Is this normal?

jdsmith87

My LO is a month old and for the past 2 weeks he has become inconsolable most of the time. When he is awake he is either fussy or screaming. The only times he is not fussing is when he is eating or sleeping or when he is in the boba wrap and I am moving. I can't just put him in the wrap and expect him to be happy. I have to be moving with him at all times in order for him to calm down. Sometimes he will stay awake for 5 hours and just fuss and cry the whole time unless he is in constant motion. I have a rock n play but he hates it. He only likes to be held and walked. He has now gotten to the point where he won't fall asleep unless he is on my chest. 

I have been awake now since 5am, so going on 2.5 hours and he is just now calming down. I feed him, change him, hold him, walk him, feed him, change him, etc. nothing seems to make him happy. He hates being swaddled. He totally freaks out when his hands are restrained. 

Is this type of behavior normal? Or is this extreme? 

I am at my wits end. I can't sleep and I'm getting more frustrated every day. How long is this behavior going to last?

katy0990

I don't have any advice to offer, but hang in there. You are doing your best and it will get better!

FutureMrsCaesar

It sounds like you have a colic-y baby. It's normal but challenging. Try googling some suggestions (the 5 S's come to mind) and you could always call your Drs nurse line and ask for some tips. Also keep in mind that babies at that age should only be awake 45-60 mins, much beyond that they get over tired and are a nightmare to get down. In the next month or so you'll notice more of a schedule develop and that should help some (dd is 3.5 weeks and she still seems to do long stretches of awake and long stretches of sleep during the day).

J234

This is pretty much where we are... going on week two of extreme fussiness.  I finally managed to pump a bit this morning, so tonight I am going to bed early and DH can take over for a couple hours.  LO loves to be worn and will calm down if I do the 5 S's all at once.  Also, I cut way down on dairy (maybe 90% dairy free) and my doctor suggested Gerber Soothe probiotic drops.  IDK if it's helping yet.  Good luck!  

jdsmith87

Thank you all for the suggestions. I have just googled the 5 S's, so hopefully I can get some useful tips on how to manage his fussiness. I had to quit breastfeeding about 2 weeks ago because I got on a round of steroids and antibiotics, for recurring bladder infection after delivery and PUPPS. I was pumping and dumping. By the end of the week my breasts had gotten soft and I was lucky to pump 1 to 2 oz ever 6 hours. Very disheartening. I tried to get him to latch but he struggled so much. I eventually got him on formula, but we have had to change it 3 times now. He is on Enfamil Gentlease. It seems to be the best milk based formula for him so far, and I am afraid to switch it again. 

I will just hope and pray that 3 months is the switch and he will be a happy baby. I can't wait to see him smile!

LakeR2014

@jdsmith87 Lurking from September 2016. Congrats on the new baby!  Dropping in as although I'm pregnant with my first, I've had three close friends/relatives have the same problem as you.   All three of them suffered from acid reflux that would cause pain usually a half hour to hour after drinking.  Gentlease is a good formula to be on for this, but at your next doctors visit mention the acid reflux idea and see what they say.   Each of them was given droplets to have prior to or after taking their bottle or breastfeeding which helped tremendously.   I do remember that there was a time as to when this could start (after 1 month I believe), so your doctor may suggest this but may have you hold a week or two.   Try to see if there's a rhyme to when your baby stops crying.  IE Do they stop crying for a half hour or hour after they eat then start up again?   This is what happened with my niece.  She'd scream bloody murder at no end and was finally diagnosed with reflux at 2 months.   Happiest baby since and was off the drops at 8 months.  

As for a soothing remedy that has worked for my family:   Bring your baby's face to the side of your neck, right into the crook of it near your corated (sp?) artery.   Make sure their face/ear is next to this as close as you can get it and hold their head there when bouncing.   They can hear the noise of the artery and it'll remind them of sounds in the womb.   This along with the bouncing movement walking back and forth was the only thing that could get my niece and my friends daughter to stop.    Note though this will take patience, it could take as long as 20 minutes with a screaming baby in your ear.   But at least for both of the girls the scream went from bloody murder to just normal baby cries.   Best wishes hun and remember you're not alone.    Congratulations again.  

CecilB93

I agree with mentioning acid reflux to your pediatrician. Ours put DS on liquid Zantac twice a day and it helped him a ton. He still spits up a bit, but he's way less fussy, even though I still struggle getting him to be calm and/or sleep while not being held. At night we bed share and it seems to work great for us, he sleeps well being near me and I can sleep since he sleeps for a few hours at a time. Hang in there, I know it's rough and I know everyone says this, but it will pass and get better!!