What state does your baby get itself into?

strawberrypud

My 4 month old has been doing this since birth and it is awful to watch....

If she cries she gets herself so worked up, in a very short space of time (literally in one minute) that she is screaming, hot, sweaty and turning purple with hysteria.

I spend my time trying to avoid letting her cry, ever, which with a young baby is almost impossible!

I've just had an awful scenario where I thought I had got the baby to sleep so I was bathing my 3 year old when she started crying so I had to whisk the 3 year old out of the bath to see to the baby who proceeded to get herself into the above mentioned terrible state and nothing seemed to calm her (I think she was overtired so I was trying to soothe her to sleep - she was fed, clean, dry, warm etc). My toddler was running round naked with wet hair. So I put the toddler on our bed to watch a cartoon, she started jumping on the bed and squealing which was making the baby even worse. I managed to keep calm (ish) but I am finding it just awful to see the baby in such a state...I honestly think she needs sedated sometimes for her own health! I don't know whether to take her to a gp about this because maybe this is just normal behaviour. My first child was a cryer but she never got this worked up.

Any advise or thoughts?

SuzySu

Never went through this with mine, but I know you'll get lots of support and good advice in a minute. It must be very upsetting and worrying to watch.

The_Next_Verse

My newborn is 1 moth old and does this if you leave him too long when he starts to cry.

I do the same as you, and avoid it for too long if I can... but sometimes (like on car journeys that you can't stop) its inevitable.

kindofagilr

Yes my son did this, does she have colic by any chance?

He too would scream and go purple in the face, it would take a lot to calm him down, once he got over tired that was it he would just go mental, he would never go to sleep on his own during the day, used to have to rock him to sleep when he started looking tired cos if i didn't then he would become the purple monster, but now he is smashing, goes to sleep himself in his bouncer when he is tired etc, rarely get purple monster anymore, he is 6 months old now and i would say he has been calm since about 5 months old, sorry i don't have any advice other than stick in here, i think it will pass

mwa

Hello

My DS (10 months) has done this since birth, he comes out in hives and goes all sweaty if left crying too long. Like another poster said, it's sometimes difficult to avoid situations i.e. in the car or when sttending to another child (I have a DS aged 4 too).

I don't have any advice other than avoidance if possible, I put it down to my DS just being a different personality and character, perhaps they lead into anxious children, we'll find out!
MWA

Spendless

My eldest used to cry so much at bed-time, he used to throw up. So the advice to 'leave him as he'll eventually settle' wasn't possible to do. I'd love to tell you that he grew out of it, however he is now 10.5yo and still thinks sleep is optional! I am now putting my hopes on teenage hormones kicking in to see if he sleeps more!

strawberrypud

mwa wrote: »

I don't have any advice other than avoidance if possible, I put it down to my DS just being a different personality and character, perhaps they lead into anxious children, we'll find out!
MWA

I was just saying that to my OH (when he got home after the drama!) that she'll probably be an anxious person if this behaviour is anything to go by. It is almost like watching a baby have a panic attack!

Mips

Are you sure the baby is well winded?

I'd be trying Infacol / gripe water and a swinging cradle!!

Princess_Coupon

My DD did it about 5 times before 12 months old and it was horrible, the screaming was ear piercing, it was the kind of noise you would expect if she'd had a horrific accident. It would go on so long she used to gasp for breath, only getting her to sleep would end it. She was a very windy baby so there could be a connection there but the incidence had nothing to do with feeding or sleeping times so it was always a mystery to me.

strawberrypud

Thank you for the replies.

I've been googling "difficult/anxious/stressed babies" and some sites seem to say its because they are the most intelligent/gifted children :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I suppose parents need to tell themselves that to get them through the tough times.

But I have also read that babies like this need careful handling and consistent routines to keep them calm...that makes sense to me. I have been more relaxed with this baby, being my 2nd, letting her nap where and when she seemed to need it during the day and now I'm trying to get her bedtime routine sorted but maybe I need to get a bit more strict about her routine for her own sake...so she knows what is coming next. She does seem like a very sensitive wee soul. Noise and lots of visual stimulation do seem to get to her much more than they did my 1st.

linzi133

You mentioned your child seems to be more sensitive than your other child. I can recommend a book to read that may help.

It is called
The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aron

It is a very interesting read and may help come up with strategies that can help you now and in the future. (I know you may find it difficult to find time to read but it will be worth it)

HTH