Is this normal?! Very unhappy baby!

[Jlw2020]

My little boy is almost 12 weeks old (developmental age 13 weeks) but he’s just a very fussy/unhappy baby. Don’t get me wrong I didn’t expect having a baby would be easy but I’m finding it SO hard. When he’s awake he just screams and cries, sometimes until he’s red in the face and sweating! He can’t sit in a wet nappy and and screams as soon as he starts weeing, sometimes it’s 3 nappies in half an hour and we can’t even get out the house on some mornings with the amount he goes through. He’s not contented at all unless he’s held up and walked around ALL the time. I have help from friends and family but I just wondered if anyone else had the same, some people have asked if he has colic or reflux, I give him infacol and he passes his wind through poops after every feed and the odd burp but he’s seldom sick! I just feel really bad because he seems so unhappy and wonder if I’m doing something wrong or am I just overthinking it and he’s just a young baby and that’s what they do?

Based on what you’ve said above I’d strongly suspect silent reflux (all the nasty reflux symptoms except for being sick, hence silent) and there are things you can do to help including giving a dummy, feeding little and often, holding upright after a feed, gripe water, anti reflux milk, prescription medication. I’d speak to your Health Visitor and/or GP ASAP to see what they suggest. I’d also forget about the nappy thing. Its totally normal that you’re looking for a problem you can solve but if you’re using disposables then they are super absorbent and there’s no way he’s crying because he’s done a tiny wee.

Oh and don’t feel bad, or like you are doing anything wrong, because you’re absolutely not. You sound like a great mum who really wants to do what’s best for him

Random op but could you check that he doesn't have hair wrapped around anywhere . I remember on mn before a poster saying something about a hair being tightly wrapped around her sons penis and it causing huge discomfort.
It could well be some intolerance or reflux especially if he can't lie flat. Are you breastfeeding? Maybe try cutting out dairy as that can cause issues and discomfort. Best of luck op and congrats!

My DD was like this. It was cows milk protein allergy. She has cmpa and soya allergies. Once they were removed she was a different baby.

I'd get him checked for a UTI if he's screaming when weeing. But yes, it sounds like a baby in our antenatal group who had allergies. He screamed all the time and was very unhappy until he was diagnosed.

Try to get him to sleep (a lot) more.

• Around 45-60 minutes awake between naps
• Give a dummy
• movement for naps (bouncy chair is ideal)

Things to consider

Hair wrapped around a finger, toe or penis
Food intolerance/allergy
UTI
Silent reflux
Over tired

Is he gaining weight properly?

Was it a normal delivery?

Lots of suggestions here that are worth considering.

I just want to say it sounds tough and it is difficult. I had a very unhappy baby and it pushed me to the edge of sanity. All three of my children have varying degrees of food intolerances and allergies and were unsettled babies. One was grizzly until around 16 weeks, lots of carrying but slept well, one would only sleep when moving and number three was on a different scale all together.

It is good that you have support, take as much as you can. Allow people to look after you. Speak to others.

Another one saying silent reflux and/or CMPA. Both of mine had both! Very unhappy babies until they were treated, then they turned into the happiest babies ever. Hope you figure it out soon.

Thank you all! He was born a week late, emergency section after a long day of labour! Checked for hairs didn’t think of that but no sign thank you. I’m breast feeding and wondering if he’s not getting full from me but he’s gaining weight very well, he was 15lbs at 10 weeks, 9lb when born 🙈 I’ve just googled silent reflux it sounds like a possibility I’m going to ring my GP today as he’s currently sat hiccuping and gets them a lot! I hope it’s not a dairy intolerance as im not a big meat eater so dairy is my staple!

That sounds so hard. No it’s not normal, poor him and poor you

I agree with the above posters, definitely a visit to the gp, hope you get some answers.

Join the cmpa breastfeeding Facebook groups. It sounds really hard to go df but it's actually ok once you get the swing of things. Especially once you see a change in the baby.

It's worth noting that reflux is very likely a symptom of cmpa rather than an issue in itself. So I'd suggest attempting dairy free first before going down reflux medication which can mask the allergy but cause their own issues.

It sounds like you're already doing everything you can, well done for checking about silent colic.
Just posting in solidarity, my DS had colic and a tongue tie and those weeks before we got the right medicine and the tongue tie sorted were the hardest in my life. I thought I would die I was so tired. I'd wanted that baby for such long time and I was utterly miserable. It gets better. Once DS was medicated he was like a different baby, even the ladies who worked on the tills in my local supermarket commented on how different he was. I worried that him being so miserable would affect us bonding, but I'm happy to say that he is two years old now and there is definitely no trouble there.

Trust that you are doing your best for your baby and try to take care of yourself too.

Probably silent reflux, and if so it's important to rule out CMPA as a cause. If it is CMPA, cutting out dairy can resolve it without any need for reflux medication (obviously medication is fine if needed but best to avoid if not needed).

Info and advice about CMPA:
www.allergyuk.org/information-and-advice/conditions-and-symptoms/469-cows-milk-allergy
dilanandme.com/confirm-cmpa/

@Tablow

Join the cmpa breastfeeding Facebook groups. It sounds really hard to go df but it's actually ok once you get the swing of things. Especially once you see a change in the baby.

It's worth noting that reflux is very likely a symptom of cmpa rather than an issue in itself. So I'd suggest attempting dairy free first before going down reflux medication which can mask the allergy but cause their own issues.

Agree with this

If things don't resolve, it might be worth investigating cranial osteopathy.