My 6 month old...HELP!?

Question

My six month old son will not stop crying. I've tried everything I can think of. I've bathed him with bedtime bath, sang to him, played his favorite CD, layed with him, given him teething tablets, rocked him, fed him, changed him...etc. He won't stop crying. I'm losing my mind here. Any advise on how to calm him would be great.

Also, I'm totally against the "cry it out" method....no need to suggest.

You know Rufus, your probably right. After all, you raised 4 children who never had one upset night as babies. It's people like you who ruin the answers community.

Answer 1

I'm glad you're against letting him cry it out! Kudos to you! Your baby is showing you that he needs you right now!

I've dealt with this many times with my daughter, who is almost 11 months old now. The best thing I can suggest is to just try (that's the operative word) to keep your cool and maybe just hold her in your arms while walking with her. Go outside in the cool air and walk around your driveway. Talk to her; tell her a story as you walk-- babies love to hear their mother's voice.
Skin to skin contact is very soothing. Keep her close to you. If you have a sling, maybe put her in that and wear her as you sway.

The thing to remember is that it WILL end. She will fall asleep and be calm eventually. :]

Answer 2

First, make sure there is nothing pinching or poking him in his diaper or clothing.
Is he constipated? Hungry? Gassy? Have you let him lay down for a little while alone to just relax?(I mean like 5 minutes) Does he have a fever? Is he teething? Has he had a cold recently- if so it could be an ear infection.
If you've checked all of the above, I would try a dark room with little or no noise and rock him gently while humming the same notes over and over. The repetition can be soothing. Keep trying with a change in position for the little guy if after 5 minutes or so it doesn't work.
Above all, stay calm! Take a deep breath and let out the stress because he can sense it. If it means letting him cry for 5 minutes while you stretch and take a potty break it is okay! If you don't find a way to sooth him by morning, call your pediatrician for an appointment. Ear infections can be painful and he can't tell you it hurts.

Answer 3

My second child was colicky (now, at 15, is lactose intolerant - I think there's a connection).
Anyway, I used to put her in the car and drive around. Sometimes she would wake back up when we got home, but at least my ears had stopped ringing by then and I could deal with it a little better. LOL

It's so hard raising babies, I know - I remember SO well! And it may not be much help in a practical way, but know that you are not alone in your struggles.

I read a quote recently that I just love:
"The days are long, but the years are short."
It's so true!

Believe it or not, but there will come a day when you will wish you could hear the sound of your baby's cry again ;)

My thoughts are with you as you face another sleepless night - and a lifetime full of joy ;)

~A Mom of four (ages 17, 15, 6, and 4)

Answer 4

Can you just fall asleep while he is nursing? Sometimes it works....

Put his head against your chest and hum or sing.

Switch caregivers for a while- babies can tell when you are stressed.

I dont believe in the cry it out method either. But, he will not be hurt if after 30 minutes of trying you set him in his crib and get a glass of water, or take a shower, or something else to calm yourself down.

Could he just need to cry? Babies dot get lots of exercize and need to burn energy!

6 months is a bit old for colic. Is this a new thing? Is it teething? Have you tried tylenol? (dont be surprized if he falls asleep once his teeth arent hurting) I assume he doesnt have a fever, cold, earache or something bothering him (like his toe is caught in a sock funny or a diaper pin poking him etc)


Good luck.

Answer 5

Geez, looks like you got all the bases covered. I don't think you're doing anything wrong, and I agree with your view on "crying it out". Could be he's got some gas, or an allergy (don't panic-- this is a maybe), or he might just have colic (an actual medical condition where babies cry for no reason and doctors can't figure it out). You know when he's uncomfortable or lonely, right? He might just want you to take him outside or somewhere to distract him. When my daughter used to cry for seemingly no reason, I took her outside for a walk and she was fascinated with a leaf. Call a 24 hour nurse line (look it up online--you should have one on your insurance website) and ask for symptoms to infections common for infant boys at this age, etc. Good luck! And have his daddy or someone give you a break!!!

Answer 6

Difficult to advise but Am a bit concerned that you state that you have "different ways and character" and sure you're not confusing love with intimacy .? Are you able to support yourself and your 2 girls for even ,say you divorce and the court orders spousal and support for the 2 girls no guarantee he'll pay or even on time and if you're unable to support without his payment then first you need to begin getting yourself financially independent. Then talk to your husband and talk openly conc. your needs and the affair-perhaps he feels the same since it was also arranged marriage for him and he's willing to work things out amicably with divorce lawyers or wake-up call and you two can get marriage counseling. I wouldn't rush into divorce and then marriage with affair guy-does he want to marry you, is he financially able to support, love is not enough if the differences esp in character are major, will he love and raise your 2 girls as his own. A lot of issues here for not just you but also your daughters. You do deserve to be happy,to have a full satisfying relationship-do not sacrifice your life for children for they know if things not right and sometimes separation is better. Be sure the steps ahead are Right or you,Them and all involved. Wish you luck.

Answer 7

Depending on how much your child has eaten he might not either be full (try adding some rice cereal to the bottle) or is uncomfortable with gas. The two positions my kids loved was the football hold (holding them with their head by your elbow and the palm of your hand in his tummy to take the pressure from maybe gas) or putting a burb rag across your lap and lay him on his tummy and rock him side to side slowly with a gentle tap on the back to calm him if you so choose sing to him.

My daughter was really gassy as a baby and that seemed to help her

oh or if you don't have company take your shirt off and his shirt off and let him lay skin to skin with you. I don't know how it works but it makes him pass gas after a while plus it's soothing to have mommies skin contact.

good luck

Answer 8

Have you tried holding him while rocking him and patting his back and bottom at the same time? My first child loved it! It always got her to calm down... While you rock him and do all that, softly (but above his crying) say "Shh Shh Shh..." really soathing. It'll help him and you calm down. And if you need to, just put him in his crib for a second and take a breather. Then go at it again!
Good luck!!!!

::edit::
Hey rufus! If you have no answers then shut up! She's trying to get her child to go to sleep! She needs advice not judgment! You can't spoil a 6 month old! That baby is saying that he NEEDS her right now! If she doesn't figure out whats wrong, who will?

Answer 9

ugh... been there.

Ever thought about gas pain or constipation? You might think about that, and offer him a laxative or gas drops, just in case. Secondly... my son always did well with dancing. Just hold him and dance.... not like headbanging stuff...(haha)

If he has a vibrating seat, you could try that or a swing, and last but not least... try the ever popular tried and true method...

PUT HIM IN THE CAR AND DRIVE.

Best of luck.

Answer 10

Running water or Strap the car seat to the washer and run a load (simulates a car ride) these are both soothing methods I have used in the past