4 month baby crying inconsolably since last night

[kisaki333]

Please help, I am at my wits' end. She is normally a happy, playful baby. This started yesterday afternoon with no warning. Nothing's changed that i can think of.
We normally follow a routine where she sleeps every 2h or so. Yesterday afternoon she refused to go to sleep and stayed up for almost 4h crying almost non stop (red in the face crying). We tried everything to calm her down. We could distract her for a little bit and then back to crying. In the end, we gave her some paracetamol (she seemed to be in pain) and after that she dozed off for the night. No idea if coincidence or it actually helped.
This morning she woke up, happy as a beaver. Until naptime came and again she started crying. To be clear, i didn't even try to put her down to sleep, she started before that!
She doesn't have a fever. I can't see any rash or tourniquet. Not sure if she's teething but i can't feel anything on her gums. But I did notice she stops crying if i take all her clothes off! So maybe overheating? But how can that be, it's the same clothes and house it's always been and the temperature is no different.

I called the GP and they said to call back later today but i get the feeling they are trying to fob me off.

Any ideas or similar experiences?

Hope you’ve had some good advice from your GP but I’d ask her to be checked for an ear infection. My baby had one about this age and it was horrible - the pain is worse when they lie down so might explain why it’s only at nap time and why calpol helped. Don’t think my baby had a fever with it either. We got antibiotics and all sorted quickly. Hope whatever it is, it passes quickly for you both! X

I just came on to say check for an ear infection

No advice from the GP I didn't get past the receptionist who told me to call back in the afternoon if she's still the same. She calmed down in the meantime so I didn't call. She is still unsettled and fussy but at least not crying.
I think what was happening was she was overheated. How can that be since it's the same temperature in the house we always have and the same clothes she always wears is beyond me. I have a long-shot suspicion: I recently changed my deodorant to an antiperspirant one since I am tired of smelling bad all the time. Maybe some of that got passed in the milk and caused her to not be able to sweat and therefore overheat? I will definitely not use it anymore and see if that helps.

Your theory about antiperspirant is frankly bonkers, I'm sorry!

Much more likely she's in pain or feeling unwell? Have you tried giving her calpol? Have you taken her temperature?

Yeah, I am aware it sounds crazy but it's the only thing I can think of that's changed...
She has no temperature. I gave her Calpol last night and she soon after fell asleep. But it could be just coincidence as she was extremely tired at that point.
I don't think she's in pain or at least not constant pain as she had bouts of being quite jolly today.
I think probably a bit unwell now , I will continue to monitor over the weekend hopefully whatever she has will soon pass...

At four months it's more likely to be teething than your deodorant getting into your milk supply. If it got into your milk it would give her the shits, not stop her from sweating. People don't eat deodorant to stop them sweating. It clogs your pours. FFS.

In all seriousness, if some has got into contact with her skin she may be irritated by it. Or she's wondering why the hell you don't smell like you usually do.

If the calpol works, keep it up.

If I have learned anything, it's that babies dont cry for no reason. But I'm like you... I try to fob things off so that I dont come across as an overbearing parent worrying about nothing. But my aunt (who is a midwife) said this to me once "You're her mummy, it's your job to advocacy for her when she cant advocate for herself. It's like what we say to women who come in worried about reduced fetal movement... we would rather see them 100 times and send them home with nothing wrong than for them to stay at home the one time that something actually is amiss..."

And that stayed with me. You know her. If you're not happy with her, push to get her seen by a GP. If nothing is wrong... great! But it's always worth getting an opinion if you arent happy... that's what is so wonderful about our NHS.

Hope she settles for you. I know how exhausting it is!

*advocate not advocacy

Also came on to say ear infection. The pain can be worse when they’re lying down.