9 1/2 weeks old baby, advice needed please?

Question

I had a baby on 29th Dec last year and he was fine for five days after his birth. Since then he has cried non stop (and i mean non stop). He has been seen by the doctor who prescribed baby gaviscon for possible reflux and he's also had infacol for colic. He has always brought his wind up really well and its definately not a windy cry. The health visitor suggested possible lactose intolerance so I bought Wysoy and for a whole day things were amazing! It wasn't to last though. After doing everything known to man he is still crying, doc saw him yesterday and examined him. There are no signs of anything wrong. I have also seen a cranial osteopath with him (anythings worth a try!!) No luck there.
After walking round town for a grand total of 20 mins yesterday and being pieces of useless advice (oh, he's hungry!)by nosy parkers I could really use some ideas.
Many thanks for listening to my rant!!
Please note it is definately not colic! going out in the car, buggy or cuddling doesn't work

Answer 1

I suggest you take him round to Grandad, leave him there for a couple of hours while you have a break. Grandad wont mind!!!!

Answer 2

Some babies are more high-need than others. Smug parents who have never had one of these children simply will not know what you go through.

I am expecting my fourth any minute, and although my first and third babies were 'normal', obviously crying sometimes etc, my second baby was just like this.
Like you, I tried everything. Many days I just wanted to ring the Samaritans! The health visitors could not think of anything to calm him. He cried non stop. One asked me to record when and how often he cried. I ended up recording when he didn;t cry - that was easier.
None of the usualy comfort measures ever seemed to help him I held him, danced with him, sang to him, etc and no medical cause was found. As a toddler I have to say he became much worse, he was out of control, I attended parenting courses etc but could not go out with him or control his constant tantrums, he was extremely hard work.

My Mum says my sister was the same and whenever she went out with her, she would cry and cry and people would stop and give her advice etc...

My son is now 6 years old, and I have to say there is light at the end of the tunnel. In fact although my other children were much easier (now 8 and nearly 4 years old) the middle one is now the 'best' in terms of behaviour! Although of course there are difficult times still. Maybe this is also due to him being an at excellent school where he has lots to do and lots of physical activity. He is very bright and maybe that has something to do with it.

I found also that once he could go in a door bouncer at about 4 months things did get a bit easier, it was an outlet for all that energy and he would bounce up and down for hours! and when he could crawl it was also easier as he was happier although harder as he was quite dangerous!

Good luck as it will not be easy but hopefully you have a special child and you will look back and laugh in a few years and it will be worth it (I remember once calling a security guard in John Lewis when he was 2 and started throwing clothes and racks everywhere and wrecking the place, neither I nor the security guard could control him! It was not funny then but I can laugh now!)

Answer 3

This sounds pretty similar to my son. The problem went on for a whole year. He was diagnosed the day before his 1st birthday. I was ready for the Nut House. Went through a whole range of things, looked like a chemist in our house. Infacol, gripe water, wysoy, etc. Not saying your babe got same thing but does his nappy smell musty when he's had a wee? Ask Doc if he will do a urine sample - be warned this not pleasant for baby. My boy had a reflux from his urethra to his kidney (not all came out when he passed water and went back up into kidneys) hence constant urine infection. My boy grew out of it, he was on antibiotic for a year tho. See your Doc again and keep at it until your happy. You're not a paranoid Mum, your gut instinct tells you something up. Good Luck to you both.

Answer 4

A lot of mothers ahve babies liken it this and decide its colic when it quite often isn't and I applaud you for realising this and cheing there is nothing else going on. Acid reflux is quite common but it seems you've already explored that avenue.

All babies are different and it sounds like you've been given a crying on for whatever reason. Its not your fault, its not the baby's fault - its just the way things are.

As long as you and your doctor are exploring that there is nothing more serious goin on then you are doing all you can.

Ride it out, he will grow out of it soon.

Just think, after all this your baby will seem like a saint and you'll be able to deal with anything!

Answer 5

Hi Momma...I'm not sure if it will help at all, but when my nephew was born (in japan) he had a bit of the same thing going on. The doctor said if you can hold your little one up by your shoulder, hold his head next to yours, so his ear is right at your mouth, then pat him on the back while making a kind of loud static sound(sshhhhh).

Just be sure not to be too loud or blow air into his ear. The doctor said that it is so loud in the womb and sometimes babies have a difficult time adjusting to the silence.

I did this with my son at who is 4 months old now. Sometimes, i'll hold a pacifier in his mouth, shhhhh in his ear, and lightly bounce while I walk around with him...and thank God it works!

It may take a few seconds before it starts to work so be patient and persistant(you may have to hold his head in place for a minute till he starts responding. It also helps relax you to just steadily go sshhhhh, sshhhhh, sshhhhh.

I really hope you find something on here that helps you out...I know how it feels to walk the floors for hours with no result. Let me know if this works for you.

Answer 6

I found my baby was like that when I first had him because I was stressed and he was able to sense it. I gave him to my sister for a night or two to get myself together. Then because my stress level was down he didn't seem to cry as much. But he did still cry alot. At that point I gave him a spoon feed and that worked. He is now the most placid child ever and thinks it is an effort to cry! Hang in there I know it is so tough. But seriously try a spoon, Bottles alone just didn't work for my boy.

Answer 7

I'm sorry you re having a bad time, I have a 9 month old and she is lactose intolerant.
Its such a shame when they can't tell us whats wrong with them, I felt at a total loss.
Do you give only soya milk, I gave that and it worked wonders.
some babies are demanding, and some get bored easily.
I really dont know what to tell you apart from trying to give some chamomile tea, see if this helps.

I know you say its not colic and you know best, but just try giving infacol before each feed, this saved my life.

Answer 8

God this sounds soooo familiar! The only time i got respite from my baby's crying was when i had her tucked up on my shoulder carrying her around and sometimes she would settle and snuggle in a baby sling. i found warm baths and massages did relax her somewhat but not all the time. does you baby get enough sleep? my daughter seemed to hardly ever sleep either! try wrapping baby snugly so his arms cant escape and see if that helps him settle, seek advice from a local parenting centre, here in Australia we have specialist hospitals where a mum and bub can go and stay for a week to get help in managing their difficult behaviours, provides a good rest and you get to meet other parents with the same/simiar problems, as for the advice and dissapproving looks of strangers, forget it, they have no idea what you are going through or how desperately you have tried to settle baby! Good Luck and stay sane! lol

Answer 9

try dosing baby up with 2.5nl of calpol!
shouldn't really recommend it but after 2 months of my baby crying non stop i was at my wits end and was convinced he was in pain. The only way i knew i would find this out it to try nd give him something to relieve the pain!
Hey presto! It worked, i went back to the doctor explained what i did to the doctor, he looked further into it and we found out my little boy had a problem with his tummy!
its not the best solution, but im guessing you have tried everything else.
As for the "nosy parkers" (very polite of you by the way) stop being polite to them-explain that if it was a feed or nappy change baby was wanting you would have already met his needs for the sake of your sanity and you dont get a kick out of seeing your baby so distresses!

Answer 10

Poor you two, that sounds so hard. I know you've probably tried it, and it sounds obvious, but could your baby just be over tired? At 6 weeks I discovered this was my baby's problem. They don't know how to get themselves to sleep and although it sounds harsh, they may need to cry themselves to sleep to work out how. The first time I did that it took 45 minutes, then since that first time it takes 3-7 minutes. Stay with your baby so he knows you haven't abandoned him, but try to stay out of sight (shushing) so he doesn't get excited to see you and want to play.
Really sorry if you've tried this already, and don't do it if you don't feel comfortable with it, it's a very personal choice. Best of luck! :)

Answer 11

I'm sorry, I have no answer for you. Poor baby and Mommy. Maybe have the doctor refer you to a neurologist (again, trying anything!). He might have fluid built up (I had that when I was a baby and surgery to correct it at 11 months). NOT SAYING HE DOES....just to be on the safe side. Pretty much, I'd watch him closely and pester the docs and have any test possible.

Good luck.