Baby irritability - does it ever get better?

[elliebelliex]

In general I have found the adjustment to becoming a mum quite hard so far and a massive shock to the system. I am getting better with it but it's a really slow process and there is one thing that always triggers me - her crying when she's feeling irritable.
I had a really good week with her last week. She was mostly happy, I could put her down for a short while without her crying and she went down for her naps fairly easily. Over the weekend she seems to have gone back to being irritable again, crying when she's put down and is becoming difficult to get down for a nap.
I know babies go through these phases, but I just can't get used to it and I find it so hard. I always find myself going back to feeling stressed and on edge when she starts to cry or get irritable.
She's turning 12 weeks on Thursday too which means the dreaded leap 4 is coming up.

Do these irritable phases ever stop or become any easier?

It’s a huge adjustment, you got this OP! Everything is a phase and it’s hard to pin point irritability with a newborn (with my 12wk old I think it’s usually wind or over-tiredness)
I am second time round and completely ignoring the leaps etc. it drives you mad wondering what’s round the corner and you’re best to take each day as it comes and enjoy the delightful moments and try not to despair at the tough ones.
I have a 2.5yr old and toddlers are irritable too but they can communicate the cause much better at least!
Your baby thinks you’re absolutely ace, and they will get more and more content as time goes on

I wouldn't worry about the 'leaps' or what's to come. Everything is a phase and it will pass. Everyone told me the 4 month sleep regression would be dreadful but it wasn't an issue at all. You can set yourself up for worry unnecessarily.

I bet you're doing a great job. Maybe try putting some music on or singing with your baby in the sling when she gets irritable. At least the crying won't sound as bad even if it doesn't calm her!

I think your world just expands so the difficult phases don’t become all consuming. DS was a really tricky baby and every bad phase (of which there were many) felt absolutely awful. I spent all of maternity leave worrying about when the next bad phase would hit and then end.

He was then a relatively easy toddler but has hit a really challenging phase now at 3.5. I just don’t have as much time or mental space to worry about it. It’s annoying and tiring but it doesn’t flaw me now like it did 3 years ago. It honestly does get easier to cope.

To answer your question yes the baby irritability gets better! My DS now 4 was a very irritable baby, constantly grizzly except when being held and entertained. It really took a toil on my mental health but I found around 6 months things really improved, he could sit up independently and was getting food (I think he was hungry a lot as my milk supply wasn't as good as it should have been). He is now the sweetest and most lovable child. I now have a 16 week DS who is a much easier baby, still has fussy phases but I remind myself they won't last and enjoy the times with her I have while she is still so little

We’re knee deep in leap 4 over here, and yep, it’s not been the best. I was much like you, I felt very overwhelmed when DS was irritable BUT, I’ve actually found this leap quite helpful. I’m finding the crying and irritability easier to cope with because there is a lot of it and there is very little I can do to stop it. I suppose I’m just becoming a bit de-sensitised. (I obviously respond to all cries but sometimes, DS just needs to cry it out whilst having a cuddle!)

And couple it with the developmental progress, on balance, it’s not been completely awful. We’ve had proper giggles and he’s fascinated by new things. Hang in there, it’ll be over in a moment 👍🏼

I agree with the above. But also I think things become easier as their cry changes too - well true for me anyway! The newborn,/young baby cry used to go right through me, even when I'm out now and I hear a newborn cry I have a physical reaction! It's designed to force you to respond quickly so the part of your op about feeling on edge when they cry resonated. It's never enjoyable when they cry as they're older (and toddlers can be intense!), but I don't have the same physical reaction now.

Delete the leap app or info you're reading. It's so pointless as they're always in or about to be or just had a leap.

My very very irritable daughter settled once I realised she was allergic to dairy and soya and removed those from my diet. Her main symptom was being very upset and clingy.