Discontent / grumpy / unhappy 12 week old

[ecossegirl91]

I have a 12 week old baby son whom I love dearly however he is so grizzly and unhappy 🙈 I feel like I keep wishing away weeks of his life - it’ll be better at 6 weeks, then 10 and 12 and now I’m wishing to be 16 weeks!
he’s formula fed, takes 6oz a time - roughly 36oz per day so don’t think he’s hungry.
don’t think it’s cmpa as no real symptoms - he is a bit refluxy / spit uppy but been told that will settle.
he does smile but it’s so fleeting and often he’s either going eh eh eh eh or full on melt down mode. I feel like I spend every day preventing a melt down from him which is ashame as his smiles are beautiful 😢 saving grace is he’s a good night sleeper - sleeps 11 till 6/7am so can’t complain there but he is so so draining in the day time and is never content unless he’s feeding or asleep.

just venting really - does it get better!?

Yes! It gets better. And you’re allowed to wish away these early weeks; they’re a screaming potato with eyes. For me, things got better at: 7 weeks, 12 weeks, 24 weeks (is that 6 months? Lol). My baby is now 8.5 months and never stops smiling (unless I have angered her in some heinous act, like putting a bib on her). It’s such a huge adjustment and they’re still learning how to be ‘outside’ you. Their digestion and guts are developing constantly, eyesight’s improving, sensations etc etc… It’s massively overwhelming! Im surprised more babies aren’t just constantly crying…

Hi @ecossegirl91 I came across your post as my 12 week old is also exactly like this and I’m also looking to the next milestone week when things ‘get better’. He seems to struggle a lot with passing wind or going for a poo but when it comes out it’s soft - I thought it may be infant dyschezia and it should get better at 12 weeks but still no sign of letting up!
So I have no real advice, just joining you in your pain!
I also considered giving up dairy in case it’s CMPA but he also has no real
symptoms so I’m waiting for a bit to see if things improve on their own before cutting anything out of my diet. He also sleeps well at night waking only once to feed.
Hang in there ! Unless it already got better ?

Hey @pv3012 I would say yes it’s gotten a bit better. He’s 15 weeks now.
He absolutely still has meltdowns and can go from smiling to screaming in seconds but these outbursts are shorter now and he smiles for much longer periods of time (even gave us his first laugh the other night!)
so I would say he’s still grumpier than other babies I know but he’s improved in the last few weeks 😄 hopefully the same will happen for you!

So glad things are getting better for you @ecossegirl91 !
Hope the same will happen here. He’s happy enough when he’s distracted sometimes but that doesn’t last long ☹️
I’ll post an update when things get better. Although right now it seems like it’ll never happen!
Sometimes I find that when you’re in it you don’t even notice the small improvements. Like he cries less but I didn’t notice because I’m so focused on the screaming before pooing thing!

@pv3012 please do let me know!
I know you have probably tried everything but I found that making him sleep really helped - after about an hour awake I usually put him down for a nap and he does seem better in himself.

also the fisher price kick and play piano play gym - I had real problems getting baby boy to spend any time on the floor (never mind tummy time!) but i bought this and he’s obsessed!

and hey bear baby sensory on YouTube can really help when he’s proper screaming!

@pv3012 17 weeks now and I think we have regressed 🙈 crying has been so bad this week! And reflux/spitting up is back with a vengeance- thought it would be better by now!
hope you are faring better

Hi @ecossegirl91 ! Funny you should send this message just now when we’re having a very challenging evening ! He’s been grunting since about 5pm today but nothing but some farts managed to make their way out. He looks like he’s suffering so much and I don’t really know what to do. But then he alternates between being super happy and playful to screaming / straining and kicking so it seems like he’s not in pain at all and then he looks like he’s suffering so much !
the hardest thing for me is that this doesn’t seem normal to me but what do I know - I’m a very anxious first time mum!
so to answer your question - not really doing much better !
sorry to hear you’re having a hard time today, let’s hope it’s a one off and things will be better tomorrow !