Struggling with a super crier!

kerriam26 · August 2015

From day one I knew my baby was a crier. He has big, LOUD cries multiple times per day. He wakes up screaming every morning until I feed him, cries before every nap and then wakes from each nap screaming! The ped "diagnosed" him with colic but after reading the symptoms I don't think that's it. He doesn't cry for hours on end, he just cries a LOT throughout each day and can usually be soothed each time to some extent. There's so many times I've had to leave a store or DH and I had to ask for our meal to go at a restaurant because he will just wail and wail. He only naps in our arms with a paci, hates swings and rockers and can only do tummy time on our chests for a few mins before crying. It's truly exhausting and it breaks my heart. I feel like he's missing out developmentally because when he should be playing during the day, he's crying! He's on reflux meds and colic probiotics but at the end of the day, I truly think he's just a really fussy, high needs baby.

Im really struggling to enjoy motherhood when all I do all day long is try to soothe him and once he's calm I get anxiety about when he's gonna breakdown next.

Anyone else dealing with a big crier? How are you coping?

I should add that he is almost 12 weeks, otherwise super healthy and thriving and the few moments when he is calm and happy his smiles and giggles are as big as his cries.

ashleyandely · August 2015

I'm really sorry that you're going through this! My LO is 11 weeks and for a while she had a 'witching hour' every night from 7-9. I would get anxiety as the day went by because once 7pm hit she would be inconsolable. Then I found the magic that is white noise. It literally calmed her down instantly. She no longer has her witching hour but whenever she gets fussy especially before naps or bed time I put on some white noise.. I was using a blow dryer then I found a video of a waterfall going into a stream and it works like a charm. Good luck!!

CanadaMom17 · August 2015

Have you tried a carrier? My lo will still cry, but just a couple of minutes and she's out like a light, or looking around (good for dining out! I just take her outside in the carrier and pace until she falls asleep). And mine hated the swing and vibrating bouncy chair at first, but now that she's a little older, she likes the toys and such and will play for longer periods. She does still go from smiles to freak out in .2 seconds, but there's a lot less crying as the days go by. Fingers crossed for you, it's tough.

kerriam26 · August 2015

@ashleyandely thanks! He does like the faucet running (thank god I don't pay for the water bill!) and our sound machine at night. During the day the sounds will calm him a bit before naps but he still gets in that loud cry each time! @canadamommy yes, he likes the ergobaby wrap and usually looks around contently for a bit while in it but then cries as he gets sleepy. I can slip him the paci in it and typically he's asleep after a few minutes of crying. Good to know yours likes the rocker/swing now. That gives me hope mine will come around to them too!

odawg · August 2015

Oh no! I will say mine LO hated swings and tummy time and was a cranky one but recently started dealing with it. So dont give up trying those items randomly every so often...it may all the sudden be ok. I went out for my first meal (quick lunch) without feeding and she was awake! Hang in there....the time is coming. I found i was trying to get LO to take more naps/sooner naps because she was cranky but really i needed to wait. I have to switch activites like every 2 to 5 minutes including being outside for walks and in the pool to get her worn out. If your LO likes outdoors put the swing outside and see if that helps! Goodluck!

mars8k · August 2015

I'm sorry to hear that, LO used to be exactly like that from birth till very recently, it used to be gas, now she demands our constant attention, if she's up you need to be Right there with tons pf toys and books and has witching "hour" that lasts half a day.

What i can tell you is to hang there cause it might get easier once your LO responds better to toys and books, DD is 13 wo and she only started enjoying them about a week ago, before that she'd just stare at mobiles. She has a book with finger puppet sticking out the middle that she loves and other infant books, i used to read toddler books to her but she didn't like them so try those everyday and 1 day you'll see her interested and entertained by them.

Good luck, you're doing great

camdensmom32 · August 2015

My daughter was the same way. I would say she cried 90% of the day. We tried switching formulas and giving reflux meds but nothing helped. I took her to the chiropractor the other day and I notice a big difference. She still has her moments of crying but it's nothing like it had been. She is way more content now! Might be something to consider.

kerriam26 · August 2015

@CamdensMom32 thanks! Just curious, is the chiropractor a one time thing or do you have to keep going?

camdensmom32 · August 2015

My chiropractor said one visit is usually enough for little ones. Mine suggested bringing my daughter back in a week or two since she had so much out but told me to see how she does but that 1 time is usually enough.

camdensmom32 · August 2015

But make sure you find a chiropractor that specializes in babies or has experience with them.

CanadaMom17 · August 2015

I took my lo for infant massage (likely what he did is similar to what a chiropractor would do), mostly to help improve her latch, and she had lots of tight tissue. Again, one session was enough (latched like a champ that night), and he was a specialist in that type of massage.

alliebsmith · August 2015

This sounds like my LO when she was born (now is 11 weeks)! She would cry constantly and I had to always hold her! She has mellowed out a lot!

Do you formula feed or breast feed? I formula feed and when I switched my LO to Similac Sensitive and gave her gas drops periodically I noticed a big change in her crying. Her legs would always be stiff and once I started her gas drops she really mellowed out and the gas was easier to manage. We still have our rough days but she now loves her swing and laying on her play mat. I really think that switching her formula made a huge difference. We also moved her bedtime up to 6:30/7:00pm and she has been significantly less fussy and sleeps 10 hours a night!!!

Keep trying things, he will settle down!

camdensmom32 · August 2015

I think an infant massage and chiropractor are way different. My LO actually laid on her tummy and had her back adjusted. I could hear it pop.

amydawn1026 · August 2015

My little one is the same way he fights naps bad but we have discovered he loves his little tikes outdoor swing we have it on the porch with fans and after a few pushes he's out for at least 30minutes.

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