My baby literally won’t stop screaming! Help!

[Flappityflippers1]

I’m at my wits end - my 5 week old will not stop screaming

He’s had his milk - he’s fed on demand
We’ve winded him
Gave him gaviscon (as suspected silent reflux, GP prescribed today)
We pace his bottles (fed expressed breastmilk if it makes a difference). He does get breastfed too but is refusing and screaming even more.
He’s not too hot or cold
Clean bum
I’ve checked no loose threads wrapped around toes
He’s been cuddled
Been in the carrier
In the pram
Put down in cot
Played white noise
Rocked/bounced him
Not a milk allergy as I’m fully cow milk free
He’s pooped fine today and wet nappies as normal

He’ll stop screaming for a few mins, then start back up. I’m certain it isn’t something to call 111 about or else I wouldn’t be on a forum. He’s got no symptoms/signs etc, temp normal. I will of course be calling GP back if gaviscon fails to help over the next few days.

This happens every evening pretty much from 8pm until midnight, then he’ll be up every 1-1.5 hours through the night.

Any ideas? Is it literally just “colic”? Any magic suggestions to calm him down?!

Could he be overtired?
We always had the witching hour from 5-7 but it could be extended and lead to poor sleep if baby was overtired.

I’m sorry op it’s so hard!!
Have you tried taking him for a drive to settle him?
I used to have to do this a couple times as it was the only thing that would stop him screaming.
My LO also had silent reflux, I would get something stronger than Gaviscon, I don’t know anyone who it has worked for.
After his feeds keep him up right against you for 20 mins to allow milk to settle in his stomach.

OP. It’s really bloody hard. It does sound like colic but that doesn’t make it any easier for you.
Aside from the crying does he show any signs of gastric distress? Pulling legs up, distended abdomen, you say he’s pooing fine, is it normal colour/consistency? Any foaming or anything? Does he fart or burp a lot?

If it’s ‘just’ colic it won’t last forever, though it feels like it will. Do you have any family or friends who could come over of an evening so you could get out for a quick walk and a breather?

@WithRosesAroundTheDoor I guess he could be - we are nowhere near a routine with awake and nap times yet so no idea how much he’s slept. In the day he’ll easily do 2.5-3 hour naps happily, with a bit of time awake time - I’ll track his sleep/awake time tomorrow to gauge where we are at!

My first did similar most evenings, she grew out of it. It's hard work OP you have my sympathy.

It's likely colic, it's absolutely bloody horiffic! DS was like this and although it doesn't help you just now, the phrase 'it's just a phase, it will pass' was made for colic.

Hang in there, it will get better!

My ds was like this. He screamed and screamed all day every day. He had silent reflux - after 48hours on omeprazole he was like a whole new baby. We also tried gaviscon first, it made no difference at all. Go back to the GP and push for an omeprazole trial.

Have you tried wrapping in a warm blanket or snuggle close to you like a baby kangaroo inside you wearing a warm cardigan while holding baby upright next to you while you do slow calm laps of the kitchen/entire downstairs area?

Headphones in with calm music for you? I had a child like this, it does pass!

Have a wee Google of purple crying. Iirc its prime time. I remember it with my two and it near broke me. I would walk the busy roads in the town with them screaming at me, just because it seemed less loud if the traffic was making noise. They would after a hour or so drop off and I'd be able to transfer them but the walk always did me good too. A baby screaming at you in a flat pulls the walls in and drives you to distraction, outside I could play music on headphones and just march about the streets with them in slings or the pram and breathe again.

If all else fails, remind yourself it's just a phase. It will pass.

@PinkCookie11 not yet to the drive, I’ve never wanted to get into that habit (I work in road safety) but DH will take him very soon if he doesn’t calm (I still can’t drive as had c section)

@HanarCantWearSweaters I’d say his poops are sometimes a bit foamy actually, yes - normal colour and consistency otherwise. Also pulling his legs up and writhing.

Thankfully my DH is fully on board and has just “tagged in” while I come for a break.

My older one had reflux and CMPA and once he had medication and allergy milk, he was great - DS2 seems to just scream for no clear reason 😭

Could you possibly get in a warm bath with him? Slightly warmer than they recommend, but obviously not too hot.

I've been there, it's so hard. Mine liked to be held under the extractor fan turned up high in the kitchen while being rocked. It will pass but I understand in the moment it feels exhausting. Loud white noise might help too.

Thanks all - he’s just dropped off to sleep with DH, thank goodness! The poor little thing 😢

Will look up purple crying now, I’ve not heard of that before!

Goodness it is SO hard isn’t it! I will keep reminding myself it’s temporary!

Out of interest, when did your DC’s outgrow it?

@TiggeryBear my scar isn’t quite healed yet but I totally forgot about baths! They always relaxed my eldest - he seems to be starting up again so will try that now

At that age mine used to scream in the evenings as well, but I think he was just tired as he was a shot napper. It's super tough but hang in there!

Do you have any allergies OP? If your older DC had CMPA it could be that this one is reacting to something your breast milk, allergy has a strong family link. Foamy poo and the leg pulling up makes me think gastric distress. Foam is produced in stools when the gut motility is higher than usual as the body is trying to expel something quickly.

My son had silent reflux . We would burp him and one would come straight up but then we would continue to burp sometimes for nearly an hour until a HUGE burp came, we rubbed , bounced , it was the rubbing that helped him most. Then he would sleep fine .

Have you tried to wind , wind and wind again ?.

Also trapped belly wind , we used to have to row his legs round like he was on a bike and push them up into his tummy and the amount of wind that would come out was insane ! . Xx

I used to sit down/lean back and sit my babies on me with their back to my chest then lift their legs gently and kind of bounce their legs. Often helped when they weren't happy/comfy. Hope you find something to help. It's tough.

Would a dummy help?

I have no experience with colic or allergies but a dummy settled both of my children. I gave them it early even though they were BF & was advised against it. I removed dummy at 6-8 months

DD had colic starting around this age, especially in evening. It's very distressing as a parent but you've seen to all his needs and all you can do is just keep being there for him. They struggle a lot with stimuli so if you can sit in a dark room cuddling him that might help.

In answer to your last question, she outgrew it at about 12 weeks. I'm sorry, I know it feels like forever away. She certainly showed improvement before then too. After 3 months she's been the happiest little girl though, so hang in there! Put him in a safe place and leave the room for a few minutes if you need to.

Just remembered for gastric issues you can lie them on your arm on their stomach. That seems to ease things.

My youngest did this at exactly the same age. Started putting him to bed in dark room at 6.30 and he slept all night (waking for brief feeds only).

If he really never stops, day in day out, something is wrong. DS2 was like this. He had severe (not silent) reflux that was only soothed by Ranitidine (Zantac) but he is also autistic which we didn't know then and two signs are never sleeping and constant crying. Keep pestering the GP.

Mine was a medically fragile preemie with reflux among other things but he screamed like crazy-he was fed, dry, no pain. We had to ride it out. Figured out he wanted to be held upright and look over our shoulders (nosy little boy!) He screamed for a very long time but one day he woke up happy and smiling (no exaggeration)

Rather than white noise, try a womb sounds recording on Spotify or YouTube, it works wonders for my baby to settle her. Also, if one sibling has CMPA then it's highly likely the other does too I think, even if the symptoms might be different.