my baby won't stop crying?

Question

i have a 4 month old son who occasionally will cry for a reason unknown to me. he's fed, clean, and burped and he won't stop crying. usually picking him up will help, but what do i do when he keeps crying even when i'm holding him? i know he probably is tired cuz he doesn't nap very much, but he won't go to sleep. help!!!

Answer 1

I go through this with my two month old. I go through a list: feed, burp, change. After that I sit him down with his favorite toy. You have to let them sit for about two minutes. They may calm themselves down and start too play. If not then it is probably nap time. A baby swing is priceless. Leave them in it for about 5 minutes. They should fall asleep or simply calm down. If after 5 minutes they are not calming down or are crying harder then swaddle them and lay them down in a quiet, private room. Let them cry for about 30 minutes. If he hasn't nodded off or completely gone to sleep start the list over. Just remember, babies get bored. Don't give them the same old toys. Read to them, hold them differently. Also remember that babies get frustrated when they can't get to sleep. You have to help them.

Answer 2

My 5 month old was doing that when he was 4 months. We were having a lot of company around at the time and he was just over tired. Before that he was real docile and easy going, but during that time there was just no consoling him and he would finally just pass out from exhaustion.
Now I notice that when he does this he's usually hungry.
Just this afternoon I nursed him, bottle fed him (with formula AND cereal) and he went down for a nap. He woke up just after half an hour and was crying and crying AGAIN. I was getting really frustrated until i went ahead and gave him another 6 OUNCES -even though i didn't think he should be hungry- and he DOWNED IT! It was just that he was still hungry because after that i burped him and he settled right down.

My daughter did this as well when she was about this age. My mother's best friend is the one who told me that she was probably still hungry and it happened to be so in her case as well.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I too had a baby that cried and cried then passed out! It is very trying~ ! Patience is the key.
If you feel you are losing it.. put on headphones with soothing music and keep an eye on the baby.
Sometimes you just need to re-group. A second of no crying and a deep breath gives a much needed 'second wind' to deal with the situation.
Everything in our being makes us want to keep the baby happy. Don't feel you are doing something wrong! You're NOT!

Sometimes I think they get over stimulated. You know.. how you feel when they are running huge clearance sales at a department store! Just too much to handle~! OVERLOAD!

You get home and are SPENT. I think this is how babies blow off extra steam from overstimulation. After all... Everything is new and different! AND nothing like a good cry ([perhaps for both of you LOL) to set things back to square one!
Good Luck with your little one!

Answer 4

Could be an allergic reaction to whatever you are feeding him.If you're breast feeding,stop eating dairy and see if that helps,if you're giving him a bottle,try changing the formula.My son cried alot too and they say the first thing to try is cutting the dairy,their little tummies have a hard time with it.Try holding him with your arm around his tummy while he faces away from you and gently pat his bottom or rub his back.It sounds like colic and for some reason that position helps also laying him over your lap face down while you rub his tummy.Most of all try to stay calm,babies sense when the mom is upset and it only makes things worse.I hope this helps.Good luck

Answer 5

There are planty of reasons a baby may cry. That is the only way they have to tell you there is something that is not quite right. He might just be bored. Try walking with him outside, or showing him interesting things. A ride in the car may help also.
A baby that has not slept well will definitely cry. If you have trouble putting him down to sleep, you may find that setting up a routine for bedtime and naptime helps.

Whatever you do DO NOT SHAKE YOUR BABY. You risk brain damage, or death. If at anypoint you feel like you may loose it, place him in a safe place, like his crib, step outside and breathe. This stage will be over before you know it.

Answer 6

Well, first of all if your baby is crying why are you on the computer. Are you absolutely sure your baby doesn't have a belly ache or hungry,or wet? If everything is fine and the baby still cries theres a big chance that your baby senses your upset a baby will always pick up on the fact that the person trying to calm them down is not calm. So if there is no one else around you have to get very calm and I'll bet your baby will go to sleep.

Answer 7

Mother - if you have checked all the particulars and you know your son is dry, has completed a meal, etc. you might consider that he might have colic - or gas. Sometimes when babies burp, there is still much more to go - we sometimes think that one good one is all there is - make sure all the air is out. Walk him around outside a little while, let him lie across your thighs and rock him back and forth - spend time playing with him. If it's his bedtime, you don't want to over stimulate him, but you need to make contact - warm, caressing, soothing touches, sing to him, hum, let him know you are there and loving him. Unless he is sick - he will respond to mom's touch, smell and caresses and will sleep. Make this a ritual and spend as much time as needed - sometimes we are in such a hurry to do other things, we don't spend enough 'baby-touch' time with our young ones. If is he all out crying -bundle him up and take him for a ride in the car. Finally, check with your doctor - he might not be getting emough to eat.

Answer 8

First, he's got to nap. He needs to sleep about 12 or more hours a day. He develops during that time; it's not just sleep. Second, if it helps when you pick him up, then he needs attention or cuddled. When he just won't stop crying and it's the same time everyday, it could be that he's "getting it all out." Babies have a lot of stress during the day, everything is new to them and it's a lot to take in. If he seems to be in pain, you need to take him to the doctor.

Answer 9

IT could be numerous things going on. I would have your Dr check for lactose intolerance. Alot of times, simply changing formulas will remedy this - the Dr will probably have you swtich formulas until you find one that the baby can handle. Does the baby vomit frequently?? And if so, does it spew out like the exorcist?? It could be also that your baby has gas. Depending on the type of bottles you use to feed, your baby could be getting air as he eats, and then has a build off of air in his tummy, or gas. Gas drops added to his bottles will help if this is the case. You can tell if he has gas issues if he screams or cries louder when you touch his tummy. It could be too that he is starting to teeth. Like I said, it could be numerous things going on, and it will take some time to pinpoint the exact cause. Talking with your doctor will help eliminate some of these and get you on the right track.

http://www.babyzone.com

And to the idiot that said shake it, how about I come and shake you??

Answer 10

some babies cry every evening for a hr or so. They are exercising their lungs. There is nothing to do except see that they are dry, fed and burped..if they stop when held, hold for a while then put them down..if holding doesn't help you may have to let them cry it out. They will out grow it..I agree a swing is a lifesaver..for you not the baby..