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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

DS 5 months, no idea what I'm doing anymore

28 replies

arthymum · 05/02/2009 16:22

My DS has always been a fairly easy-going baby but last week all that changed. He screams if I try and get him to nap and has become very clingy, to the point where yesterday afternoon if I didn't maintain eye contact he lost the plot! I think he's teething but he's also ravenously hungry and I feel like I'm going round and round in circles, administering teething remedies, shoving my boob at him, fruitlessly trying to get him to nap. It's like I've lost all instinct as to what he wants and nothing works anymore. I'd been trying to go with the flow, trying to remember that everything's a phase but after days of this, by this time of day we're both now exhausted and miserable. Is this a 5 month thing? I'm exhausted.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

bringonthetrumpets · 05/02/2009 16:27

oooooooh i feel your pain! ds is 4.5 months and is behaving the same way. it's exhausting and nerve wracking and the screams go straight to your core. do you have anyone who can come and watch him for a bit so you can go out and get a massage or a hairstyle?

CantSleepWontSleep · 05/02/2009 16:30

Stick him in a sling/pushchair and take him for an outdoor walk at his difficult time of day. Screaming never seems as bad out in the open, and fresh air should help you both to sleep better.

Original poster

arthymum · 05/02/2009 16:35

No, no family nearby and only friend not at work has a tiny baby to cope with! We go out to some groups which helps but the rest of the day is very long. I go out for walks too but he is difficult all day long, that's the trouble.

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jemart · 05/02/2009 17:08

Have you started weaning yet? he sounds hungry. I found rusks and or bread sticks a very helpful distraction during teething as they can be sucked and go mushy easily. sugar free ice poles, the mini ones, are also a big help for sore gums.

iamaLeafontheWind · 05/02/2009 18:30

My 5 mth DD can get like this, I found weaning was great as a playtime & amusment. It gave some structure to the day and tired her out so she napped better. Plus starting a couple of weeks early (just on fruit & baby rice) gets you both ahead of the game later.

(Whispers) I also find a routine based book useful to glance through to get head a bit more relaxed, but I never follow it for more than a day.

oopsacoconut · 05/02/2009 18:43

Are you sure you don't have my baby??? My DD has started this. Dh wonders why nothing in the house is ever done at the moment. I have been told it is just a phase and they are undergoing so many changes they don't know how to cope so react the only way they know how, by being clingy and crying to express their frustration. Just repeat after me - this too will pass, this too will pass, this too will pass.

Original poster

arthymum · 05/02/2009 19:31

We have started weaning a couple of weaks early, giving him a bit of baby rice which he shouts for and grabs the spoon, which I take to be a good sign! We did have a nice routine going until the hourly feeding frenzy and complete refulsal to nap started...

Oopsacoconut - I think my DH also wonders why I get nothing done. He put the bedclothes onto wash before he went to work which really annoyed me as I then had to hang them up and put fresh ones on - sounds pathetic and lazy when I write it down but it is genuinely so difficult to get anything done. How anyone has more than one of these little creatures is beyond me, lol!

Well, he has finally crashed out so I'm off to have a bath, ready to gird my loins for tomorrow...

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Mummywannabe · 05/02/2009 19:44

my little monster did this too! settling down well now at 7mths (oh god bet it all goes to pot now i've dared to think i have it sussed!)

Original poster

arthymum · 05/02/2009 19:56

mummywannabe - he's settling at seven months?! I have six whole weeks of this to look forward to?! Oh My Word... (arthymum contemplates holding her head under the bathwater... )

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Mummywannabe · 05/02/2009 19:59

oopps! sorry should have kept that to myself! It did get easier bit by bit (trying to backtrack!)

moocowme · 05/02/2009 21:16

have you tried calpol? they finding the pain of teething realy scary at this age. I found calpol and something very cold to suck on worked well as did distractions like walking round shops etc.

wiggletastic · 06/02/2009 09:49

Our DD is a bit younger but she is quite grumpy a lot of the time. We find that distraction is the only thing that works and getting her to nap using any method possible - out in pram, driving round in car or rocking for ages and giving the dummy. I am assured all this stops when they are weaned (I hope so!) Early weaning could be the answer but prob best to check with your GP/HV first. As long as you don't give any foods not recommended for under 6mths you should be ok. Lots of good info on weaning on MN. Good luck and prob best to stick to showers rather than baths to avoid temptation!!

Original poster

arthymum · 06/02/2009 10:06

Yes, we are going out for a walk today, arctic conditions or no! He has now starting waking up more in the night to compound everything!

Our HV agreed we should wean him a bit early as his weight gain has stopped. So this will give us a head start, as iamaleafonthewind said. But I know that milk has the most calories so am upping the number of feeds too - 3 extra yesterday and 2 extra in the night, greedy boy!

This too will pass, this too will pass...

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Mummywannabe · 06/02/2009 10:14

bless you, was thinking about you earlier wondering how it was going. My monster woke every 2 hours last night, see told you i jinxed it!

charitygirl · 06/02/2009 10:18

My 20 week old is starting to exhibit very similar behaviour. I cried last night for the first time since he was just a few days old!

Original poster

arthymum · 06/02/2009 10:34

charitygirl - yes, it's like they're newborns again, isn't it? I am certainly doing my share of weeping, usually later in the day...

Well, attempt number one at a nap ended with an explosive poo. Attempt number two underway but doesn't sound good. Oh dear...

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charitygirl · 06/02/2009 10:45

have sort of given up on proper naps and am just shoving him in the wrap sling at appropriate times of the day - after a bit of walking he drops off and I get some peace. not a long term strategy, but i recommend it for short term respite.

And they're so SWEET at this age, but i'm so grumpy, and then so guilty...aargh!

mrsjammi · 06/02/2009 10:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

charitygirl · 06/02/2009 11:04

Mrs Jammi - he would get so bored in bed, even with toys - esp if i dared to read she says, typing on mumsnet, with squirmy child on lap

he just wasnted to be continually walked around with looking at things and his fave thing is to sit on my lap and watch me and AN Other have a conversation. So we go out every day and engineer this by hook or by crook but obviously most of the time its just me and him and he is bored.

he's also a brutally efficient feeder so spends only 20 mins max on the breast - i dream of a nice quiet hour!

Original poster

arthymum · 06/02/2009 11:10

Yes, my DS insists on sitting on my lap or being carried around so he can see everything/everyone. I've tried several times to lie down in bed with him and he just screams and arches his back. He is feeding to sleep more than he has done for months but only sleeps for about 15 minutes and then wakes up with a wild look in his eyes! But you're right charitygirl, they are sooo cute at this age.

He has actually finally conked out today and so how have I spent the time? Frantically pumping my breasts, lol! Time for a nice cuppa now before the 40 mins is up...

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charitygirl · 06/02/2009 11:44

hah yes - i pump during his morning nap so i can look forward to the occasional night out...tragic isn't it. What happened to the maternity leave novel i was going to write?

Or even read?

Heyho, only 2 hours til we can leave for our NCT meet up...

Original poster

arthymum · 06/02/2009 12:16

Haha, the maternity leave novel - tell me about it! I can finish a shopping list if I'm lucky!

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daisyblue · 06/02/2009 12:24

Howdy - my dd is also 5 months and displaying similar behaviour - i worked out that it was probably her teeth - have you tried Ashton and Parsons powders? - they are really helping her to calm down (she spits calpol out - think she may hate strawberries!). I have also been giving her baby rice at night and started some porridge this morning - she too is grabbing and interested, which is good. i like your mantra - am saying it myself, now It's good to hear that it's not just me (also been a bit weepy of late). There's also a fantastic book called "the wonder weeks" that u can get on Amazon - it explains why babies become fussy at certain developmental milestones (eg-rolling over, her new trick!) hope this helps a bit (oh yeah - and an extra blanket at night helped us too -brrr!)

averagemum · 06/02/2009 16:43

hi arthymum - my arth(ur)y is just 5 months too. I'm sorry, I've got no advice - we haven't had the fussiness (yet) although night-time sleep is rubbish and a nap longer than 40 mins a distant dream - but just wanted you to know you're not alone. As for the novel - I'm sure SOME babies nap for long stretches. On my really weepy days I think I should have been GF-ing from the beginning. But when I'm more rational I know I'd never have been able to stick to it...

Original poster

arthymum · 06/02/2009 17:12

Thanks Averagemum (I'm sure you're not at all average!) That's the great thing about MN when you're going mad, good to know that not everyone else has a perfect baby!

Well I have been for a 2 hour walk in the sleet this afternoon so that DS could sleep for 30 minutes. He then woke up and screamed at me until I fed him (had to feed myself and the cat first!) Now though, he's a very happy boy. Bless.

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