straining baby- straining sleep!

[cindernella]

Hi, PLEASE HELP!!! I have come here as I am at my wits end!!! My baby is 5 weeks and hates her dad (screams when he picks her up and will only be setlled by being fed), and strains loudly for an hour or two at 2am!! Any help on either problem will really help.

The straining problem, I'm afraid, is just a phase. DS strained, loud and long, for (I think) a few weeks at about that age. It settled down of its own accord. Only to return when he started on solids. But again, it passes of its own accord as the guts get used to things.

I have no idea about your DD's aversion to her dad. Has she always been like that? With any luck, somebody wiser will come along with some help.... Have you thought of posting this problem on behaviour/development?

Thank you for replying, I can deal with the straining and I'm glad to hear it gets better!!! The DD issue only started last week and is making us both really irratable. She is particually bad in the early evenings and quite bad in the night. I'm starting to think it's because she is so used to me comforting her that it's a startle reaction. I think she may have colic as she is inconsolable (apart from constant breast feeding) for two hours from 6-8pm. I feel like I'm a prisoner of my own baby!

Sorry I meant DS not DD

Cindernella

6pm-8pm miserable bay is really normal! Have a look at this \link{http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/fussybaby.html\kelly mum fussy time} and it does pass

DS is just so used to you and picks up on her dad being less confident, and I agree with Corrie, the straining should get better as her bowels learn better how to work

Good luck, it WILL get better

Yep - the 6 till 8pm thing is very common. I didnt find any remedies for this - it just disappeared with time (havent checked the kellymom site though....)

For your own sanity, i would recommend doing anything that makes the both of you feel better, and if that means feeding/cluster feeding then do it.

Routines and bad habits are only an issue from about 12 weeks old onwards IIRC.

HTH xxx

Thank you all for your input, I ended up walking her up and down in the cold last night and had a quiet baby, anything for a quiet night! I'm just glad I'm not alone!

Are you bf? if so DS may be easier for you to settle because he can smell your milk. I had exactly same with my DS. Passed after a while (as with everything!!)

I am b/feeding, it just upsets me and dad so much because I sdon't get a break and he feels like he hasn't bonded with her

I am b/feeding, it just upsets me and dad so much because I don't get a break and he feels like he hasn't bonded with her

I had access to a really good Breastfeeding Counsellor when my DS was 5 weeks (he's now 7 months) and remember talking to her with this exact same complaint. She reassured me that this phase would pass and it did, though it is incredibly exhausting for you and upsetting for your partner as we well know. However, bonding takes place over many years, not weeks, so there's plenty of time for your partner and DS to bond. One thing that has always settled our son is a walk in his pushchair and my DP has spent many an hour (and still does) talking DS out for walks, which gives me a break and them both a bit of time together. He often took DS on early evening walks during the 6-8pm wobbler, though it was the summer and warmer then and probably not something you feel like doing at 2am unfortunately.

Think that's good advice BBB. My DH has walked DS for miles! And he used to take DS to the 24 hour Tesco in the very early morning. He'd have coffee, DS would have a nap, and so would mummy at home. And it definitely helped them to bond.