11 week old cries all the time

[TaVeryMuchLove]

DS2 hasn’t always been like this. He was a very chilled newborn but started to become fussy in the evenings, around 5 pm when he was a couple of weeks old. DS1 used to go through the ‘witching hour’ too but was done with it by about 8 weeks.

DS2 has been getting steadily worse over time. The witching hour started earlier each night and now he cries most of the time he’s awake. It’s really getting me down.

He feeds well (FF) and sleeps well at night only waking up once. It’s just the days when it’s a constant challenge to keep him from crying. I wake in the morning feeling anxious as I know it’s going to be a horrible day. I love him so much and it breaks my heart to see him so upset.

I know it will pass, but can anyone relate to this or offer advice?

My son (now 20 weeks old) has been like this since birth. At first we thought it was reflux and eventually the signs of reflux went away, but he still kept crying all the time. As he has gotten older it has improved a little - he still cries a lot but we have narrowed down what it is (a mixture of frustration at not being able to move much yet, and desperately wanting attention all the time when he's awake). It took ages to narrow it down and that was only because he became old enough to react to things in a way that allowed us to figure it out. For instance, the moment I look away he will start whining, and then the moment I look at him again he smiles and laughs and is happy until I divert my attention again - every time without fail for last few weeks. He is the kind of baby who isn't content to be left in a bouncer, or crib, or pram, or anywhere unless he's in my arms, so I can't get anything done. I believe the term is high-needs baby.

Can you see a pattern in what makes your baby STOP crying? This can help figure out what the cause is. If your son is similar to mine then I'm sorry to say it hasn't really gotten better yet - I mean, it's more manageable in the sense that you find solutions and coping mechanisms, but it's still all-encompassing and takes up all of your day. I basically have a routine of wake, crawling practise, toys, stomperoo, books, feed, sleeps in my arms for 30mins - 1hr, rinse and repeat with one 1hr30min walk chucked in the middle. I have to give him my undivided attention during all of this to avoid the crying. I also have a very specific set of songs I can sing him that help him to stop crying, but most songs don't work.

If you've ruled out everything medical, then you could just have a high needs baby. It's tough and there is no cure all. I have heard it can get better once they can crawl or walk though - I'm waiting for that day!!

Thanks for your reply. It's hard work isn't it? It's also difficult because I'm having to divide my time with DS1 too who is three.

Once he starts crying, nothing really stops him. The only thing I can rely on this a trip out in the car, but I'd have to do that 10 times a day to get any peace!

He's not been like it since birth, so I don't think it's a feeding issue such as reflux as nothing has changed in terms of his feeds. He also has just one night feed and never fussed after that, she just goes back to sleep.

It only stops at around 8pm when he goes to sleep for the night. Maybe he is a high needs baby as you say. I really hope it's just a phase.

Fingers crossed your LO grows out of it soon too!

My son was like this, crying a lot and virtually all evening. Health visitor said he had collic but the medication they gave didn’t seem to make much of a difference. My MIL would come around after work and would constantly walk him, but the minute she stopped, he would cry again. He did begin to settle when weaning started and could play with simple toys.

Thanks Mindy. Your evening situation sounds a lot like mine. He’s being lovely this morning but I’m already anxious for the day ahead.

He’s very dribbly too. I wondered if it could be teething but haven’t seen any other signs and thought it might be too early for that? Think I might be grasping at straws for an explanation.

Hi I no this was a while ago but Iv got an 11 week old baby boy and all he does is cry :( he wakes up crying he just cries for everything and I no that Babys do cry when they need are want something but when he’s had everything he still cries until I rock him to sleep! 😭 it started when he was about 2-3 weeks old they thought it was silent reflux but all the symptoms for that have gone now he feeds fine! But when he gets himself in his mood his screams get louder and louder the doctors mentioned colic but he’s been on colief and comfort milk .. nothing helps and it’s not at the same time every day it’s literally on and off all way through out the day, when he wakes up himself after a good kip he’s so happy and smiley and loves to make noises! But it lasts about 40 mins to an hour sometimes less and he just starts screaming again 🤯 I honestly don’t know what else to do .. HV said it can get better between 12-16 week I really hope so I hate taking him out because I know all he’s Guna do is scream place down lol!!

Just thought id reply to let you know you’re not alone. My LO was the same, she got better at around 5 months which is a lot longer than most babies so hopefully it’ll be a lot quicker for you. She’s still not a content baby but it’s much more manageable and I don’t cry every day now!!

It’s awful because he gets so upset with himself and we just have to try every position, rocking him are walking around in our arms he loves being held soon as ya put him down he wakes up and cries 🤣 I can’t win at the min .. my first child was so content she never screamed she was so good so it’s a big shock to me this .. thank you for your reply at least I’m not alone :( I hope it settles down in the next few weeks so I can stop crying too 🤣 I’m also Guna try infacol but with him doing it through out the day and not the same time every night I just don’t know if it is colic are weather it’s just him he also puts his fits in his mouth but 1 doctor told me he’s too young to be teething it’s mind blowing !

Colic! My god my dd used to cry for hours in the evening,I remember I used to wash bottles holding her and didnt shower for days,she would not stop crying. Eventually took her to be checked and she had colic, reflux, thrush on her tongue and a water infection all at the same time. Infacol can take days to work so thats not helpful straight away. Easy to say and not helpful but those days will pass although I never thought they would at the time,I can laugh now but I was crying back then!

Solidarity from me. Don't compare your babies to themselves before or after a leap as things change forwards and sideways! The witching hour here was five hours every evening from 4 until 16 weeks then suddenly it went to just one hour and was heavenly!

Thanks for everyone’s reply’s do you no if it can be colic if it not at a similar time every day don’t get me wrong it is mostly evenings .. but he as had a screaming moment through out the day before !! If it was the same time I would defo say it was colic lol, and yes it’s only 1 I haven’t tried infacol doctors said to give it ago! i get so upset with him :( but everyone as said it will pass so it’s given me hope 👏🏻

When I mean I get upset with him I mean we both crying together because I just feel so sorry for him that he’s getting himself that crying state! 😭 but I feel better now about it getting easier ! So that’s all x

You could try gripe water too, the fists in the mouth is a sign of colic I think my dd used to do it. Oh it really is so hard and stressful, I used to cry and think nobody warned me it would be this hard