My newborn cries for hours at night!!!

Grace682 · April 2014

I have never felt so helpless in my entire life. I gave birth on Monday, left the hospital on Wednesday after an emergency c-section and every night since then my daughter has cried for hours only at night. I don't know what to do. I mentioned it to the pedi and he didn't seem to concerned right now but this is heartbreaking. I feel like I've tried everything and nothing works.

Can anyone else relate?

Molly&BabyLecuyer430 · April 2014

Maybe your daughter has acid reflux? Is she hungry? Is she cold/ hot is it temperature related? I feel as though maybe you need to add more details.. Are you breastfeeding? I have so many other questions but those seem like a good start.. Sorry this is happening for both of you!

momofmanyinthemitten · April 2014

Are we talking evening it all through he night? DD #1 took part in the "witching hour," every night, which was not fun. Actually, she pretty much cried 24/7. I learned a lot from The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems. DS wasn't happy at night unless I was sleeping next to him.

*sparky* · April 2014

When DS was born, we watched Happiest Baby on the Block. It was a true lifesaver. It teaches you about swaddling, shushing, and other calming techniques. As a PP wrote it would be helpful to have more info - there are a million things it could be. Does it seem like she has her days and nights mixed up? Is she crying even when you are holding her or just if you try to out her down? Is she wetting enough diapers?

It is brutal when they have a rough adjustment so I hope you can figure something out. Also the 0-3 month board may have helpful advise since more of them have BTDT at this point.

misskristina21 · April 2014

DD2 also has a "witching hour", actually it's a stretch of 2 hrs that she is fussy for. Very normal. That being said, when she screams we go through the list.. Is baby hungry? Gassy? Need to poop? Hot/cold? Want to be swaddled/unswaddled?, want a paci?, want to be rocked?. The list goes on. Last night she just wanted a change of scenery. We went out to the living room, and sat in the recliner and she was out in 10 minutes after fussing for over an hour.

If she really is screaming for hours on end, every night, there might be a bigger problem, like acid reflux. Where do you try to lay her down at? Both my girls hated laying flat. DD1 slept in a bouncer for 6 weeks, DD2 sleeps best in the rock and play.

Avion22 · April 2014

Could be she has nights and days mixed up. In utero, most babies are more active at night when we are resting, then they are born and the habit sticks.

Try, during the day, keeping baby in a brightly lit room, going outside for short periods of time, keeping volume levels normal. Put baby in "normal" clothes (not pjs). Don't be afraid to vacuum or make other loud noises. At night, make sure to keep it dark and QUIET. Speak in hushed tones. Dress baby in jammies.

Colin had some issues with congestion in his nose at first -- every time he cried he would make this horrible snorting noise, and it made him even fussier. We had to use saline drops and suction the snot out of his nose, then have him sleep on an inclined surface so it could drain out. He's much better now. Remember that things like diaper changes are really stimulating, so if you try to put the baby down right after a diaper change she will likely be fussy. We always do the diaper change FIRSt at night, then feed to calm him back down. By the end of the feed he's usually back asleep.

cwm11985 · April 2014

When I had my first he screamed all night every night for the first 8 or 9 days. We tried every single thing, went to the pedi, etc. nothing worked, most likely he just had day and night mixed up. Hang in there, it's hopefully just a phase and she'll stop soon. In the meantime is definitely try having her sleep on an incline, the 5 S's, etc.

haziedaze · April 2014

Try skin to skin and lots of nursing (if you are)! I also second the advice about Happiest Baby on the Block techniques and keeping daytime bright and engaging and night dark and quiet.

CatherineDC2012 · April 2014

Happiest baby on the block get the DVD!!

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My newborn cries for hours at night!!!

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