7 month old constantly moaning

[Probablytired]

My lovely happy go lucky baby has turned into a bit of a moaning and groaning demon recently. Her needs are met, she’s clean, well fed, finally sleeps better after a god awful month of absolute sleep madness, and entertained through the day, but she just moans all the time.

It’s not crying, it’s literally moaning and groaning, she does this really intense sound (like struggling to push out a poo but she’s not constipated) and tenses all her body up and it just sounds like pure frustration at the world. It’s the worst when she’s in her highchair and I (god forbid) take more than two single seconds to put her food on her tray! She’s happy when she’s eating and when she’s just woken up from her naps or a sleep, but I feel like she’s just so unsettled and frustrated a lot of the time. Especially when I’m home alone with her and we don’t have plans to see other people.

she sits independently (hates laying down on her back) and has recently started trying to move forward when she’s on her tummy but often scoots backwards instead which makes her SUPER mad. So I’m wondering is all this moaning just a new understanding that there are things she dislikes and she’s now able to communicate them in her own angry baby way? Or am I not doing enough with her?! I take her out every day and play with her with some independent play whilst I do other things, but my god it’s exhausting. I love her loads obviously but it’s like having a tiny teenager in my house already!

has anyone else experienced this? Is it normal at this age or something? I feel like I’m no. 1 enemy right now except for when the boob comes out…

Sounds just like my 6 month old, and his older brother was exactly the same. They just want to do more than they can! No help unfortunately but solidarity!

@GoodVibesOnlyPlease solidarity to you too! It must be incredibly frustrating for them, knowing what they want to do but not being able to do it, but god was I happy to put her to bed tonight 😂

Yes! I found this age hard - they can't move much and find it frustrating. Better when they learn to crawl.

There was a song out when my youngest was that age that went 'Can't tell if you're happy or complaining'. I always used to sing it at him. I couldn't work out if he was complaining or just trying to talk?! At this age they're realising there is stuff they want but don't quite know how to get it (or get their parent minions to get it for them). So it just comes out in those annoying grunts.

Yep, some can get super grumpy at this age as they want to move / do more things than they're physically able to. I can imagine how frustrating it is, but it's also bloody frustrating to parent!

Sounds like my 7 month old DS. He moaned high pitched 8 hours straight today, making eye contact with me. I was at the brink of tears earlier. Going out helps, he starts watching around and then falls asleep.

My nephew went through something similar, turns out it was a UTI

This reminds me so much of my daughter when she was a baby. The angry grunting! Sounded like Marge Simpson 😂 She's 3 now but a video recently came up on my Google photos of her doing that sound at about 10 months old 😂 completely forgot about that stage. We did a lot of baby sign language classes ("sing and sign" if you're interested) which really helped her to communicate as an older baby and she's a great communicator now. So yeah I think it's common especially when they're at the age where they have wants but can't express themselves verbally.

This was my DD from 6months. She was angry at everything.
I think her issue was that she wanted to do a million and one things but couldnt because she was a baby who couldnt crawl.
Shes much better now and not as angry at the world since she is mobile but I now have the flailing arms, grunting and tantrums when i try to take something dangerous away from her, remove crap from her mouth, try to put her shoes on, just dress her, or even try to help her do something.
She wants to do it all herself which is fab but at 10months, she isnt superhuman.
I think its normal for a very determined baby.

My just turned 7mo has been like this for the last few days, I've been on the verge of tears myself.

Sleep has always been a challenge (up every 2 hours since 4mo and fighting naps during the day) but recently he's been waking hourly and I'm struggling to resettle him back to sleep. In the day he seems grumpy and is making the same straining noises your little one is.

He is already crawling, which I hoped would help, but has quickly moved to (trying to) stand. I suspect he gets frustrated when he's learning a new skill, but once he's mastered it he's onto the next one.

It's not fun, it's exhausting and you have my solidarity and sympathy.

Feeling very relieved to read about others in the same boat. Almost 8 month old here that is just so difficult at the moment. He is teething too which doesn’t help but yes overall he is not a happy boy. I think it’s mainly not being able to crawl yet and the frustration that comes with that.

Also have been very close to tears trying to get through each day.

We have never had a full nights sleep, mainly waking every 2-3 hours, but close to every 1.5 hours at the moment. It’s also starting to just catch up with me after 8 months.

Can I ask how your LO is doing now? My son is five months and groans a lot!