Miserable eight month old - just one of those things or could he be ill?

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My 8 month, while not the easiest baby in some ways (crap sleeper, we're struggling with weaning him) has always been a very happy, smiley little soul. For the past week he's been incredibly miserable - constantly grizzling but also a lot of full on very distressed crying, which is very unlike him. He's even started doing this new (terrifying) cry where he seems to stop breathing for a second first. Weirdly, this seems to have coincided with him learning to crawl, which I thought would make him very happy because he was desperate to do it! I don't think it's teeth - he's just got two new ones in a couple of weeks ago and I can't feel any more coming, and Calpol doesn't help which it really did when he was teething. My friend reckons it's just one of those developmental stages they go through where they get grumpy and clingy and that we've been lucky to never have a bad one before - does this seem right? I'm worried he's ill but there are no signs - normal temperature, normal nappies, not off his milk.

My little one developed a new screaming cry first night I flew upstairs but i dont think there was anything particularly wrong just not in my arms as usual. Could it be separation anxiety is he worse when he can't see you?

Thank you - good to hear that maybe they just develop new cries around this age! It isn't separation anxiety, as the crying isn't really when we're not there, it's things that he might normally grumble at but now seems distraught, like being got out of the bath, having his nappy changed or having an object he wants to play with taken away (an object he finds that isn't safe! We're not randomly taking his toys away). It's like he's really, really irritable - tiny things set him off. As I said, it's really unlike his usual personality which is quite cheery and easy going!

Ooo yeah sounds familiar someone gave him car keys I said no, complete meltdown!

Hates anything over his head now so getting dressed is a distraction are form!

Ah, it does sound similar. So you think it's just a phase then?

His sleep has gone even worse than usual. He was in bed at 7.30 last night and woke at 8.15, 9.20, 10.45, 12.30, and 3.15 - and he didn't settle down from that last waking and go back to sleep until we gave up and let him sleep on me sat up in bed at 4.30, so I didn't sleep again after that. If this is all a phase I hope it passes fast!

Just wanted to bump this in desperate hope that there might be more people out there with advice because I'm struggling today and would love some tips!

Sounds like my 8 month old DD, up until about 4 days ago she was the happiest most content baby I know. Now she’s grumpy, shouts at me, kicks off when she’s getting dressed and decided she hates sleep. It’s so frustrating but I know it’s just a phase, I keep telling myself it will be over as quick as it began. I just let her whinge when I’m dressing her etc stopped trying to entertain her half way through a nappy change as it just prolongs it. The sleep part is annoying and tiring but I know she doesn’t want to be awake as much as I don’t she’s just struggling at the minute. Hang in there 👍🏼

Thank you - good to hear that this sounds like a normal stage as we've been so worried he's ill but with no obvious symptoms.

I know you're right about trying to get through it with the sleep but it's so hard - I work full-time and I'm actually worried I'm going to get pulled up at work because my performance is so poor at the moment. We were intending to start working with a sleep consultant this week but I think we should delay it if he's going through a miserable time - which I'm sure is the right decision but makes me feel despairing!

I’m still on maternity so i suppose it’s not as bad for me, don’t think I’m be as laid back about it if I had to get up and go to work. Could you co sleep for a few days to get a few extra hours? Try explaining to your manager, hopefully they will be supportive