My baby is constantly crying and miserable

patchwork_cat

Lots of suggestions here https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3008866

lindsaygalaxy

My friends baby was a lot like this, doctors gave the lactose free milk but it didnt make a hude amount of difference. Health visitor suggested starting to move her onto solids at just over 4 months, and problem got much better. At nearly 2 she is a very happy toddler!

Gillby1

Hi Tears.

Just a quick post to say you have my sympathy. My little boy was exactly the same at that age - just seemed much quicker to cry than other babies, and easily frustrated. Some days i could barely put him down for more than a few minutes! When compared to my sisters two kids, who were always happy, rarely crying and entertained themselves for hours with no more than a squeaky toy, i thought i must be doing something wrong. But at about 9 months he suddenly cheered up! Nothing we did seemed to make a difference, but that's about the time he started working out how to communicate things - not talking, or even pointing, but showing us what he wanted or where he wanted to go by reaching for things etc... Actually, that was about the time he started to be able to run around in his baby walker too, so maybe that bit of independance made the difference.

Anyway, just hang on in there as chances are he'll improve by himself!

Gilly x

mumcoll

My youngest son was a miserable baby. My first two were sunny natured, so he was quite a shock. There seemed to be no apparent reason for him being like it. I thought he must be hungry so fed him more - he was then fat as well as miserable! He is now almost 26 and is the most cheerful person I know.

KiKi

FatVonD wrote: »

Cranial osteopathy.

I agree this is definitely something to consider. Two of my friends had babies who were SO thoroughly unhappy and miserable. One tried it and had an immediate improvement in her child, so the other one did, too. Their personalities literally transformed within weeks.

I have no idea how much it costs, but I think I'm right in saying they didn't need GP referrals or anything.

I've never seen babies change temperament so quickly!

KiKi

pigpen

I took DD5 for cranial osteopathy. she had reflux and was a grumpy thng.. it worked wonders on her too.

aliasojo

FatVonD wrote: »

Cranial osteopathy.

My son was exactly the same until I took him (I think he was about 3 months) and he improved after just one session. The osteopath described it as him feeling like he had a hangover for the last 3 months (due to bones/plates that had been squished out of place during labour and then not gone back to their rightful place.)

ETA After I'd taken him the health visitor admitted she was a great believer in it but wasn't allowed to recommend it, it was another mum that recommended it to me.

My Health Visitor recommended it to us but made us promise to not tell the Doc it was her that did so. Exactly the same reason (plates not lying as they should, they were only a few small mm out but that was enough to cause problems).

KiKi wrote: »

I have no idea how much it costs, but I think I'm right in saying they didn't need GP referrals or anything.

KiKi

No referral needed. Can't remember cost now but think it was in the region of £20-£30 per session.

pigpen wrote: »

I took DD5 for cranial osteopathy. she had reflux and was a grumpy thng.. it worked wonders on her too.

Ditto. Daughter had reflux too and was in hospital for tests because of it, it interferred with her breathing at one point when she was tiny.

OP I would definitely consider making an app with a cranial osteopath. The worst that can happen is that it doesn't work but it may well make a difference. I don't believe babies cry or fret to that extreme for no reason. Yes, some babies are grumpy but those that are *really* grumpy may well have cause imo.

It doesn't sound like your GP is a great help, is your HV any better?

Myrtle

Reflux can be very painful. Both my dd's had this and a we discovered that it was burning away their oesophagus. Gaviscon helped a lot but we also found it useful not to lay them flat til they were on mostly solids. The head of the cots were raised and downstairs they either lay on cushions or in rocking seats.
The main thing to remember is that it will pass.

teasleym

Really feel for you Tears9. I know exactly how you feel. My 5 month old was only diagnosed last month with Severe Reflux (GORD) and also possible milk intolerance. She too screamed constantly and it all came to a head when she was admitted to hospital at our paediatrics appointment. She is on the maximum of medication for it (Omeprazole and Domperidone) and Neocate milk free formula.

Our GP was really good and brought forward our paediatricians appointment as he could see how we were struggling, and they changed her medication and milk and everything changed overnight.

We still get days of constant screaming, colds, teething and illness will make it all worse, and I know what its like to be out with a baby constantly screaming being looked at by other mums (try being in mamas and papas and having your baby screaming non stop for the whole time!), but I wanted you to know you are not alone.

There is a reflux forum on BabyCentre and there are lots of mums in the same position offering advice and comfort.
I assume you know about propping up everything from the bed to the pushchair and even the changing mat? I keep my little one upright for half an hour after feeding to reduce sickness and pain. Don't use colic medication whatever you do as it will make reflux a lot worse, please have a look on the other forum as the mums there are really knowledgeable and really helped me (even with how to give the medication)

We are just starting to wean, but to be honest it doesn't make a lot of difference, and my GP and paediatrician have told me it won't always help.

My advice to you is to pester your GP and see if you can get your pediatric appointment brought forward if possible, if not swot up, using the little refluxers website, babycentre forum etc, so you are armed with knowledge when you see your GP. My GP normally frowns on people using the internet and coming in with info from it, but he was very impressed with the advice and knowledge I picked up on reflux.

Just wanted you to know you are not alone, although I know it really feels like you are, but it will get better, my GP says they often ougrow it by a year so I am counting down the months!

surreybased

Hi,

My ds was like this - he was an intense baby, very fussy, had to be fed in a certain way, had to be held in a certain way. He hated the car seat and it was awful having long journeys where he would just scream. I learned to sing to him and later used musical mobiles. It felt as if he had never settled (like a newborn in the very early weeks). It got better around 8 months, not sure why he just started to sleep more. He's 5 now, a smiley child, still doesn't need to sleep much but very social. Looking back he seemed to be frustrated with everything, he was so much happier once he could move about.

Try music, cranial and everything recommended..DS was my youngest child and I felt so sad as it was mostly uphill and certainly not as enjoyable as my other children.