Why do I have such a miserable baby?

Question

I have a a 4 week old baby and he's always miserable. He's always complaining and crying. He just wants to be carried all day and even when he's being carried, he's still complaining. There's nothing wrong with him, he's changed, fed, and I can't think of anything else he's just completely miserable. My daughter was never like this when she was a baby and I'm not used to him crying 24/7. Is anyone else going through this?

OH SHUT UP people that are saying that I'm talking bad about my baby. If you're a parent then you can't lie and say that you never felt like you were going crazy!! I hate that people try to act like they are so perfect!! Get over it I love my children more than I can ever love anyone including myself I'm just going crazy because I don't know what else to do. It's not talking bad about my son it's asking for opinions!!!

Oh and he's exclusively breastfed and doesn't spit up too much just normal baby spit up and burps really well. I don't think it's gas because usually he settles down when I pick him up.

Answer 1

Have you tried "The Happiest Baby on the Block" video? It has really good tips about swaddling a baby, it also explains about the 4th trimester: babies need some time to get adjusted to the cold world outside the womb, so making it as much like it is inside your stomach will be comforting to him (white noise, swaddling, etc...). It also could be something in your diet that is making his stomach upset, take a look at your diet, is it balanced and healthy?
Some babies just need their mommies all the time, mine was like that, she was happy only in my arms. Patience, it will pass and then, you'll miss it. Ask your partner for help, especially at night so you can rest, it's important to take care of yourself.

Answer 2

Have you considered the possibility of reflux? My daughter had very painful reflux, but she never spat up. It's called "silent reflux" and like you, I had a miserable baby who cried CONSTANTLY. It was so hard, especially because I was a first-time mommy and I had no idea what I was doing anyway, compounded by the fact that I couldn't stop my baby from crying. Ugh.

Anyway, reflux usually rears its ugly head between 4-6 weeks and is usually over by 6 months when the esophageal muscle matures. Some of the symptoms include:

* constant or sudden crying or colic like symptoms
* irritability and pain
* poor sleep habits typically with frequent waking
* arching their necks and back during or after eating
* spitting-up or vomiting
* wet burp or frequent hiccups
* frequent ear infections or sinus congestion

If this sounds like your baby, check the link below for a full explanation of the condition. Some bf'd babies do fine without meds if the mother cuts out all dairy. Mine didn't; she needed infant Zantac.

I hope you find some answers and good luck on getting your baby to be happy. You have my empathy.

**ETA: when a reflux baby is laying down, the pain is worse...this may be why your little one is crying when he lays down. When you hold him, see if it calms him to be held more upright, like over your breast/shoulder rather than cradle hold. And when you nurse, try for an upright-ish position by latching him on then letting his bottom slide down so he's in a quasi-sitting postion. HTH!**

Answer 3

That sounds like my first born! Try gas drops. They are great. They don't get absorbed, so there's no worry about giving medicine to a baby. If it doesn't help, how does he eat? I would talk to your doc and see if they will let you try some medicine for reflux. Does he spit up a lot? Mine spit up all the time, but not a huge amount, so the doc missed the reflux diagnosis. They actually don't even need to be spitting up to have relux, it could be coming up and they can swallow it down. Just ask your doc if you can try and see. My baby was so so happy after a few days of medicine. We went on like that for three months before we got the medicine. It's tough, just hang in there. Put the baby down in his crib and leave the room if you need to. Count to ten...call the doc and make an appointment right now! Be persistant!!

Answer 4

i'm particular you have heard this before in spite of the undeniable fact that it sounds like colic. My sister had a splash one with colic and there is not any longer something fairly a ensure can do. the infant frequently grows out of it by way of the time they are 6 months previous (lots of the time faster). no person is accustomed to the properly suited clarification for colic. you need to deliver this on your Dr's interest besides. My in basic terms different suggestion is to sleep once you could, and in simple terms comprehend that it does not final continuously. i be attentive to those are not precisely soothing words. such as you stated the infant isn't in discomfort, so hand the infant off to a pal for some lots mandatory sleep. you be attentive to you're doing each little thing you could, so which you deserve a injury and a few sleep.

Answer 5

Have you discussed with the pediatrician the possibility of reflux - my daughter has silent reflux (doesn't really spit up at all) and in the beginning she cried a lot. I was the same way, my first son had no problems so when I had my daughter and all she did was cry I thought I'd go crazy. I kept a journal and wrote down everything she did, when I talked to the pediatrician she immediately knew it was reflux.

Answer 6

My son is 3 months old and was the same way for a while. It sounds like he may be full of gas, try putting him on his back and pumping his legs. You might want to try the Mylicon gas drops too. Are you breastfeeding? If so, they say dairy could cause colic-like symptoms. Try limiting your dairy intake. My wife drinks a ginger root tea every morning to help cleanse the breastmilk if she ate something that might irritate him. Put chunks of ginger root (about the size of a 1 inch cube) in hot water and a teaspoon of sugar. It actually tastes pretty good.

Answer 7

The moms here have the practical advice...I'll just say that (and you clearly know this) there is nothing wrong with feeling frustrated with your new baby, as long as you keep those feeling internal and they don't spill over to how you treat your baby (substitute spouse abuse in case of emergency ;-). Typing your frustrations into the Internet in no way indicates that you have a problem in this area. Chill, people.

The only nice thing about Colic is that it (usually) predictably ends at 12-14 weeks. I don't envy parents of colicky babies and I wish you the best.

Answer 8

My baby is 5 weeks old and he's starting to get like that as well. This is my first child, so I thought all babies this young act like that... I was praying he'd grow out of it!! I try EVERYTHING to keep him entertained, but it doesn't work. I can't get anything done during the day because I am constantly holding him and trying to entertain him! I feel for you and know exactly what you are going through.

Answer 9

Poor you..and baby!
Does the crying stop if he is on his side back or stomach, or just when you hold him??
You may want to call your pediatrician about this, it could be something as simple as something you eat affecting your milk to something more serious like an obstruction..or mom, you could just have a cry-er! After a Dr's visit, try wrapping him and laying him down and just let him cry it out...hard, but sometimes helps

Answer 10

Try Dr. Karps Happiest Baby on the Block. Its a pretty quick and easy read.

The fitness ball/bouncing tip really helped for us.

Good luck - Id say just watch your wording. Calling your baby miserable - versus your experience - is what I think triggered the harsh remarks back.