i have an 11 week old somedays it feels like she doesnt stop crying?

Question

i feel like i am going nuts fustrated and all the rest just when i think she has dropped off 2 sleep her eyes pop open and starts crying i pick her up cause i dont beleive ib letting her cry it out she needs 2 know i am there the car seat doesnt work nor does the baby rocker, ant suggestions ive tried just abouit everything that comes to mind and no there is nothing phyically wrong.

Answer 1

I don't believe in crying it out either. Crying is the only way babies have of communicating with us. I went through exactly the same things with my first daughter. Looking back, I think what she had was quite a lot of wind, but because I burped her for a little and nothing came up, I didn't think that's what it was, so I just fed her (then when she'd fall asleep while feeding, I'd put her down, only to have her wake up again seconds later, and it would start again).

The first thing to do is to try to identify why she's crying. Priscilla Dunstan has deciphered some of the key sounds in baby language, and I can tell you from personal experience that it works (I wish I'd known this with my first!):
http://www.parenting.com/parenting/babytalk/article/0,19840,1562338,00.html

"Neh"-I'm hungry
"Eh"-I need to burp
"Owh"-I'm tired
"Heh"-I'm uncomfortable
"Eaire"-I have gas

It may be tempting to lay your baby down straight after feeding if they've fallen asleep during it; don't. Always burp, even if you're scared of waking them up by doing so. I realise now that that's what I was doing with my first, so when I didn't burp her, what would have been upper wind turned into lower wind, and becomes very painful or them, and can last for hours. There's not much you can do at that stage; there's are probably drops or something that could help, and moving their legs in a bicycle motion is supposed to help the wind pass (not that it's ever worked with my girls, but at least I feel like I'm doing someting :-) ). This may not be the case with your bub, but i thought it was worth mentioning.

How are you feeding her? I breastfed my first, and she was a snack-napper. Meaning that she'd nibble then drift off, and never get a full feed. Again, I was reluctant to wake her up, but I should have, so that the feed could just be done with, and she'd have a full tummy.

An estimated 40-60% of babies suffer from some form of reflux, perhaps she is one of them?

Good luck.

Answer 2

Put your baby in the pram & go for a walk. 1) the exercise will help you with your tolerance levels 2) your baby will more than likely settle 3) when you are out you are less likely to loose your cool. I really feel for you as there really is no escape from this situation unless you can give your baby to somebody else for a while or allow your baby to cry for a little while with regular reassurance. I would suggest either as your mental health is most important here. Go & see a family nurse or go to a community centre/hospital if you are really on the verge of going nuts. I'm not sure where in the world you are but could you be referred to a centre that helps mothers with unsettled babies??? Best of luck & stay calm (if that's possible). Also one last thing, keep an open mind to any early symptoms of post natal depression if you are feeling low - it's often the first sign.

Answer 3

it can seem like that at times. You need to figure out what type of cry it is. Is it a pain, overtiredness hunger or the cry you can do nothing about because they are crying for the simple reason they can.
Is it possible she has silent reflux? that is when the digestive juices come up the oesophigus and burn. This will mainly happen when you lay her down. If you think it is possible then go to the doctor there are things to help.
is she overtired. Many mums miss the tired signs. Limbs jerking, oversensitive to noises are often the first signs. One hour awake is more than long enough at this age.
is she too hot/too cold. Put your hand down her back and feel this is the best spot.
try to give her a relaxing bath with a couple of drops of lavender in it. A feed and most importantly wrap her. A flat cot sheet is great as it is big enough. Babies often jerk as the fall asleep and this will bolt them awake. Wrapping stops the body jerking and prevent it waking . Always put her down awake if you hold her to sleep and the last thing she sees is your face then wakes and you are not there it can scare her. She has no idea time has passed. Try laying her down and patting her side till she is about to drift off (the eyes are closed longer than open) then walk out. If she cries go back and do again. No talking, no getting her up just pat and walk out.
Always remember though babies won't die from crying. If you feel you are about to "lose" it then put her in her cot, go out side and take a few min. to calm. If you are stressed it put's it onto the baby. Once calm go back and start again.
Also try putting her in a pram and go for a walk. If she is going to cry anyway why not get out so it isn't bouncying back off the walls at you. Some babies love to watch the wind blow in the tree's and will fall off to sleep watching. (I sometimes put mine in a rocker in the window to watch the tree's and they fell asleep.
Last resort SLEEP SCHOOL. This was my saving grace. Here is a link to the one I used , it may have some more ideas you can use

Answer 4

We had a child who cried a lot too. Sad to say, sometimes there is nothing you can do, but here are some suggestions.

Let her cry it out -- just once. It may lessen the length other times.

If all her needs have been taken care of, try to get out of the house and leave her with a babysitter (preferably an adult you trust, like a relative) for just a few hours. This is more for you than her. Do something relaxing knowing that she will be just fine. If you are more relaxed, she will be too.

Answer 5

My daughter would fight sleep like crazy. She would look like she was going to sleep and then she would start kicking her legs to wake herself back up. It drove me nuts! Anyway, when you give her a bath they make this lavendar scented bubble bath thats supposed to soothe fussy babies. It doesnt work wonders but it helps. Also, you can giver her a massage with some baby oil. That helped with my daughter. If nothing else worked, I would just walk her around and pat her back until she went to sleep. She always went to sleep within 20 minutes if I walked around with her. Her swing always worked too. Get a battery powered one so you dont have to crank it, the noise of the cranking wakes them up. If none of this works, dont worry. It might be hard now but she will be grown all too soon and you'll be missing the days when you could hold her all the time.

Answer 6

My son hated his car seat and his swing and everytime I put him down he started crying. I feel your pain mama. I am glad to hear u dont let her "cry it out",thats just mean and wrong on many different levels. My son loved being outside. When he would'nt stop crying I would bundle him up and carry him out side. I think maybe it was getting him out of his element for a few minutes.Also a nice warm bath with a chammomile tea bag in it knocked him out. Chamomile relaxes the body. Give it a try. Good Luck! P.s. By next month things should start to get easier(a little)

Answer 7

maybe shes hungry for formula. give her some and see how she acts. My 2nd child was like that and also was very attached to me. He is now almost 1 1/2 and I see some Independence. I was very frustrated too and tired! Lack of sleep didn't help, of course. I just couldn't get mad at him looking him in his crying eyes. I would just kiss him and hold him and walk out of his bedroom with him and Most of the time that helped. Change of scenery. Of course every baby is different. Good Luck!

Answer 8

Maybe she has a tummy ache. Try feeding her less, and more often. I've heard of people turning the dryer on and putting a blanket ontop of it and lay the baby on it and the sound and warmth is supposed to help them go to sleep. You must stay with her of course and don't let the dryer get hot.

Answer 9

coulld she just be hungry or thirsty..dont go by the book too much re: feeding every 4 hours..she may need stronger milk or just some water...she may have wind..
if that fails wrap her tight in a blanket and rock her..
i know its hard i had the same thing with my son he's now 20 and still a winger lol x x x x

Answer 10

You CAN let her stay put and cry it out. It is hard to do but children DO learn to comfort themselves. If nothing is wrong with her then it's ok to let her work her way thru it.
Another alternative is to have a family member take her and let you get some rest. You are no good to anyone if you cannot get some sleep.