Getting frustrated with my 5month old

[cds5163]

I just want to give up, I don't really want to give up on my baby but its getting hard. I thought as the get old it was suppose to get easy. He's been so cranky lately, usually he's a good boy. He's whining throughout the day and when I don't get him he's starting to scream. He's being extremely clingy as well. Sometimes as soon as I lay him down, for just a diaper change he starts to cry and I have to settle him. I dont understand why. I feel so bad when he cries. I just want him to be happy, I don't know what I'm doing wrong with him. Then I cosleep with him, the worst sleep ever! He wants to sleep in my arms I can put him down half the time. I get kicked in the stomach, swatted on the face. He wakes up screams mad and like he's angry he's up! Well buddy me too. I literally get no sleep and I usually have the best patience, I really do but when I'm exhausted I get so frustrated. I feel bad. Does it get any easier? Could something my wrong with my baby?

Is he doing the usual amount of wet nappies? Temperature ok? Drinking ok? (Any solids yet or are you waiting until 6 months?)

Sounds like he’s got a bit of a bug and needs reassurance, or it could be teething.

They get very clingy when not feeling well.

It’s tough but it will pass.

Anyone who can cuddle him whilst you get a break (and maybe a nap?).
If there another parent around or are you doing this on your own?

Thank you for the replies. He's drinking well, he's also been on solids for about 3 weeks now. We introduce a new food every week but he doesn't eat solids everyday and if so only a small portion once a day. He's been peeing a river. So all good there. I will check his temperature when he gets up. I think he's fine, I know what he's like when he's got one, but I will check just in case. My partner works and we've moved away from family due to his deployment. When he gets home I get about hour and a half, two hour nap. My partner also thinks he's teething. We give him gel but it doesn't seem to work for too long.

I know it sounds counter productive, but what about baby groups? Are there any you go to locally? I struggle with my dd when she's clingy like that but sometimes I think it's boredom, and actually taking her out for an hour to a baby group does her wonders and then she's knackered and naps well afterwards so I at least get a cuppa.
Also if he does get a little whingey there a kind Mum might try and entertain him for a few minutes while you have a sit down.

How long has he been like this for? I ask that because you've started him on food quite early. I wonder whether his tummy isn't ready and it's hurting him?

I'm wondering f about tummy ache too - possibly teething or st least teeth moving around a lot behind the gum line ? Have you tried calpol or ambesol?

Ear infection, ear pain when lying flat?

My now 8mo went through this at 5 months! I remember thinking - shit, why is it getting harder not easier?! If you have ruled out illness then I expect your little one is about to become a lot more mobile. As soon as DS realised he could roll and wriggle around he became a lot happier. Do you have a jumperoo? He might enjoy bouncing around on his own for a bit. Hang in there - it does get better!

Glad you do get a break when your partner comes home. The first bit is tough! Hang in there. They do go in phases. Whether it’s developmental, teething or a bug things will change back and get easier again.

Try to get out for your sanity as much as for your babies entertainment!

Oh and a baby never died from crying. I’m not advocating leaving him for ages but as long as he is safe you can put him down and walk away to quickly do what you have to. It’s what I had to do with baby 2 when I was dealing with toddler 1. It never hurt baby 2 to be left for a minute occasionally.

I found wonder weeks book and app useful to see if behaviour was normal and what to expect.

Maybe knock the weaning on the head for a week or so and see if that helps. His tummy just might not be ready for it.

I would try calpol before bedtime for a few days as well see if that helps incase it is teething. Is he dribbling a lot more than usual or anything like that? Has he got anything to chew on (teething rings etc)?

Why are you only introducing a new food every week? Is this on doctors advice?

I would think teething, leap, sleep regression, frustration as he is wanting to something he can’t yet. My DD was like this at that age but she also had an undiagnosed dairy intolerance.

Sounds like teething to me. IME the first one is the worst, it’s not so bad after that.

Chilled teething rings can be helpful.

Thank you for the replies. I will take everyones advice and try it out

Five months is very young to introduce solids! Go back to just milk and see how he is... It could be that he's hungry and not getting anything from the solid food.

How are you doing today OP?

Five months is very young to introduce solids! Go back to just milk and see how he is... It could be that he's hungry and not getting anything from the solid food.

With all due respect, from the information the OP has given us I don’t know how you’re coming to that conclusion. From the OPs language I’m guessing she’s not in the UK (maybe US?) and other countries have different weaning advice to us. 5 months is earlier than most of us do it in the UK, but it’s not that early. There is some evidence that starting at 4-6 months is ideal for weaning full term babies and by telling her to stop you’re potentially going against what she’d be advised by her own doctors.

OP if your baby is gaining weight, pooing fine, is eating himself (ie you’re not forcing it) and you’re introducing a very small amount of easy on the tummy foods (ie veg, not dairy) then I wouldn’t just cut it back out.

OP - what is your DS nap routine during the day? It sounds like your DS may be overtired. My DD used to be a nightmare at this age if she was not able to nap properly or didn't get a good night sleep. My maternity nurse once told me that 90% of her troubleshooting cases with babies between 3 to 6 months related to overtiredness.

If your DS does not take long naps, it may be worth limiting the awake time between naps to 90 minutes.

Could his teeth be on the way?
My little angel was a grumpy nightmare at this age. I never did really figure it out, but it passed. Good luck OP!

Hi thank you all for the replies. I don't even know where to start but I think its getting worse. I haven't broke down since he was first born but tonight has been dreadful. He's been hard to out to sleep, then only sleeps about 20-30 minutes at a time. I am from the U.S. and its 4am here, hes woke up screaming again and woke my partner up. He's pressured me into giving him pain reliever. I didn't want to, I'm not even sure if its his teeth really. Also I've stopped giving him solids. My baby seems to only want to eat to sleep and he mostly feeds at night, I don't want him to be hungry during the day so thats why ive given him solids. The doctor said it was fine and he was interested and he likes it.I dony give him anymore than he takes. I try to get him up at the same time everyday and nap him at the same time as well but with all his frequent waking at night, I'm struggling to get him up at 1pm. During the day I keep him up for about 2hours. Although he's never been a good napper, he'll only nap for about 30 minutes or less. When my partner comes home from work he doesn't follow the nap schedule and I do think he becomes overtired. Then I have to come downstairs to try to settle him from the few hours I do get to myself because I can't let him go on crying and partner struggling with him. I feel bad for him when he cries. Also gave him the chilled teething rings and downloaded the app.

Yes he has a jumperoo and toys galore. I always give him something before I leave him for a few minutes but it doesn't take him to long to start whining for me. It seems he only prefers if I'm there to play with him. Also I will try the anbesol and calpol. I probably take him to the doctor, I've looked at his teeth and they dont look red or swollen or anything like that. I will check his temperature again but no fever.

I don't take him out because weather is very cold where I am. I checked mom groups and they currently have no plans, I guess it's the weather.

Oh darling. There's nothing wrong with you or your baby. It will get easier. I cosleep with my son too (6 months) and until a week or two ago he was kicking me while he slept. I think they go through a developmental phase at this time.

Be sure to take care of yourself as best you can and know that as long as your baby is fed, dry and safe, you're doing just fine. Babies cry. A lot. Mine seems to cry all the damn time but I just hold him and play with him and walk him round the house and dance with him and blow raspberries with him and sometimes when I'm losing my mind I'll lay him in his crib and he'll scream but I'll make some tea and then it'll be better.

You can do this.

Ps: Google 'the wonder weeks'. Babies cry a lot during wonder weeks, they are cranky and fight sleep and are generally more challenging. It's cos their brains are developing and their world is changing.

Teething? Go easy on the teething gel by the way - too much can cause serious illness (Methemoglobinemia)

It’s no answer really but it sounds well within normal- mine was similar - barely slept. He could be overtired? At that age they shouldn’t be up for too long.

Thank you all so much for the replies. Thank you so much for letting me know about the methemoginemia, will definitely let my partner know about this too. Also I got the wonderweeks app and I snack to relieve stress too!