How do you handle baby screaming fits?

[Steelesauce]

My 3rd dc is 4 months, shes usually so placid and lovely but once or twice a day will have huge screaming fits where nothing helps her (shes usually just tired) and I tend to just hold her, lay her next to me and pat her or push her round in her pram until she gives in and falls asleep. My 2nd was a colicky baby and I spent so much time walking round with a screaming baby getting stressed I think Ive taken the opposite approach and try not to let it phase me. My friend was very shocked I just 'let her cry' even though I was right there with her at all times. How do you handle the screaming fits once you've ruled out all the usual causes?

In the same way. Sometimes I’ll hug while the shouting goes on. Everyone needs to let off steam sometimes.

Crying is just their way of expressing themselves- in the situation you’ve described it’s the equivalent of me moaning to DH about being wrecked after a busy day.

I don’t think you sitting calmly, ready to comfort her or meet any needs, while she’s crying will be doing her any harm. In DD’s case, trying to settle her before she’s done shouting must be the equivalent of telling a pissed off adult to calm down- it just incenses her more.

I used to put mine in the pram/pushchair, make sure she couldn't hurt herself, switch the washing machine on and go sit in another room. It didn't work all the time but it was still 10 mins to myself.

That's exactly what I think, if you keep trying to comfort they get more wound up. She usually calms down after 10/15 minutes then falls asleep or settles and is all smiles again. Obviously I go through the motions of feed/wind/nappy/cuddle a few times before accepting she's just angry at life lol