Fussy 4/5 month old!

[Shkbop]

Title says it all! DS will be 5 months next week and for the past 1-2 weeks has been extra fussy.
He has always been a fussy baby (I'm a FTM so have no comparison but my family repeatedly like to remind me that he's 'hard work' 🙄). He rarely naps beyond 40 mins, only as contact naps (by bouncing) or carseat and most definitely not by anyone else! However at night he was a star - 12 hours, waking twice for feeds. He's into everything, doesn't like sitting still so we usually have to be on the go but at the moment he will not tolerate anything for more than 10 mins and I mean anything!

'Pick me up. No don't pick me up. No don't put me down. No not on my front, not on my back, not with this toy. Not in the bouncer, not in the carseat, definitely not in the pram'. Everything is met with whinging. Doesn't want bottle but making hungry sounds. Dressing/undressing is the worst for some reason. He's also waking roughly every 90 mins at night although I was lucky and after his jabs (sounds awful I know) he slept for 5 hours solid and I felt like a new woman.

Is this normal? Has anyone else gone through this and has any tips other than copious amounts of gin? Any way to entertain him or survival tips on riding it out? I am EXHAUSTED.
DH is supportive but doesn't get it and since DS won't settle for him I'm solo at night and on my own during the day!

Is he teething? I used to give mine calpol
at night if they were unsettled. I needed sleep. It often did the trick.

Sounds like teething has started, you can use calpol or try the teething granules/powders. I used Ashton & Parsons for mine 3 & didn't often need to use calpol. Also use plenty of teething rings, cool carrot sticks etc

It does get better! Mine was also very hard work - never contented. He’s much more fun and affectionate now he’s a toddler.

The problem with you always settling him and not DH is that it will become harder and harder because he’ll get used to it always being you.

It‘s really important to share it between you. Your DH needs to find his own ways to settle him. Otherwise it will just become a habit that it’s always you, and your DH will lose confidence that he can do it too.

If it's not teething then could also be about to have a big growth spurt, could possibly speak to HV about starting to wean soon as he's 5 months.

Teething.

Buy anbesol gel.

I had thought teething but he's been gnawing on everything for weeks and weeks and I mean chewing not just mouthing but I can't see or feel anything and no redness?

@Lavendersummer to be truthful, the 5 hours sleep after the jabs was due to calpol so I might try again tonight!

@Pinkbananas01 I'm using lots of teething toys which he's been fond of for weeks now but he spend a few moment chomping and then throws them off. Daft question but does the Ashton and parson just go straight in? HV is dead against weaning before 6 months 🙈have already asked!

@SalviaOfficinalis I'm so glad it does get better. He has been gradually getting a little more content but I just feel we've suddenly gone back to square 1 recently. DH really struggles with him.....its a seperate question really and one I've been meaning to post but DS goes full on screaming mode if DH tries to calm him/settle him, particularly at night. Last time he tried it was 40+mins of screaming before DH made me take over. Should we just persevere?

They do become really fussy around this 5 month mark! I posted a very similar post when mine was that age. I did start my little on anbesol quite early and found it helped. Hope it gets better for you soon OP. All children are different and the people who often say 'hes hard work' etc have forgotten what their own were like! Even 'easy' babies go through a fussy phase x

Hmm, that does sound quite extreme! I think it’s important for DH to keep trying but they go through phases of preferring one parent and then the other I found. If you all get more sleep it might be better for you to take over.
It was more just a general point about not getting into a habit of you always doing it.

I could have written this myself about my five month old OP.

She sleeps at night like a champ. Hates day naps, will do about half hour at best. Constantly whinging on. Teething like mad. Now decided she hates everyone apart from me.

Hang in there!

I know it's said a lot on here but get a good carrier! Something like integrababy or Tula. Lightweight and close to you. You say he likes contact naps so sounds like he'd be suited to it. I find little ones drift off so much easier than in a pram.