I'm exhausted and exasperated. My 5 wk old DD, who is extremely fussy, can not even leave the house without making a scene. I can't take her grocery shopping or anywhere else. At home, I wear her in my Moby wrap just so I can do minimal things around the house. She must be held. Rarely, while she is awake, is she not screaming. The Dr suggested she may have a bad case of GERD so she takes Zantac. Amazingly, she sleeps through the night in her own crib, so she may not be colicky. My house is a disaster. I'm exhausted. Worst of all, how will daycare handle this when I return to work?
Re: Fussy Baby Strategies?
Try to swaddled her, lay her on your chest and shhh into her ear while patting her bottom. Swaying her side to side may help too.
Here's our story: DD is eight weeks this week and just in the last couple days started having content time in the swing or playmat for 5-15 minutes. Up until now she had zero content time and always had to be held. And not only held, I had to be standing, bouncing and shushing her. She freaks with anyone else including DH so I feel like I never get a break. She also does not take a paci and has a terrible colic witching hours from 6-9. This seems to be getting slightly better. Until about a week ago she would also only sleep on me so I was sleeping in a rocker off and on all night. Naps are still while baby wearing. Night sleep is now in the RNP most nights.
I could go on and on but here's what's worked for me or at least sort of helped: baby wearing almost all day so I can do other things or go for a walk. Get out of the house, she usually falls asleep in the car and will stay asleep on errands and if not I baby wear while in the store. Have DH or someone hold her and even if she is crying give yourself a break and get away from the crying-I would go for a 20 min power walk or take a shower or have DH take her outside and I would try to take a quick 20 min nap. If the crying is bothering you, put on headphones while you try to calm LO (I have bad pp anxiety and her crying is my trigger so I have to pull the headphones out often). Just recently she has started to enjoy stroller rides/they calm her but before she hated. White noise. Bedtime routine with a bath with lavender oil. Swaddling. Chiropractor, started two weeks ago and feel it's made a difference.
Sorry for the lack or formatting and the novel but a few weeks ago I felt like I couldn't find anyone on the bump that was going through this and I felt horrible. So I wanted to share our story so you know you aren't alone. Good luck. It's very hard having a baby like this. It will pass!
Started dating February 6, 2012