Is there such a thing as a miserable baby?

[LegoCardSwapper]

Just that really - my baby is just 1, and she is, and always has been, bloody miserable! She is clingy, cries a LOT, and is generally v hard work. I have tried everything I can think of - doctors, baby massage, cranial osteopathy, slings, reflux medication, every baby gimmick known to man. She is just so unhappy and it's breaking my heart. I have other children so it's not like I have massively unrealistic expectations. So, is she just miserable? Do I have to just stop looking for reasons and ride it out? I'm sad she seems to hate her (pretty lovely, it has to be said!) life.

Whinge over.

Is she walking yet? DS was utterly miserable until he could walk.

Yes, but not brilliantly. I am
Holding out a bit of hope that it's a miraculous cure but I just don't know! It's pretty exhausting. Thanks for replying.

Tracey Hogg talks about baby 'types' and one is the Grumpy baby. From her descriptions my sister has a Spirited baby and my sister in law an Angel baby. It's obviously not going to be perfect to fit all babies into boxes, but just seems to show that yes, this is baby's personality and it's ok to accept them how they are and change your parenting accordingly!

Thank you, I will take a look. I've exhausted all reasons for her just being miserable so I guess I now have to live onto acceptance!

No advice sadly but I also have a grumpy baby. He always has been and he’s 18 months now. He tantrums over EVERYTHING. Sometimes I have no idea what. He is very very rarely content and playing. HE wants me to hold him a lot. It has to be on my hip. He’s not happy any other way and I can’t sit down with him. It’s so so trying. I’m hoping it’s to do with teething and not being able to communicate. Hopefully as he gets some language he’ll get happier. I really really hope this isn’t his personality forever!!

DD2 was - just a baby who absolutely bloody hated being a baby. If it's any hope though she turned into the sunniest natured little toddler going and is still a really happy natured sweet little school kid. Her sister was an angelic baby - and bloody hell the temper on the child now!

Yes like Pants my awful baby has become the best toddler I could have asked for. No tantrums, very little whinging just pure joy so there is hope :)

My niece was the greatest whinge bag ever, always crying and unhappy. I looked after her for a few nights and nearly lost my mind. She’s a little ray of sunshine now at aged 2 and a half

Total cliche but I think some just don’t like being babies, and yes it does get better.

DS2 was the most miserable moody baby. My other 3 were happy smiley lumps of cuddles. He changed almost overnight when he began walking and talking. He has grown up to be the happiest of them all. There is hope!

Yes my baby was very miserable, I found it very demoralising. I just tried to stay positive around her anyway, difficult I know, and eventually she outgrew it. If it's any consolation I found the toddler years easier than the other mums as my child's temperament seemed to slowly improve! She's a delight now and a very happy child (yr1).

My DS was a miserable baby. He cried all the time, was clingy, wouldn't eat, couldn't take him anywhere. I couldn't go to the loo and leave him in his seat for 2 minutes without a meltdown.
I lost my mind. Thought I was doing something wrong.
At 26 months he is just starting to come out of it. He isn't talking yet but he is understanding loads and I think it's helped a lot. Now he 'gets' what we are doing and it's easier I admit.
Hang in there.

My dd was a nightmare baby. Although I wouldn't say grumpy. Think she fitted more into the "spirited" category. I struggled with her the first year so so much! She's 2 now and although still spirited she is a lot happier. Sometimes I think they are frustrated with their own limitations. My ds is 5 weeks old and is already a hell of a lot more chilled out. It's funny how they have their own personalities, even from birth!

Ladies, I could literally cry at your messages. You have given me hope!!!! Thank you.

Funnily enough my second baby was the easiest baby and is now a tricky 3 year old. It's so stupid, but just knowing others have been through it and are through the other side makes me feel better. I don't know why because I'm still living every day with a complete whinge bag but you know...!

Yup, my DC2 was. Can’t explain why, she’s just always been very different to my other DC. She’s still the most difficult of the four now or ‘high needs’ as I like to phrase it. I love her dearly but my god, she was a difficult baby and toddler in particular.

She barely smiled as a baby and was permanently clung to me until she was at least three. I have a photo of her and DC1 in front of the Christmas tree, she’s around six months old and I’d dressed them both in Santa Claus outfits. DS is grinning from ear to ear and she looks like she’s going to murder someone . It made for quite a funny Christmas card...

She used to scream if I tried to take her into public toilets and once gave herself a UTI because she refused to pee in public... She also used to scream whenever any flying insect or dog came near her, in fact she is almost eight and still does this a little.

No idea why, just different personalities I guess.

High needs about sums it up! She's definitely pissed off about something but I'm not sure what!!