Some days it's so hard

[ElmtreeMama]

Goes without saying my 6month old DD is perfect and I feel so lucky to have her.
But some days are so so hard.

She is a high needs baby, generally quite grumpy reflux, teething, has had covid and been poorly with that, not a great sleeper - currently fed to sleep and co sleeping which isn't great.

I very naively thought at 6 months I'd be more able to meet her needs.

But I still don't understand why she cries when she does or how to help her.

Feeding used to instantly calm her but doesnt now, she now pushes her face flat into my breast so she can't breathe and then chokes and gets so upset.

She arches her back a lot, screams and screeches.

She is on omeprazole and calpol/nurofen/anbusol don't seem to make any difference.

I dont know even know if I want advice but after another day of uselessly trying to reassure, cajole, console, entertain her I'm just saying it can be really really difficult sometimes.

There is one time she's settled and thats in the bath, those 30 minutes are all that gets me through some days.

If she hasn’t outgrown he reflux by 6 months I would be exploring allergies. I found 6 months to be a difficult age, they are grumpy because they want to be more mobile but aren’t yet. They still have milk all of the time but now you need to fit in food AND clean up after it.

If she has acid reflux it tends to get worse when teething as things get more acidic.

How is she with trying finger foods? That made life much better with mine.

Her reflux is massively better than it was I more just meant that she's had a rough 6 months, she still takes the omeparazole and we've been introducing finger foods this week which which is enjoying I think (as much as she seems to enjoy anything).

It can be really really hard. It doesn't make you a bad parent to feel that way- we all do. And some babies just are harder work than others. The vast majority of difficult babies I know have been really easy toddlers, if that helps. My friend used to cry to me about how hard she found things with her daughter and then one day she just completely changed and became content whereas before she never seemed very happy.

Thank you @addler thats reassuring

That’s good. I mentioned allergies because despite me repeatedly raising concerns DD1 wasn’t diagnosed as having CMPA until 11 months old and she was like a different baby overnight after becoming dairy free.

DS was the most grumpy, high needs, none sleeping, un-put-downable baby I have ever come across. I really, really know how you feel. It’s soul destroying when you just feel like you can’t meet the needs of the thing you love the most. Every baby is different and some are just much more demanding than others - it’s nothing you’ve done wrong.

Just to echo a PP…he became an absolute dream just after his first birthday. He learnt to walk and started to learn to talk and his happiness sky rocketed. His a pretty easy 2 year old now. Hard to believe it’s the same DC to be honest.

I’m not sure I have much to suggest other than give as much of yourself as you can, but when you are near breaking point, step away and don’t feel bad about it. Get out as much as you can as well, fill their need for stimulation cup. Good luck x