My Son, the Gremlin

MelHay

So I want to say about a week and a half ago, my darling baby boy started shrieking when we put him on the changing table to do our bedtime routine: strip, change, lotion, pajamas, read, sleep. And I mean shrieking. I have a constant ring in my right ear because of it. As soon as we get him vertical, screaming virtually stops. Every single night at sunset. My husband suggested he's anticipating bedtime and doesn't want to go to sleep, but now I'm leaning more on the side of colic. However, he's almost 3mo, isn't that a little late for colic to start? My understanding of colic is inconsolable screaming for extended hours at a time and that starts quite young. He's consoled almost as soon as you pick him up. Should I be looking into reflux? I don't think it's my diet (unless it's all that Halloween candy I've been chowing down). We have gripe water on hand but when we try to give it to him during a fit, it usually ends up temporarily in his mouth and then elsewhere outside of his mouth.

Bigboobsmcgee

Is this ONLY when he's on the changing table? He very well could be anticipating bedtime. 

My thought is that reflux symptoms would surface other times, not just when he's on the changing table. He would be in pain while eating, possibly vomiting or spitting up, etc. Both of my kids reached a point where they both threw fits when laid down to change clothes or even a diaper. I thought it was around 6 months or so but I can't remember. Maybe they were younger. Kids get to an age where they start fighting it so maybe your LO is there now???

 

shaley29

I would imagine you would already know he had reflux by 3 months since that usually starts at about 2 weeks. He could be cold? or he knows it's bedtime. Do you have issues getting him to sleep after that? Does he shriek anywhere else if laid down? Try doing your bedtime routine somewhere else and see

Knottie67048120

I don't have any advice as to why it's only happening on the changing table, maybe it's the material your laying him on? As a side note though, I give my son gripe water using a small bottle nipple and he gets it all down. That squeeze dropper just dumps it in their mouths way to quick.

countryblonde87

My little guy has reflux. He would start screaming 20 min or so after feedings and he would spit up and want to nurse again right away because from what I was told it burns when he spits up and nursing/swallowing makes it better. I wouldn't think it is reflux if he Is only doing it at bed time.

whitfi24

I think you'd also know if it was colic. Speaking from experience, the colic is pretty much non-stop. As in, you think something is seriously wrong with your baby. All babies are different, but I resources say that colic starts early and ends by about three months. I'm guessing the other posters are correct in thinking that he's anticipating bed time. Mine is almost three months too and fights going to bed. Though he's a stinker about most things...

Knottie4978096

I agree- the little guy is smart and doesn't want to go to bed so he's voicing his displeasure. Don't give in and let him stay up - my sister did and now she's dealing with a toddler who won't sleep in her own bed, never has. Change his routine slightly, but not his bedtime, maybe that might help with the shrieking. Oh, and you'd know if he had colic - you'd be a desperate nervous wreck of a person dragging your baby off to any and every specialist who will see you in hopes of finding relief of any kind. It's not colic unless he screams at you non-stop. And I do mean non-stop because it doesn't stop. Ever.

MelHay

Thanks ladies. He's pretty much stopped. He'll do it occasionally still but it's manageable. Now on to the next adventure: teething.