11 week old cries hysterically every night at 7pm

[alaska748]

Posting because I am at a loss and nothing seems to help - our otherwise cheery, calm 11 week old completely loses it every night at around 7pm. Yesterday he cried so intensely that he burst a blood vessel in his eye. we have tried everything - timed naps during the day, not going out in case he gets over stimulated, a bath before bed, no bath before bed but it always inevitably ends in a complete meltdown.

Is this normal? Will he grow out of it? It often takes him a good 2-3 hours to settle (and by settle I mean stop screaming so hard he can barely breathe) and I just can’t help but feel like I’m failing at being his mum.

Colic ?

Sounds like colic, the only thing that settled mine was the tiger in the tree hold and a bit of pacing, worked wonders

It is normal and sounds like colic & getting overtired. He will grow out of it, usually by about 12weeks.
With my ds, you could literally set your watch by it. 6pm every night for 2-3hrs. So unsettled. He just gradually stopped doing it. It is so hard in those moments when they're beside themselves but you're definitely not failing him.

Another vote for colic. Used to lie my DCs on their backs and cycle their legs and gently rub their tummy until they farted.

purplecrying.info/what-is-the-period-of-purple-crying.php

It’s really hard and you have my sympathy, but it will pass x

Try infacol. I take it he's not hungry or trying to cluster feed?

Mine was like this 7-11pm every night until week 13. I'd reccomend getting help in for an hour each evening if youve family nearby. I wish i had done that just to be able to walk away from the noise for a short while would have helped massively.

We didn't live in an area which was good for walks after dark, but at this stage we put some battery operated lights on the pram and went for a walk every night until dd calmed down. Between 15 minutes and an hour. The fresh air and the uneven ground seemed to soothe her.

Colic. Nearly killed me but she did grow out of it.

Things that helped -
Walking up and down the stairs with her
Sitting in a pitch black room from about 6pm
Osteopath (yes; total nonsense, probably xoincidence, but massive improvement)
And the biggest thing tbh was just finding something to say on repeat like a mantra. It helped calm me down at the very least. I used to say - mummy's here, mummy loves you, I know you're sad, mummy's checked and you're safe, I'm sorry you're sad, we love you, I'm here with you etc etc.

It does end. I know it doesn't feel like that now and it doesn't help you in the moment, but tonight you are one night less to the time when you don't listen to crying all night. Tomorrow is one less again.

What’s your routine currently?

This isn't something I know anything about but 7pm sounds late to be awake for a baby to me. Can you not put the baby to bed at say 6pm? Sorry if that's a really silly question.

Have you tried putting him down earlier? My son needed to be put down by 5:15 at that age or screamed for hours. He'd then wake around 11 and every three hours after for a quick feed. It gets 8!

Yes, my oldest used to frequently go to bed at 5.30pm at that age. My youngest could make it to 6pm.

Fucking colic. Nearly did me in. DD screamed 5-6 hours a night from 4pm every day from 1 month old to 3 months old.

If it’s any consolation yes they do grow out of it and after she did she was a delight! Still is at 15 months, but it’s horrid. Rocking helped, and as a general rule I live by ‘if nothings working, get them in water or outside’ - if your LO loves a bath then I’d do that, DD loved water and there were some days that she went in the bath three times but it’s nothing you’re doing wrong and it will end!! I promise xxx

Colic
But also possible CMPA

Mine was like this from 5.30pm to 9pm when he was small. Think it was colic in his case, plus cluster feeding, it was really hard going.

Things that helped us were the Baby Bjorn bouncy chair, which seemed to calm him down and meant I could rock it with my foot and do other things with my hands if needed. The sling was helpful when he just wanted to be held. Other times nothing helped and we just had to ride it out. When DH was home (he worked away during the week at the time) we'd take it in turns to hold and rock him so each parent got a break. When DH wasn't there I'd wear ear defenders, put a good audiobook on and just accept my fate of walking around the house rocking an angry human for a few hours. I think it's quite normal, the "witching hour" at that sort of age, probably linked to lots or developmental stuff, too. It is super shit, though. I promise it does pass, one day soon you'll have an evening where you've not been screamed at for hours and it'll be the best feeling ever. Until then, sending you all the positive thoughts. If you can try to have something nice for you to help you through those times. My vice is pick n mix so I always had pick n mix to munch during the marathon crying sessions, no good for my waistline but very good for my sanity in that moment.

My little one had colic and it was truly horrendous. I switched her to a goats milk formula (nannycare) and gave chamomilla homeopathic remedies. It cleared up immediately. You have my sympathy, colic is awful

@ballontea don't be so ridiculous, you're embarrassing yourself

My baby gets really windy every night about 5pm. He likes being bounced up and down over my shoulder.

Thank you all so much for your quick replies - DH has him in tiger in the tree hold and he is quiet….@greyspottedgoose I am sending you the biggest virtual hug as a thank you!

Thanks for all the tips and words of encouragement - got me a little teary and am hoping he really does grow out of it soon ❤️

Colic is just awful, mine is just growing out of it now. I found that gripe water (the Boots own brand one is what we used) made a difference - given using the calpol syringe as I didn't think I could get a spoon into a screaming baby's mouth! And as a pp said, if you can get someone to hold baby for a while it makes a huge difference, especially if you take yourself somewhere you can't hear the crying. It will pass but it's bloody horrible until it does xx

Mine had colic, standing rocking him under the extractor fan in the kitchen helped. You have my sympathy, it was brutal every single night, but he did grow out of it.

Feed, pace, feed, repeat. Sing, massage, distract, repeat. It’s a bit relentless but will end. Sling worked wonders for us, seemed to calm him more than just cuddles/being rocked.

Oof, colic. That's just brought all the memories screaming back to me.

All that worked for my dd was pacing around with her until she settled. It was exhausting and you have my sympathies!

It will soon pass but in the meantime get some decent box sets and a travel mug for your sanity.