Help with 7.5 month old crying and fussing

[gbee99]

My 7.5 month old has recently turned from a fairly content baby to fussing and seemingly crying for no reason. She had colic in her earlier months and it's like a second bout of it - she'll be sitting and playing then start crying, she cries at almost every nappy change when she's on her back, and is also very clingy and only seems comforted by me (whereas others could comfort her previously). She has also started fussing when in her high chair at meal times making it difficult to get her to eat as much solid food as she was having.

She's had a cold for about 2 1/2 weeks, but that seems to finally be going. She's also starting to get her second tooth - I thought that might be the reason for her discomfort but ibuprofen/paracetamol don't seem to help settle her. She's also recently started nursery for a couple of days a week (although had a break because of the cold).

Has anyone experienced similar? I'm wondering if it's a combination of feeling unwell and separation anxiety, although that doesn't explain why she cries during nappy changes now! It's hard going, I'm out of ideas as to what could help (apart from time).

Our babies sound so similar! Mine is 11 months now, so here's my advice:

My daughter went through separation anxiety at about that age, made worse by the lockdown but even my husband struggled to calm her at times. Assuming you're still on maternity leave, we found it best to avoid leaving her alone with someone else (still visit, just don't leave her and accept she may not want to be held). She grew out of it really quickly thankfully.

As for the nappy changes, our DD is 11 months now and started bucking at a similar age to yours. Unfortunately she still usually does it, especially when out of the home! The best thing I've found is to let her play with something she doesn't usually get to fiddle with, like a pack of wipes, a peg, a tube nappy cream (keeping an eye on her to avoid eating it, obviously!). Usually works, although I might try pull up nappies too. Apparently it's because they are more mobile and don't like being pinned down.

She also decided she didn't want to be fed at a similar age to yours. She demanded to hold the spoon, while now she pretty much refuses baby food and wants finger food instead. If we need to use a spoon for runny foods and she's being awkward, I give her finger foods and sort of spoon the other food in while she's distracted!

Hope that helps :)

That is really helpful, thank you so much! I hadn't thought that way about the nappy changes but it makes a lot of sense. I'll try the distractions . Thank you for your advice