I am struggling with my second son. He is very recently 12 weeks old and has done nothing but cry since approximately 5 days old. He has NOT got colic, please do not suggest this. I have tried everything with him, he has had tests on his urine, we have tried colic remedies, we have changed his milk to Wysoy (SMA) as doc thinks maybe lactose intolerant, we have even taken him to a cranial osteopath! All of which have failed miserably. I am going out of my mind I have to be honest. Can anyone help me with regards to controlled crying? I have left him to cry on several occasions to see what has happened, he will cry - or should I say scream for over 3-4 hours at a time! I obviously pick him up between these hours, I wouldnt let him cry this long, but he doesnt even settle when you pick him up anyway! I have been to see the doctor numerous times and they have found nothing that would be causing this to happen.
Any advice please?
2007-03-20 00:16:06 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Jessica R, you are an idiot!
2007-03-20 00:24:07 · update #1
i feel for you i remember what it was like for my sister in law with my nephew. The only things she found that worked was to put him in his moses basket and turn on the hoover. also he would stop when put in front of the washing machine. You need a break too though as the stress will get you down. I know he's only young so you won't want to leave him but even a couple of hours one day a week with a family friend so you can just relax have a bath n cuppa. good luck xx
2007-03-20 00:24:12 · answer #1 · answered by ali-d 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I know you mentioned that it was not colic, and I presume that your Doctor has already checked your baby for reflux.
If there is no medical reason for your baby to be screaming constantly then you need to look for psychological reasons. Some babies have attachment issues or simple frustration at being out of the womb and in an unfamiliar environment (i.e. the world), and some babies are more prone to stress than others. My son was one of these. He was severely cranky as a newborn, but had no diagnosable condition!!!
Here is an idea that might help. It worked just fine for my family and I hope it does the same for yours.
Infant massage:
It may sound silly, but try using baby lotion, low lights, soothing light/classical music, and a light massage to soothe your baby. My son really enjoyed the music of Mazzy Star with his massages and I enjoyed the respite from screaming! After we did this for a week or two, he really reacted to it and his constant screaming ended.
The following website is a handy resource to learn about the benefits of infant massage.
Good Luck!!!
2007-03-20 07:05:51 · answer #2 · answered by sroozib 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Have they considered that he might have a reflux? If not, lactose intolerant could certainly be the reason why, but then if the wysoy is not helping then that doesn't really explain it. I would be persistent with the doctors and has your health visitor been any help at all - if you get her over when your baby is likely to be having one of his screaming moments (which sounds like you won't have any problems there anyway) she will see how frustrating it is getting for you in your own home environment and that nothing you do helps and maybe get more on the case for you? Good luck, it is heart breaking when your baby is screaming and you can't come to their rescue because you simply don't know what it is that's wrong, I know!
2007-03-20 00:30:37 · answer #3 · answered by Chilli1979 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Many babies are also soy sensitive, you might try a goats milk formula. You definately have to add a multivitamin with iron if you go this route.
Instead of controlled crying,I'd go theopposite way and hold, swaddle,wear your baby more.I would suggest wearing your baby in a sling or mei tai. There are several benefits to wearing your baby, but especially a "fussy"one- theupright position is good for gas, they bounce with your movement, which is soothing. They get to see what you are doing and how you interact with people, which is good developmentally and also will help keep their interest. I suggest a Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch or a Baby Hawk mei tai.
It also could be reflux, although I expect your doctor might have looked into that already. I agree with a previousposter, you should try a different doctor. Personally I would go to a naturopath for a different approach. They tend to spend more time with you and be really connected.
I'm sorry you have to go through this- remember to take breaks, take time for yourself. Try the homeopathic remedy someone mentioned above- camillia- it did help my son. And it can't hurt!
2007-03-20 01:13:40 · answer #4 · answered by Ellie 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I am a first time mom and my son is almost 8 months old. Don't know if this will work for your son, but maybe it does. My son loves music, since just after he's birth, I would put Westlife's - You raise me up in the cd player and sing while I swing him around to sleep. I ended up doing it everyday. It happened a couple of times that my son will start crying for no reason at all, and then I slowly start singing the song (without the music) and he will calm down immediately. You might want to try and see if there's a certain song he likes. Or any music for a start, maybe it will work.
2007-03-21 21:31:46 · answer #5 · answered by Charmaine V 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your baby is not happy so you must try and find a way to make him happy.
Just to pick him up may not work but try holding him in different ways to find a way that seems comfortable for him. I found a hand under the bottom, so he is sort of sitting, and facing away from you, so he can see where he is going, and moving very fast all round the house, up the passage and back etc.
You can make whatever noises you like, car noises etc. but move fast.
You can laugh but I found this very effective. It keeps his attention off whatever it is that is making him unhappy.
It is a lot of work but you can make it fun and if it does the trick it will be worth it.
Best of luck, Nick
Found the hungry bit to be right too. I had mine on potato mash, very fine with milk, to give more body to his diet. Worked well.
2007-03-20 00:35:23 · answer #6 · answered by nickfyoung 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My foster son (3 months) did the same thing. I took him to doctors...nothing, everyone just kept saying "must be a clolicy baby" and I knew he wasn't. We switched him to a soy formula, didn't make a difference. So we switched him to Enfamils Nutramigen. I had tried another brand of lactose free formula, and it didn't do anything. Once he had been on the Nutramigen for about 1 1/2 days, he was like a totally differeny baby! I couldn't believe that such a simple thing would make such a huge difference! If you do switch to this, watch for runny diapers for the ferst couple of days.
Good luck, I personally know what you are going through!
2007-03-20 03:24:53 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
This happened to a friend of a friends baby.
She tried anything and was eventually so exhausted she was scared she was going to hurt him so took him to A & E.
They put a camera down his gullet to take a look inside and all of a sudden the baby did an enormous belch!
It turned out to be a pocket of wind in his tummy.
He is now the most peaceful little soul in the street.
Not sure how this helps but thought i would mention it anyway.
I would take him to A & E if GP hasnt been able to solve it.
2007-03-21 23:21:49 · answer #8 · answered by lilyp 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
My son did the same thing. They only thing that "I" could do was plop his butt in my left hand and keep my right hand under his arms and bounce him. William had a hard time with his tummy when we stopped Breastfeeding. He would just cry for hours for what seemed like no reason. I bounced him like that and he would be quite. Finally, he would fall asleep and I would just cuddle him and get some sleep. Also, taking a warm bath helped. He hated his little baby tub but he loved taking a bath with me. We started doing that at 6 weeks. Matt would give him to me and put him in between my crossed legs and he would just lay there and stop crying. I hope you find your answer. It can be very hard to hear you baby cry.
2007-03-20 01:51:16 · answer #9 · answered by williamsmom2186 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I feel for you. All I can tell you is what works for my son. I've been singing Baa Baa Black Sheep to him since he was born also if he gets so bad that I take him out in the buggy, but quite often he'll just go to sleep in the car seat cos after I strap him in I'll swing it. I've heard baby massage is excellent as it can also help babies to bring up any trapped wind. Good luck
2007-03-24 00:09:44 · answer #10 · answered by sprouticus79 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋