Startled baby - Have I hurt her?? 😞

[Gemm83]

This is probably going to sound absolutely ridiculous but I've really upset myself...and 5 month DD and really worried I've hurt her.

DH was in kitchen and I wanted to ask him something. DD had literally just fallen asleep and instead I called out to him... didn't shout but said his name louder than usual.

DD startled so severely she completely tensed up and was so scared she couldn't even get a scream out. When she eventually relaxed she was sobbing like I have never seen her sob before and her little heart was racing. 😭

Shes nodded off again now, but I'm petrified I've hurt her (not sure how) but have this completely overwhelming sense of guilt and worry, so much so I don't want to put her down to bed.

Has anyone else has this happen, and should I really just be getting a grip of myself? 😞

TIA

Your DD is fine don't worry, it's a good thing she has that reflex - think of it that way. It's happened to my DD so many times and she's fine.

I bet she's already forgotten about it so you should too
The same thing happened when my DS was a similar age, we were waiting to cross the road and a really loud motorcycle rode past. Horrible but it happens x

Thank you. God it was so horrible 😭

In the nicest possible way, get a grip! Of course you haven’t hurt her! She was just startled and now she’s fine, please don’t beat yourself up - honestly, you need to cut yourself some slack and try not to be so anxious because there are so many more things along the parenting journey to beat yourself up over as it is. Don’t stress about this one.

Thanks FenellaMaxwell!

I know it's pathetic (and I mean that in the most self deprecating way!), but it was her reaction that scared the bejesus out of me.

My anxiety and worry are through the roof at the moment, need my tablets to kick in smartish!!

DS did this when my grandad blew his nose nearby :o he's 12 now and has recovered fully!

Oh trust me, I was waaaaaay worse! Mine’s 2.5 now and I still regularly poke him awake at night to make sure he’s breathing! I find myself hissing “GET A GRIP!” At myself startlingly often!

But honestly, it’s so difficult - every day seems to bring more to worry about, so don’t waste your energy on the things that have already happened. You are doing a great job and you haven’t hurt her!

In the absolute nicest possible way, yes, get a grip. She's 100% fine!

Shes nodded off again now

Clearly she’s traumatised...

Don’t be a daft sod, she’s perfectly fine.

But their little faces when they get a fright 😳...

Just make yourself feel better by keeping cuddling her 💕

...and hang on to the grips, you’ll have way worse to weather! Has she rolled off the bed or sofa yet?

I hope your meds kick in soon so that you don’t feel so anxious. Anxiety is a bitch!!

She'll be fine (is fine) I have anxiety and I understand nothing is too redic to worry about!

Mine used to do this when I put the vacuum on, I had to do the vacuuming when he was upstairs asleep. And upstairs when he was with DH downstairs.

A have a severe cough at the minute. I try to surpress it when I'm holding my new baby, but occasionally a loud bark comes out and his wee face looks terrified. They're fine though. It's good they have that reflex. Until he toughens up I'll have to keep holding on my coughs until my face turns inside out

My poor DD used to get a hell of a fright when she nodded off and the dog barked, bless her. Doesn't seem to have done her any harm so far!

My 9 month old sometimes wakes up too suddenly and goes all panicky and shaky and wide eyed. Takes a dummy and some cooing and cuddling to convince him it's okay 😊 poor little sod. But they're not hurt.

I did the exact same thing about the same age and beat myself up over it for weeks! Now she's a rambunctious toddler who completely ignores me most of the time and I only wish there was a way of so effectively getting her attention

My youngest did this a couple of times around that age, honestly it was the most heartbreaking sound at the time, as far as I know it is an age appropriate noise response and no cause for concern.