Not very happy 7 week old!

[doingitalllagain]

Just wondering if it's something I might be doing or not doing. My son is 7 weeks old, exclusively breastfed and just doesn't seem a very happy chap! If he isn't feeding or asleep he's crying, he won't be put down for even a minute. I know about the fourth trimester and he's practically permanently in my arms and we co-sleep (don't pounce on me) but I mean if I pop him in a swing, or on a mat, on his cot, or in a loses basket or the pram (or anywhere!) for literally one minute to go for a wee he starts crying before I've even got there. He is my second so I've been a lot more chilled and I think I thought he'd be more chilled from it too but he's very different to his brother. I'm coping fine, he is permanently in my arms and is the cluster feeder of all cluster feeders but I know he's my last so I'm just soaking up the cuddles. I'm just more wondering why he's so cross with the world! my firstborn had smoked by now but this one isn't awake and happy about it long enough to interact with me!

My firstborn had smiled by now. He wasn't on the fags at 6 weeks...

He was 3 weeks early but still counts as early term so not sure if that makes a difference..

This made me laugh out loud!!!

I didn't want to read and run but I don't have much advice other than the standard 'is it colic, does he have an allergy'

Really hope it improves for you OP, it can be mentally draining with a crier I've been there

Do you use a sling? One of mine was bitterly unhappy if not attached to me for the first 10-12 weeks. I just strapped him to me and he was as peaceful as a lamb.

Also, do you drink a lot of caffeine? I found more than 2 cups of tea a day gave them stomach aches while ebf, so I swapped to herbal/decaffeinated drinks after 12. That made them less fretful too.

7 weeks is still so tiny. Growth spurt maybe?

Sorry I can't offer anything better than give him time

Oh OP I have been there and it is tough. Really tough.
There will be the usual is it reflux, cmpa, enough naps etc which are relevant and should be checked but for me my DS just kind of grew happier and happier as the weeks went by. But up until around 3 months he was so bloody ungrateful to be alive. His first smile was at my parents as well which was kind of sad.
However he's 5 months now and hardly cries anymore. It just got less and less. But jeez I would not want to go back to those days. I would read that he should grow out of it by 12 weeks and think how the hell will I cope until then it's ages away. But I did. I'm sure he was still crying at 12 weeks too because I remember crying to my husband saying he should be happier by now.
Not helpful advice for now - just hang in there! (But do consider reflux etc as well just in case)

This sounds like mine a few weeks ago. She could scream so intensely at being put down she’d get clammy. I was fried by the relentlessness. She’s still hard work and won’t go in her cot for naps. But at 12 weeks she is enjoying her play mat and can now spend short spells in her rocker chair so I am liberated for short spells during the day. I made myself a cup of tea for the first time since she’s been born this week.

She does have reflux but seeing as she’s happy on her play mat I don’t think that’s why she’s yelling at being put in her cot any more.

She’s also screaming much less generally, as long as she’s entertained.

I thought the screaming would never end - I hope yours also chills out in a few weeks when they can engage better with books / toys / singing etc like has happened with ours.

Also re reflux - my DD is also breastfed and aggravators seem to be even mildly spicy food and peanuts. Maybe look for patterns / correlations in your diet and the intensity of the yelling? Appreciate this is hard when the yelling is a constant!

Mine was like this. He was just a really high needs baby. Nothing medically wrong with him. He grew out of it eventually.

My baby was exactly the same. I couldn't put her down even for a moment, so wore her in a sling all day including for toilet visits.
She is 8 months old now and still hasn't grown out of it! She is slightly better in that she will sit and play with her toys for 5 minutes but then she starts getting cross again. I am trying to encourage more independent play, but not really sure it's working! There's certainly nothing you can do about it at 7 weeks old. The fact you're coping fine is the main thing, as I really struggled with those early weeks.