Crying 5 month old driving me mad

[arcadia96]

My DD (20 weeks) just seems to be crying all the time. Not continuously, but on and off all day. She's not ill (although has recently got over quite a bad stomach upset). She's starting to get much more interested in toys etc. and was starting to try and roll over but she gets frustrated really quickly with both those things. She doesn't like being in her bouncy chair anymore but can't really sit up, and doesn't seem to want to lie down, but doesn't want to sit on my knee or be held for long either. I'm not enjoying being with her which is such a shame and the crying drives me INSANE! When I take her out places she cries too and I end up getting embarrassed - she has a very loud cry. In between crying she can be charming - smiling etc. - but it doesn't every seem to last long now.

What can I do? Will this change? It's making me want to go back to work (and that's saying something!).

this is normal, she is just frustrated because shes not quite got a hold of things yet, it will pass lol.
ignore the crying as much as possible and just try and encourage her a lot with things shes trying to do.
she might benifit from a walker with toys around it, they can support them a bit more, whilst being independant from mum.
or a door bouncer?! my DS loved that, i used to put a mirror underneath him ( or a tub of warm water in the summer ) and he would play in that whilst i did dinner or lunch/chores etc.
she just needs a little distraction and she will be fine.
this also happens again when they get to the learing to walk and speak stage btw - Just thought id forewarn you lol

Mine is the same just now. I think it's a combination of teething (1st tooth last week, but DD1 was also teething at this stage but no tooth appeared for months yet), sore tummy from after-effects of a sickness bug and generally being more interested in things but having a short attention span. I'm trying to make sure she naps well in the hope that that will help.

Thanks, yes it does seem to be that she's almost doing things and is interested in things but not quite able to and getting frustrated. Also the problem of not being able to sit on her own yet to play.
And she does seem to be more tired than usual - we've been putting her to bed earlier and earlier and she has slept well at night lately - touch wood!

I know that my ds loved to be in a sling rather than a pram, particularly at that age. I would be of the view that rather than ignore you could try to reassure and be there as much as possible. After an illness they do seem to be quite clingy, which is something to bear in mind. It will pass.

Try a sling - it can work wonders, esp. facing outwards.

Every time mine is that painful (she's 17 mo now, so I mean the toddler equivalent - she doesn't cry all the time it's whining now) she is always always always on the verge of a huge developmental leap and is then lovely for a bit.

Just get through each hour, and I agree about the sling. I bet she'll surprise you any day now.