I've just destroyed our Dyson in a fit of rage, am I normal???

[zulubump]

My dd (24 weeks old) is so lovely and beautiful, yet being her mum is so hard sometimes. She was sleeping well at night since about 3 months, but for the past 3 weeks she has been so restless and wakes continually. She doesn't usually seem to want feeding, just a cuddle and I've spent most nights with her sleeping on my chest! HV suggested I start weaning, but she is not interested in any solids I offer her.

I am BF which had worked well for us, but she won't take a bottle. We have tried different bottles and different times of day etc, but no joy. She's not in any sort of routine either so it's hard to know when she'll be hungry. And she is messing around with her feeding a lot recently too.

Well, long and short of it is she's a pretty normal baby I guess, but at times when she's been crying for ages I just can't take it and have to go off somewhere and scream or hit something. Today I totally destroyed our Dyson - picked it up and smashed it and pulled bits off it. I don't know what I'm gonna tell my dh. To be honest I scared myself a bit and am wondering if I am in fact a bit of a psycho and should seek professional help? Can anyone offer me a reality check on this?

I threw our sandwich toaster out of the kitchen window when feeling a bit like this once

but it did help me to pull myself together

it sounds glib but have you any time to get any exercise?

Hmmm, it would be tricky. I have thought it would be nice to put her in a backpack and go or a jog! But her neck is not quite strong enough yet to cope with that I think. Our local pool does a creche that is quite cheap, perhaps i should try swimming. Again cos no routine its tricky, but not impossible. Will give it some thought.

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My symapthies. Being utterly exhausted is so difficult, especially if you havce had a period of relatively good sleep before it. Can you just stick DD in the buggy and go for a walk? As Enid says it does sound glib but just getting out of the house for a bit can help. If she falls asleep could you have a coffee in a cafe with a crappy magazine for half an hour, just for some head space?

My saucepans mostly have dents where I threw them at the floor. Circa the time when DS#2 was v small and demanding. But they were still usable.

Please get out of the house with or without DD. Anyone to take her for a while?

I think you're right I need to get out, Just got rotten cold and just wanted to rest really. But think my sanity is more important perhaps

A bit of primal scream therapy might work. Seriously though you are what we medically term "at the end of your tether". Babies are incredibly hard work, especially when they are noisy and not sleeping. It would be a good idea to ask for some help.

If you know other mums or have family tell them that you need an hour to yourself every couple of days to go out for a walk or a bit of shopping or a nap. I don't think you are at the psychotic lock me up with the big purple pills stage but it is time to take steps. Well done for leaving the room when it gets too much.

You can always get another dyson, perhaps this will show your husband that you need a bit more support.

ok, just had a chat with friend and about to go out for walk in sunshine. feeling a bit better

Get out, Zulubump - every day! It saves my life, honestly - even just a walk around the block. It's even better when it involves a friend and cake. And I went to baby club yesterday. Okay, talking about poo and sleep and eczma is pretty boring, but it's great to say other mums who are in the same boat.
Re dd, mines the same age (b'day Oct 3rd). Shes got teeth pushing through and is being v random with sleep. And a couple of people I saw at baby club yesterday with babies the same age said theirs had just started waking in the night. They do have these blips - but if she's slept through before, she will again. Just go with it. Don't push the weaning if she's not into it. There's a weaning section on MN - and there's a fab blog by someone who calls herself Aitch about baby led weaning - maybe have a read of that.

When I lost it once I walked away from dd I banged the mirror and it cracked. felt ashamed telling dh, but least did it out of dd sight and came out smiling at her.