Why does my baby wake so angry?

[MrsHD]

I have a 6wk 2d baby boy who wakes from naps sooo angry. He screams as if it's the end of the world and woe betide if it takes me a couple of mins to get to him, as it did this morning as I was in my own bed trying to catch 40 winks (which I didn't manage ). I called out to him from upstairs as I struggled out of bed (he was on the sofa where I'd put him when he'd dozed off feeding) but it made no odds and he was apoplectic by the time I got there. I picked him up, spoke softly to him and he calmed down, so plainly there was nothing physically wrong. I've now put him in his vibrating bouncy chair in front of the TV (oh the shame, but it is Lark Rise on iPlayer!) in the hopes he'll doze off again as I'm sure he's tired.

We've had a crap 24 hours!

I am sorry it has been difficult but maybe think that angry is not really an emotion a 6wk old has
also think that the sofa might not be the best place for one so young, do you have any help?
can you get a little break and some sleep

he might just want a cuddle and be near you

I say angry because it's that sort of extreme cry, not a hungry or worried cry, a real screech. No, sofa not ideal, but after a thoroughly naff night and having an overtired baby yesterday and a failed attempt this morning at getting him to nap in his cot and the prospect of another day with an overtired baby, I was happy for him to fall asleep feeding and then be placed gently on the sofa so I could try to sleep too. I didn't manage it before he woke up with this extreme crying, but he's gone back to sleep in his bouncy chair thank goodness. Will give up on sleeping myself!

I dont think its anger your baby was expressing, instead he woke to find you not there and was probably a little scared and upset. I remember at this age babies just want to be close to you all the time. I know its hard, due to lack of sleep and sheer exhaustion, but I promise you it will pass.

My dd is 6m now and changing everyday, enjoy the closeness and all the cuddles because the time flies by so fast.

MrsHD, i found the frist 3 mths of ds's life hell.

I though ti had a made a drreadful mistake!

However, it will get better. I also found it great from 6 mths on.

If anyone can take him out a walk in the pram for you, let them!

sorry don't think I sounded very supportive I too found the first few weeks and months pretty hard going but the fog does lift as am sure you know.
hope with him sleeping you can have some head space now, can be as good as some sleep

DS1 did this. For quite a long time. He doesn't now though, but I remember being a bit exasperated asnd thinking, "God, can you not just wake up and gurgle instead?!" DS2 totally different again.

Hope you get some sleep soon!

My dd is 6m now and changing everyday, enjoy the closeness and all the cuddles because the time flies by so fast.

Do you have any family or friends local who can give you a break?

Oh, I think most people wonder if they've made a terrible mistake when things are tough. DOn't feel bad about it - of course you adore your wee one.
It will get better.

As others have pointed out, 6 wks is probably too young to be angry, but I wonder if you've come across the baby whisperer? she says there are something like 6 'types' of baby and i remember that she says while some (angel babies) wake up cooing, others (i forget which 'type'!) wake and if someone isn't there instantly, they really scream. anyway, while dd wasn't a screamer, i found her really hard work in first 3 months, and found the baby whisperer really useful in helping me work out what worked best with her (according to babywhisperer she is 'touchy'!). good luck, dd now 17 weeks and so much easier.

Thanks everyone. I know it will get easier, and some days are fine, we've just had a bad couple of days and a rough night last night. My DH is great, but we have three other children and he runs his own business which is struggling a bit atm so things aren't generally too upbeat here just now. DH has been out all day today, unusually, and I was too tired to go out this morning (DH did my half of the school run, aww) so I'm doing the 'stuck at home' thing which I don't normally do. Seems to be suiting DS though, he's slept the last three hours with a feed inbetween, the total opposite of yesterday. He does need a huge amount of sleep, that's definitely one key to understanding how to keep him happy. Perhaps I've been taking him out too much?

Maybe, trust your instincts MrsHD, sounds like you've got a load of experience there!

I was wondering this about my DS the other day, why does he always cry the instant he wakes up? Why not just wake up and look about a bit. And I definitely remember thinking my DS must be having nightmares or something around the same age as his cries seemed to be so harsh and sudden - no wind up, just straight into WAAAAIIIILLLLL. I dunno, why it is. But thought it might make you feel slightly better to know you're not the only one!

6 weeks is a classic growth spurt. Also 12 weeks, 4 months, 6 months, then less clearly defined but still regular. DS had one lasting 2 weeks at 11, 12, 13 months, and just got through one at 23 months. They go on up to adolescence, but fortunately they're able to help themselves then.