Baby won't stop crying and very clingy!

[KnackeredCow2024]

Hi all, I really need help. I'm a first time Mum, my baby son is 7 months and he is really really clingy, it's just getting worse and worse and honestly he's been like that since birth. Don't get me wrong, I love cuddles, but the moment I put him down he screams at the top of his lungs, even when I'm right there. My ears are sore and I have a headache from all his screaming. He won't let anyone else hold him, only my partner but he works full time so I only really get help in the evenings and weekends. He's never liked his cot, so we now co-sleep, it's the only way we all get a decent night's sleep. He spends hours and hours crying. He needs to be rocked and held until he sleeps and when he wakes and I'm not there, again more screaming. Going to the loo and needing to leave the room is a nightmare, he just screams and doesn't stop until I go back to him and pick him up. Teething is making it worse, it feels like he's been teething forever and no sign of those teeth! Peekaboo doesn't work. He doesn't want to be held by any close family members or friends, going out makes me feel SO anxious and I have to really psych myself up for it every time. He cries in the car, in the push chair. We made the mistake of trying the cry it out method to try and teach him some self soothing techniques but he's become EVEN more clingy, as if that was possible! I have a carrier, that works better but I can't walk round with him strapped to me all the time it's not possible. I feel like I've tried everything, can anyone relate and did anything work for you? I just want to be able to put him down for a bit and him not scream, and I'd love it if he was able to be held by family and not scream. It's extremely stressful.

Hi K.C. - how are you faring? Top tip - clove oil is a natural numbing salve for those sore gums and sharp teeth. A little of that and an iced dummy might give the little guy a break (thus then mama too!!)

Crying is the basic language so, although it all sounds the same - are there any variations you notice in the cries themselves?

On YouTube an Oprah clip with the baby whisperer is about how each one can translate easier. So you can tell if it's one of the main crying topics: a hunger, wet nappy, indigestion or physical pain cry. Constipation is covered too but there are a few things that make A LOT of sense.

But also - hang in there. These things don't come with an instruction manual xxx :) you're doing better than you know

@KnackeredCow2024 you have my sympathy. My forest was very much like this but also wouldn't sleep either. It's bloody exhausting isn't it.

Some things that helped us were taking him with me, even if I went to the loo. I ended up with a small box of toys in each room. If I was cooking he was in his high chair with me at that age.

He was also better if we were busy so I think I went to every baby group or session going.

Another thing that helped was taking it in turns with DH to have a lie in.

Our DS did have Tongue Tie though so I think that was the main issue.

@RappersNeedChapstick @TakingNotes thank you both so much for your response. I will definitely try clove oil and an iced dummy. And I'll give the Oprah clip a watch.

6 days since my original post and it has gotten worse. I think DS is going through a sleep regression as he is now stirring all night and waking up early. I guess I just have to wait it out.

@KnackeredCow2024 please tell me to mind my own business but ... do you breastfeed?

If you (or anyone you know or is reading this) does and if you are regularly consuming drinks with sweetener, then this contributes to cholic because of tummy discomfort from sweetener in mum's milk.

Just incase anyone reading isn't aware:
Sweetener of any kind outside of naturally occurring glucose molecules, is not something we naturally or even really can digest. When a newborn up until age 2 is developing their digestive tract and taste buds, they are SUPER sensitive. (Thus messy nappies when "DS/ DD only had a few grapes?!!" or kind of why the can and cannot eat foods list is a bit extensive.)

The structures of natural glucose sugars fit the receptor cells of the digestive tract and our kidneys are able to identify and filter them. These sweeteners all have strange shapes to the developing organs and sensitive tummies.

Please stop reading here if you don't want to know the details of what these toxins can cause.

Please do read if your family is regularly exposed to sweeteners or "no added sugar" products.

I don't want to scare anyone but, as a Level 4 Diet and Nutrition advisor, these poisons should be made illegal.

WARNING AHEAD: THE FOLLOWING IS NOT ONLY TRUE BUT ALSO THE REASON FOR A SPIKE IN NEW NEURODEGENERATIVE CONDITIONS FOR ALL AGES.

If you see aspartame or alcefumate-k: RUN.

PLEASE!

"No added sugar" means they add something man made to make up for it.

Diet Coke, Pepsi MAX, Ribena and even "fruit" juices monopolised by Ocean Spray who had no reason to worry about price competition all use it while otherz opt for sucralose in others (the jury is still out with this one but results are similar thus far).

What happens when these VERY POORLY man made substances are ingested is they metabolise into formaldehyde (what they use for embalming) and your body CANNOT DIGEST FORMALDEHYDE.

So although they taste 1000x sweeter than sugar gram for gram, it floats around and stays in your body in (nearly) all cases INDEFINITELY.

Formaldehyde floats until the shape can fit somewhere, and fat cells are the only thing it fits... It encases fat, stopping fat from being burned off or used by organs to complete necessary functions. This means if the fat cells that clog arteries were encased, the clog cannot be cleared without surgical intervention.

If the fat cells your brain uses to send messages through its network are encased, the brain cannot complete the message. The brain will experience a "short circuit" episode but if a lot of the brain has formaldehyde, children develop dopamine deprived based ADD/ADHD, non-epileptic seizures, BPD (because of the brain having inefficient hormone regulation), and even various kinds of blindness.

The worst examples these chemicals are causing include things like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Motor Neuron Degenerative disease. Including in children.

Thankfully I think most baby food and medicinal products only use xylitol sweetener but it causes stomach cramps and can change the oral and nasal sensitivity.

Mannitol may be a laxative, but it isn't as bad.

These chemicals are more addictive than sigar. Weaning off of them is the safest option too in cases where these are most of what you eat is contaminated by them

Slimfast have shot themselves in the foot doing this and sentenced our generation to a 100x fold in dementia type disease.

Your little one probably doesn't have this problem.

But may he never.

May you all stay happy, healthy and (return to being) well rested.

Please reach out if sweeteners are a part of your daily diet as I am happy to help with any issues you may worry can be a possibility.

Much love -
Vii

Let's just say both my daughters have family nicknames based on the fierceness of their attachment to me as babies...

I also just brought them with me wherever I went, with different toys in each room. It's hard not getting a break, but rushing to the loo whilst they scream is not a break either.

For putting down, I did a very gradually process, so like if he's happy sat on your knee, try to work towards having him sat next to you on sofa, leaning against you, with your arm around him. Then without the arm. Then maybe sat on the floor leaning against you. Then sat touching you, but not leaning into you. Then sat on the floor a teeny bit away from you, but able to reach and touch you if they want, etc. On bad days, go back a step or two – it won't stop you going forward again, but it will help him trust that the cuddles are still there when he needs them.

I found it got easier when they were mobile, as then they could be put down in the same room and they knew they could get to me if they wanted.

Hi Vii, sorry for my late reply. This is super interesting and I really appreciate you sharing your knowledge so kindly. Yes I did breastfeed but stopped around 4 months and I am someone who puts a sweetener in their tea! I do wonder after reading your post whether that was the cause of my babys reflux and general fussiness. There was no correlation between me stopping breastfeeding and him going onto formula though, in terms of his fussiness - he was as fussy being breastfed as he is on formula. Thanks again for your insights - I agree if sweeteners affects babies like this they absolutely should be banned!!!! X

Also, the iced dummy worked a treat - thank you! It doesn't solve the fussiness but it gives him a 5 minute break from crying / screaming when we first give it to him, which we are grateful for.

Thank you very much for your help and insights. We have spread out the toys a bit as you suggest, and I've been making more use of the harness which seems to help! Also going out more, he now has moments where he plays by himself on his play mat and seems content. Very pleased the crying is starting to reduce and hope it lasts and doesn't go back to before! Well done to you for getting through it too. X