with donnie re the cranial osteopth (there is a first time for everything )

Was it a difficult birth?

Original poster
Bodkin · 30/03/2008 18:57

We took her for CO when she was 3-4 months - had about 3 sessions... made not a blind bit of difference.

I guess today's madness is just chronic overtiredness as a result of this bug she's had.

DP seems to have got her calmed down a bit while I've been on here anyway.

One other thing, she does keep rubbing her nose, which isn't congested.

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lilQuidditchKel · 30/03/2008 19:02

i'd also try a cranial osteopath. needn't take too much time, they can do an intial assessment and then you can decide whether to continue.

With these things IMO it's good to get different views, including the GP.

Could it be digestive discomfort? My DS had that and it took ages till we realised & got his milk allergy diagnosed. he used to have crying fits as well - sounds like yours.

I am sorry and totally sympathise!!

3NAB · 30/03/2008 19:03

It sounds like she feels lousy or is in pain, rather than screaming just for the heck of it.

Original poster
Bodkin · 30/03/2008 19:06

3LF - i think you are right. Note to self....NEVER wake a sleeping baby who is recovering from being ill!

She has now calmed down considerably and is on my lap as i type... phew

thanks all

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Original poster
Bodkin · 30/03/2008 19:10

3NAB - i may have come across a bit harsh in my earlier posts due to desperation and frustration at a screaming baby... but i never suggested she was screaming for the heck of it... hence posting to ask what might be wrong.

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lilQuidditchKel · 30/03/2008 19:12

glad to hear she's feeling better now

3andnomore · 30/03/2008 19:15

OH, I do have lots and lots of sympathy for you...my ys was a very sensitive child and the amount of screaming he used to do on a daily basis when he was well, which then would quatruple when he wasn't...well, it used to drive me insane...
It's so hard to deal with a child that screams when nothing settles them

Any chance your little one is teething, btw?

All, I can say is, that they do outgrow it, thank god...!

3NAB · 30/03/2008 19:22

I never said you did. It just read like you thought she was crying to annoy you as your language was quite brusk when talking about her. I know it is hard, I have 3 myself, but I just felt like there was something wrong with her rather than a temper situation iyswim.

I hope she sleeps well tonight.

throckenholt · 30/03/2008 19:25

sounds like an overtired baby to me.

Have you tried white noise - eg a radio out of tune in the room with her ?

3NAB · 30/03/2008 19:26

Yes, that is a good idea, or go and do some hoovering, but be careful not to make it so she needs the noise to go to sleep.

Meandmyjoe · 30/03/2008 20:13

Oh crikey Bodkin, I was just thinking of you today when my ds was in a fowl mood and remembering how you told me your dd2 was slowly improving. I keep hanging on to the fact that your dd1 improved dramatically when she got mobile! I'm so sorry that you're having a terrible day. Dunno if this is relevant but you mentioned rubbing her nose. My ds does this a lot when he's tired, not sure why, he rubs his eyes the constantly rubs/itches his nose. That's when we know it's nap time! Although he still only sleeps for 30mins at a time

I'm sure she's just a bit gumpy and tired from being poorly, it takes us all a few days to recover.

Is she crawling yet? I know this won't make it any easier for you but just wanted to let you know you're not alone. My ds is still the misery guts I posted about a couple of months ago and is still not crawling. He's 7.5 months now and is still only happy when being carried around, hates me to sit with him. It's depressing so I understand how you feel. DS also seems very over sensitive to things and will cry or whinge for no apparent reason (probably overtired). I hate it when family come round and want to hold him cos they always end up making him cry and then act like it's my fault he's so touchy. It's miserable.

I really hope your dd2 improves soon. Maybe if she get's a good night's sleep she'll feel a bit brighter. I'm still counting dow the weeks til ds' birthday, I keep telling myself it has to get easier. Remind yourself of this when she's screaming. DD1 turned out fine and so will dd2, just takes time (and energy and truck loads of patience)

perpetualworrier · 30/03/2008 20:35

I took DS2 to the docs at the end of a day of non-stop crying. He might have been a bit younger than your DS (it's a bit foggy), but the dr told me that the only things that make them scream constantly like that are, a water infection, ear infection or wind.

In our case it was wind and I was really embarrassed (although doc was fine and even phoned next day to see how he was). As your DD has been unwell, I would get her back to docs to rule out an infection.

Original poster
Bodkin · 30/03/2008 20:36

I know Meandmy - she was improving, I think that's why I've felt so in despair today - to come out of the woods, only to go right back in them again, in to a particularly thorny thicket as well!

I'm sorry to hear you're not seeing any signs of improvement yet either - and I know exactly what you mean about not being able to let other family members have a cuddle... and particularly my poor DD1 who only wants to give her baby sister a kiss - which almost always makes DD2 cry, then they both end up crying!

Ah well, come their first birthday, we'll have to start a thread and share a glass of virtual champagne

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Original poster
Bodkin · 30/03/2008 20:37

Perpetual worrier - do you know, she has just done about 3 HUGE farts... I think you may have hit the nail on the head. Combined with serious overtiredness and post viral fatigue. Blimey, I'd probably scream too

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castille · 30/03/2008 20:44

Re nose-rubbing - my DS rubs his nose when he's tired. It's a very clear sign to us that he needs his bed.

Poor thing, I hope it is simply wind and she stops crying now. Lie her on her front for a bit before she goes to bed!

Scattybird · 30/03/2008 20:50

Babies don't seem to be in any paid as they don't know how to hold a leg or an arm still. They keep moving.

I think that if an 8.5 month baby is screaming for a whole day there is something more wrong than teething or wind. I don't believe that GP's pick up everything.

Your first stop should be a cranial osteopath. Then ask your gp to refer you to a paediatrician.

Do you have more than one child?