Baby Crying Question

[Aubrey]

Y'all remember a couple of weeks ago, baby was sleeping 6 hrs at a time during the day + sleeping thr the night, & I was sort-of freaked out by that? I looked up a schedule online, to see *generally* how much he should be sleeping & how often he should be eating.

 

I don't schedule him now exactly, but I have been paying more attention to the clock, & for a week or so, he happily moved from the weird too-much-sleep routine to a more normal one. He was playing so happily w/ his sibs in the mornings that he could go until nearly lunchtime w/out a nap--a huge change. Iow, he was getting fussy midmorning because he was hungry instead of tired. At least, I guess.

 

Now he's crying. Constantly. I mean, if he's not eating or sleeping, I'm holding him or he cries. He cries when he hears my voice, when I walk into a room, etc. Yesterday after I changed his diaper, he was playing (happily) in the living room floor. He'd scooched over to the front door to find a toy, & I left the room. He FLIPPED. I mean, he could have only seen me through the corner of his eye, & he did a 180. I was taking something to the computer room & coming right back--in that amt of time, he'd gone from happy to SCREAMING & had scooched after me so fast he nearly caught up to me.

 

Lately, though, staying in the room doesn't even make him happy. He wants ME to HOLD him. The other day, I put him in the sling & did hist that way. Which I don't mind at all. Up to now, he's been a *very* low-key baby. The thing is...I can't get anything done around the house. He's heavy. I can't sit w/ him in the sling. I can't do up & down stuff (like picking up). He's reachy, so he gets into whatever's in front of me.

 

So...any ideas what might be wrong w/ him all of a sudden? He's been teething, but I can't imagine that this could *all* be that, kwim? I mean, his teeth don't seem to bother him much. He just doesn't want anything to do w/ anyone but me.

 

Dh finally took him to run errands today because he felt so sorry for me, lol. And baby will be fine w/out me--out of sight, out of mind, you know? He's still happy w/ dh, as long as I don't walk past. Then he's inconsolable. :001_huh:

[melissel]

The first thing I would assume, absent any other signs or symptoms of something else, is just a growth or developmental spurt, especially given all the sleeping he was doing. Have you been messing with his schedule even a little bit? Trying to keep him up a bit longer between naps or something? Anything like that? If not, then he's probably just...growing! I always believed -- and still do, even with older kids, actually -- that the minute you think figure anything out about babies (sleep schedules, favorite foods, etc.), they will change it up on you. I wouldn't worry too much about it. Can you get yourself a mei tai carrier and sling that kid onto your back? That got us through some hard times with my second babe--I lugged that kid around until she was 16 months old, and it made my life so much easier.

 

Good luck!

[Nakia]

Hmmm...I think it could be teething. My youngest was a complete fuss bucket when she was teething. She wanted me constantly! My other two weren't like that at all. Or, more likely, it is just a phase. Don't you hate that expression--"just a phase"? I do, but it is so true. My kids have gone through all these weird phases that made me freak for a couple of weeks. Then, BAM!, they were over it. I'm sorry, but I'm not much help. :grouphug: I know it is exhausting!

[dirty ethel rackham]

Sounds like developmental milestones to me - separation anxiety and brain growth . My kids demonstrated more pronounced separation anxiety at about 6 months or so. Their brains grow most with human interaction, so he is doing with he is supposed to - seeking the appropriate inputs to grow the connections in his brain:). Aren't babies smart!:) Aren't babies a pain in the tuckus;)?

That said, it does not help you manage your day. I agree with getting some sort of backpack carrier to get work done throughout the day. I ended up not doing a lot of below hip-high housework when I was holding the baby. Whenever I had him happy without me, I would rush around and do things that required bending over. My children learned alot about housework that year - they picked a lot of the slack - loading and unloading a dishwasher, picking stuff off the floor. We made games out of it. My other kids also learned a lot about entertaining a baby. We practiced playing with the baby so that I could work with one or the other.

[springmama]

Babies go through all sorts of phases. Sleeping lots usually means they are growing, fussiness can be anything. For my little man I've noticed if he's not getting enough calories or sleep he's fussy. Sometimes it's teething, other times boredom, and other times I think it's just a short term insecurity that he is working though.

 

Do you use a sling? I'm not talking about a snuggli or over the shoulder baby holder type thing, but a real GOOD sling like a well made mei tai or woven wrap? If not, you might want to go to http://www.thebabywearer.com and look into getting one. It will change your life. A good sling will distribute baby's weight properly and will not hurt and will enable you to comfort him while doing whatever it is you need to do. When my 3rd child was a little too much to handle in stores (around age 2) I'd time our shopping trips for naptime and put all 30 lbs of him up on my back in a babyhawk and he's pass out and stay asleep while I shopped. It was almost as good as leaving him at home!

 

Now, with my 1 year old, I put him on my back to do chores and/or school. He really seems to enjoy being snuggle up to me.

[Aubrey]

My other kids also learned a lot about entertaining a baby. We practiced playing with the baby so that I could work with one or the other.

 

Yep--2 weeks ago, he was thrilled to play in the floor w/ the other 3. Now? No way.

 

It's almost funny how fast he gets quiet when I pick him up. Almost. :glare:

[cjzimmer1]

My daughter is a couple of weeks younger than your son. She doesn't want to be put down either. In fact she thinks I want to rock her to sleep and then hold her for the entire duration of her nap. We're working on that though and it's getting better. But separation anxiety is a huge thing at this age. She still spends lots of time (relatively speaking of course, maybe 10 minutes at a time) in her exersaucer and she will be totally happy until she sees me. Then the realization hits that I'm not holding her and she complains. I've thought about getting a back carrier so I can get some things done around the house, but then I remember I have very long hair which is a tremendous fascination to little people who can't help but to twine their fingers in it and PULL.

[Aubrey]

I've thought about getting a back carrier so I can get some things done around the house, but then I remember I have very long hair which is a tremendous fascination to little people who can't help but to twine their fingers in it and PULL.

 

I hadn't thought about that! Between my hair & my glasses (w/ chain)...wow. LOL

[Peri]

... seperation anxiety. Have you tried a bouncy seat? If not, they are not awfully expensive. I would put the seat on the kitchen counter by the sink and strap the baby in. Then I would talk to them. They were too into what I was doing and what those shinny things where that I was holding and plus I was interacting with them. They also loved the sound of running water. My middle child would fall asleep plenty while I was washing the dishes.

[melissel]

... seperation anxiety. Have you tried a bouncy seat? If not, they are not awfully expensive. I would put the seat on the kitchen counter by the sink and strap the baby in. Then I would talk to them. They were too into what I was doing and what those shinny things where that I was holding and plus I was interacting with them. They also loved the sound of running water. My middle child would fall asleep plenty while I was washing the dishes.

 

I think a bouncy seat is a good idea (we loved ours), but please never never never put it on the counter. My cousin's 3-month-old just took a very bad spill off their dining room table because he was wiggly enough to shimmy the seat off -- broke his jaw, gave him a concussion, and he lost his hearing for over a week.

 

If you don't already have a bouncer, you can almost always score them on Freecycle (around here at least).

 

And I put my long hair up in a high ponytail when I was using our back carrier. It was only ever a problem when it started to slide out!

[mooooom]

I could never handle a sling, but w/ a backpack you can do almost anything - you have two hands free (sitting down is the only thing that isn't easy). My dd lived in a backpack - I even walked the treadmill with her in there. She was a very light baby though.

[newbie]

I had to carry mine around for two yrs. Not Alex. They do like those exersaucers. Keeps em busy for a little while.

 

It probably is his teeth, he just feels bad and wants mommy. You can always send him my way, I was just saying this morning how nice it would be to have a baby crying.

 

My house is getting quiet w/ both doing schoolwork all the time. Could you believe that one day you will miss it.

 

For right now, take a break and lots of hugs.

[Aubrey]

My house is getting quiet w/ both doing schoolwork all the time. Could you believe that one day you will miss it.

 

It scares me how much I can imagine missing it--I was just telling dh the other night--can you imagine that this could be our *last* 7mo old baby? Our last 4mo old baby already a memory?

 

There should have been at least *some* relief in one of our faces, but we were both sad to think about it. That doesn't sound much like people who are done having babies, does it? LOL

[newbie]

They are just so darn cute, when they are sleeping or quiet. LOL.

[Lovedtodeath]

Sounds like developmental milestones to me - separation anxiety and brain growth . My kids demonstrated more pronounced separation anxiety at about 6 months or so. Their brains grow most with human interaction, so he is doing with he is supposed to - seeking the appropriate inputs to grow the connections in his brain:). Aren't babies smart!:) Aren't babies a pain in the tuckus;)?

That said, it does not help you manage your day. I agree with getting some sort of backpack carrier to get work done throughout the day. I ended up not doing a lot of below hip-high housework when I was holding the baby. Whenever I had him happy without me, I would rush around and do things that required bending over. My children learned alot about housework that year - they picked a lot of the slack - loading and unloading a dishwasher, picking stuff off the floor. We made games out of it. My other kids also learned a lot about entertaining a baby. We practiced playing with the baby so that I could work with one or the other.

:iagree:Have the kids do any of the picking up off the floor. Get a good baby carrier like an Ergo and you can vacuum and mop while wearing the baby. Oh, and definitely the age. Your others didn't do this?

[Peri]

It scares me how much I can imagine missing it--I was just telling dh the other night--can you imagine that this could be our *last* 7mo old baby? Our last 4mo old baby already a memory?

 

There should have been at least *some* relief in one of our faces, but we were both sad to think about it. That doesn't sound much like people who are done having babies, does it? LOL

 

I so hear you! My biological clock is just yelling at me. The emotional side of me is always arguing with my logical ide about this. The conversation goes like this:

 

heart (yelling): IT'S TIME TO HAVE A BABY!

brain: We already have three!

heart: Well it's time for another one!

brain: The youngest isn't even 3 years old yet!

heart (with an attitude): Well you better not wait too long!

 

It's driving me crazy because I can remember the first few months when i would wake up to feed the baby. I would always think to myself, "What have I gotten myself into!" But I've got this strong urge. It's insane!

[Aubrey]

I so hear you! My biological clock is just yelling at me. The emotional side of me is always arguing with my logical ide about this. The conversation goes like this:

 

heart (yelling): IT'S TIME TO HAVE A BABY!

brain: We already have three!

heart: Well it's time for another one!

brain: The youngest isn't even 3 years old yet!

heart (with an attitude): Well you better not wait too long!

 

It's driving me crazy because I can remember the first few months when i would wake up to feed the baby. I would always think to myself, "What have I gotten myself into!" But I've got this strong urge. It's insane!

 

Oh, no, let me clarify. It. is. not. time. for. another. one. At all. And my biological clock *can't* be ticking--I'm not 30 yet.

 

I just...*ought* to be done. I think. Sort-of. Ten years + is a looooooooonnnng time, though!

[Aubrey]

:iagree:Have the kids do any of the picking up off the floor. Get a good baby carrier like an Ergo and you can vacuum and mop while wearing the baby. Oh, and definitely the age. Your others didn't do this?

 

:confused: Did they? I don't remember? :lol:

[Chris in VA]

Oh Aubrey, you can't be done yet! You have to have more so I can live vicariously thru you!

(not to sound...really scary and stalker-ish or anything...)

 

Wish I had had two or even three more, even with all the troubles we've had around here.

[lighthouseacademy]

I have had great success with Dr. Christopher's Kid-e-Calc when my kids were teething... I had a chiropractor once explain to me that teething pain was due to the body not having enough readily available calcium. Extra calcium has always done the trick for my babies (I even used the kid-e-calc and some red raspberry leaf tea which is very high in calcium to combat teething pain for myself when I got a wisdom tooth in. Worked like a charm!)

Anyway, I too say get a wrap or a good mei-tai carrier. They are great. I have had 2 of 3 crawl before they sat... and long sleep patterns tend to be a gear up for a new developmental milestone. Good luck.

[Barb_]

It could be the teeth, Aubrey. Coupled with garden-variety separation anxiety and the stimulation from being awake and alert more often could be enough to send him round the bend. I was having a similar situation with Keira. Didn't think the teeth were bothering her and that she was simply being needy. Her fussiness and wakefulness got worse and worse until I broke down and started giving her Motrin twice a day. She's like a new little baby. She's curious and playful and giggly when she used to be high-strung and weepy.

 

Just a thought. :grouphug: to you. Not fun.

 

Barb

 

ETA: And HEY! I just noticed your son is doing not sitting up thing too! Keira is all over the place, crawling like an inchworm...up on knees and then SPLAT on the tummy. She's so fast that she almost knocks the wind out of herself. But she isn't sitting. Ever since she was little, whenever I try to put her in the sitting position, she throws herself forward onto her tummy and crawls off. The exact opposite of my first who sat alone at 3 months old and then didn't bother moving for 7 more months.

Edited April 2, 2009 by Barb F. PA in AZ

[ElizabethB]

Mine wanted to be held constantly while teething, so does my 2 year old nephew. He's normally doesn't cuddle, my mom actually likes it when he's teething, she goes over and holds him all day, she loves holding babies! It's too bad we were so far away when mine were teething.

 

Johnny jump up and walker were favorites at that age when not teething.

[Aubrey]

ETA: And HEY! I just noticed your son is doing not sitting up thing too! Keira is all over the place, crawling like an inchworm...up on knees and then SPLAT on the tummy. She's so fast that she almost knocks the wind out of herself. But she isn't sitting. Ever since she was little, whenever I try to put her in the sitting position, she throws herself forward onto her tummy and crawls off. The exact opposite of my first who sat alone at 3 months old and then didn't bother moving for 7 more months.

 

LOL--since he's started freaking out when I leave the room, I hurry if I have to, kwim? So I'll be rushing back to get him, & he's behind me. This pathetic cry that goes to freaked-out really quick is attached to this puddle dragging itself down the hall like the final scene of one of the Terminator movies. It's sad & funny & awful at the same time.