https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 01 Jul 2026 23:10:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-561150 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:26:34 +0000 irene 561150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: You know, if she's calm, just let her fall asleep on her own? I'd intervene only if she's fussy and restless but when she's calm then give her a chance to learn to fall asleep on her own. Use the hairdryer when she is fussy / crying :)</p> <p>Our peds also said put LO to bed by 7pm. We also follow this religiously and this is also the best advice we've ever got. He's 1 year old now and bedtime has been pretty easy for us since he was 4-5 months. There are occasional weird periods where there is a sleep regression but that was that. Knock on wood!</p> <p>Good luck mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-561140 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:21:37 +0000 travelgirl1 561140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: oooo thank you for that chart! We have tried most of those things but not hairdryer so plugging that in right now. We've done a much better job of keeping her calm tonight, we turned out all lights are off and a window is open, tv is off too. She's calm but not sleeping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-561073 Mon, 11 Feb 2013 20:46:49 +0000 irene 561073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: I didn't read all the above comments but did you try white noise - static noise, vaccum cleaner noise, hair dryer noise...etc.? It always work for us like magic, even if he's colic. We had it play as a track on iTunes and loop it on the ipad. Or I am sure you can get a white noise machine ;) And I assumed you did all the "Happiest Baby on the Block" tricks (swaddling...etc.)?</p> <p>Another thought is maybe she has acid reflux? I also remember when mine was a few weeks old there was suddenly an episode where he'd cry and wouldn't drink from the breast. I freaked out and ran to the pediatrician and they gave us prescription of meds that help with acid reflux. He's been on meds since then until recently I think he grew out of it.</p> <p>And I agree if she went to bed at 6pm, then don't wake her... she'll wake you when she was hungry ;) The most useful advice I got from our peds was do not disturb him from his sleep from 7pm to 7am. Otherwise don't let his daytime naps go beyond 2 (to 3? I don't remember) hours a stretch. at 13 weeks I think they said end all naps by 5pm. This is a very useful sleep chart that I wish I found it sooner:</p> <p><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/11GHo4keUb2TVJUlSL1kD6HQcEgaNFBmzoQoOzcpcyas/edit?hl=en&#038;authkey=CPXE1bsO&#038;pli=1#" rel="nofollow">https://docs.google.com/document/d/11GHo4keUb2TVJUlSL1kD6HQcEgaNFBmzoQoOzcpcyas/edit?hl=en&#038;authkey=CPXE1bsO&#038;pli=1#</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-559088 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 15:55:33 +0000 travelgirl1 559088@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Nskillet: I tried that today and it got her to nap : ) She's still tired today from last night but I daren't let her sleep all day because then it will be more of the same tonight.</p> <p>@BabyBoecksMom: We have a gro egg temperature thing but it doesn't work, it runs hot. We don't really have a routine but we're going to try and do one today, I think we've been letting her stay awake too long between naps so we're trying to fix that today, I'm going to wake her up in five minutes. I'm also going to get a MAM bottle tomorrow to try get her on the bottle and me pump because the nursing issues on top of everything else is really getting to me now. Ahhhh I hope we all get sleep tonight : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558750 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 10:43:15 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 558750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: I didn't even think about her being hot, but I think PP have a good point. Do you have a temp gauge for her room? (our monitor does) Babies sleep best when it's between 68 and 72 degrees F. So, between the swaddle, harness and clothes, heat might be a factor. </p> <p>Also, it sounds like you LO is overtired when you said there is lots of kicking, yawns and eye rubbing. Do you have a bedtime routine? How long does she usually stay awake between naps? Babies thrive on routine, so if you start doing the same routine every night, she'll catch on and know that after her bath means eating and bed, for example. And when she knows what to expect, she can prepare herself for sleep. And at that age, they can only go about 60-90 min between naps, so you might try starting the night time routine 20-40 min before she needs to go back down. </p> <p>One more thought... When you are putting her down, do you do it in a quiet, dark room? That really helped my LO to fall asleep because it cut out all the distractions.</p> <p>Sorry for the novel! Just brain dumping everything I had to learn for my LO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558733 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 10:30:21 +0000 Nskillet 558733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD also used to spit a binki out and then furiously suck it once I gave it back. I found sometimes if I held it in for her for a bit she would calm Dow . Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558676 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 09:40:35 +0000 travelgirl1 558676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mama_byrd: DH was hot last night but I was freezing so it's hard to know. She only had on a cotton sleeper and cotton sleepsack. Maybe her harness makes her extra hot though?</p> <p>@tequiero21: We're going to try that tonight, I think you're right! </p> <p>@Nskillet: Yeah, I do that during the day sometimes. It's very hard though as the harness straps her legs up really wide apart, like a triangle, so it's hard to get her close to me. She always acts like she wants it but then at the last minute something upsets her.</p> <p>After we got her down, she woke up many, many times to feed, but the sleep in between stopped her being fussy about it. Fingers, toes and everything crossed for a better night tonight : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558654 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 09:28:53 +0000 Nskillet 558654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried side lyrping nursing or laying baby on your bed and leaning over her? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558492 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:21:28 +0000 tequiero21 558492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think waking up from a nap at 6pm sounds late.... Have you tried not letting the baby sleep past 4? And then bedtime by 6-7.... Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558488 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:36:23 +0000 mama_byrd 558488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>All good advice above... But you bring up a good point just now. Could she also be getting too hot in her bedtime clothes? Overheating can definitely exasperate this fussy time further. My son always slept in a light cotton sleeper with a muslin swaddle, no socks. Anything more or synthetic materials even and he would overheat. Some babies just sleep hot! </p> <p>I second the advice not to wake her from a nap to feed or because you think waking her will help her bedtime later. At this age, my son actually got his longest stretch of sleep from 5:30/6pm to 11/11:30. He would then wake himself to eat, then go back to sleep easily and wake to feed again every 3-4 hrs the rest of the night. But those 5-6 hr stretches of sleep initially were the norm at that time of evening until he both regulated his daytime naps to be longer and started eating solids during the day. After that point, he would get two 6 hr stretches with the one early morning 1:30/2am feed, which was the norm for us from about 6 mos on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558464 Sun, 10 Feb 2013 00:01:45 +0000 travelgirl1 558464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SLR: defo worth a try, thank you!</p> <p>So eventually she went nuts and really really cried so hard she was shaking, bless her. I whipped off her sleeper to do skin to skin (as much as you can do when your baby is covered in straps) and them walked back into the bedroom in the dark and she was out like a light. We'd tried the bedroom before but this last time it worked. But now I have a half naked baby on me that I have to dress and swaddle somehow :) Thanks for all your help everyone, it kept me sane tonight. I love this little girl so much and we never get upset with her about the not sleeping, it's just so hard when you don't know how to help them, isn't it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558459 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:53:22 +0000 autumn865 558459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: hyperactive is a tell tale sign of overtired.?when DD is over tired she kicks, flaps, talks, cries and just kind of acts crazy. I say look at her daytime sleep/ wake times and make sure she's napping after no longer then 90' minutes to 2 hours and figure out the logical bedtime.<br /> @SLR: I second the exercise ball or even just bouncing on the edge of the bed. For awhile that would be the only way DD would fall asleep </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558449 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:33:58 +0000 SLR 558449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know a couple people who swear by bouncing on an excercise ball. Never tried it myself though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558447 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:27:20 +0000 travelgirl1 558447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Those are really good suggestions, thank you. I did notice last night one of the straps around the legs was too tight and we loosened it off (not one of the ones that affects the hip angle). Last night was more a cry that I felt she could be in pain, tonight she seems almost hyperactive, between laughing and crazy kicking and excitement to crying.</p> <p>@scg00387: Glad you got your LO down, hopefully we'll follow suit soon :) </p> <p>@hilsy85: @JessLC: @Meggo5: I do think she's way overtired. Lots of eye rubbing and yawning, and she gets mad straight after she does one of those things. We seem to find it really hard to catch her BEFORE she gets tired. </p> <p>@mrs. wagon: Ahhh we can't use a tight swaddle because of her hips. We do swaddle her arms but that's it and if we put her in it too early she goes crazy town mad on us. </p> <p>@BabyBoecksMom: I think you're right about not waking her from that nap. I'll get some gripe water tomorrow just in case : ) </p> <p>@Mrs Hedgehog: The only thing is I can't rule out fed because when she's like this she won't eat... and I'm too much of a wuss to let her cry it out. She's only 13 weeks, I just make DH take a turn with her when it gets too much for me.</p> <p>@Kemma: This is exactly what I'd do if it weren't about -15 outside : ) I thought about walking up and down the halls with her but it's not really fair on the other building residents. You're right, she can't stay awake forever... can she? Lol.</p> <p>Thanks for all your advice, everyone. She is hovering between hyperactive kicking and laughing to upset tiredness. Lots of babbling from her that sounds like her annoyed talking. If ONLY SHE WOULD NURSE!!!! Ahhhhh, I'm sure she'll go down at some point : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558445 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:21:29 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 558445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: I'm always grateful for your responses. It's so comforting to have your professional advice :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558441 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:06:11 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 558441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBoecksMom: you guys all have good suggestions, I just was giving the rule out bad stuff. The rest of the advice is very practical and that's awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558439 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:59:25 +0000 Kemma 558439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@travelgirl1: yep, we went through this bang on fifteen weeks, I had a day where Miss A slept for the sum total of one hour in an eight hour period! When she wasn't sleeping she was yelling or grinning at me - it was just so frustrating!</p> <p>I have no idea what time it is where you are or what the weather is doing but could you possibly strap her on the stroller and take her for a wee walk? Sometimes the fresh air or even just a change of scenery can do wonders!</p> <p>Hang in there Mama, she can't stay awake forever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558438 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:59:25 +0000 Mrs Hedgehog 558438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hate to say it but, that was about the time I went from the worlds calmest baby to once with colic... and mine started at a certain time of day and didn't end until a certain time either. My parents called it the witching hour. They even said it started, for me, slowly kinda how you described. I REALLY hope that isn't the case for her (and you) though! </p> <p>This is the advice my parents were given by there Ped.</p> <p>If the baby if fed, dry, has been given a chance to sleep and all other basic needs are met, and the baby is still crying, put them is a safe place like their crib, turn the vaccuum on in their room , shut the door, and walk away. There is nothing more you can do and you need time to destress because if you are stressed, the baby is stressed. Check on them again in an hour or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558436 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:56:48 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 558436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks knows better than I would, so I definitely start with her advice. </p> <p>But my first response is to not wake her from the nap and just let her wake when she's hungry. My second thought was that she might have gas. Have you tried giving her gripe water?</p> <p>Hope you find some relief soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558433 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:54:31 +0000 mrs. wagon 558433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We went through something similar with LMW and she grew out of it. We called it the Witching Hour. We stuck with a super early bedtime (between 5 and 6) and eventually she settled into it. Teething got in the way quickly for us (started at 3.5 months) but otherwise the earlier bedtime seemed to help once she got a little older. Otherwise during the witching hour, only SUPER violent bouncing/rocking/swaying helped. And a really good swaddle (we used the Woombie). Good luck :T it can't be easy with that harness!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558429 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:47:50 +0000 Periwinkle 558429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just wanted to pop by and let you know I'm thinking about you. I know how hard that endless crying can be, especially when there is no apparent reason. I don't have any great suggestions but just hope that sweet little A is feeling better and sleeping soundly. </p> <p>C has been crying quite a lot when he gets overtired and it is often hard to settle him then. Sounds like there are many factors involved here but I'm wondering if it's a growth sport too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558415 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:33:24 +0000 SleepyMonkey 558415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>how long is it between her waking up from her nap and her being fussy? i think at this age, my LO can't be awake for more than 2-2.5 hours max before bedtime, otherwise she will have an overtired meltdown. only reason i think it is overtired is because you can entertain her and still make her smile. could also be a growth spurt like @hilsy85 said. i think my LO went thru one at that age as well. hang in there mama! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558387 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:05:52 +0000 hilsy85 558387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would guess maybe #1? Can you try putting her to bed earlier to see if that helps? Also, there's supposedly a growth spurt around 3 months, so it could be related to that. Hope it gets better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558382 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:00:19 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 558382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Check for any rubbing spots from the pavlik, check for hair tourniquets on fingers or toes, check for sore spots in her mouth and check for fevers. Any baby crying for more than 4 hours warrants a call to your pediatrician. Hopefully it is just an overtired thing. Keep us posted and good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558377 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:57:33 +0000 immabeetoo 558377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no help just empathy!! We're at eleven weeks and experiencing similar :) just got him down after hour and half of fussing. Fingers crossed it sticks, and your little trooper follows suit! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pllleeease-help-me-figure-out-what-is-wrong-with-my-fussy-baby#post-558376 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:55:21 +0000 travelgirl1 558376@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I write this after hours of trying to soothe A (13 weeks old), with pacifiers spat out all over the floor and DH pacing about 1,000 miles in our apartment with her while singing made up songs to her. </p> <p>My awesome baby who hardly ever cried now turns Queen Fusspot when the clock strikes dinner time.</p> <p>She seems waaay over tired, and gets like this after waking up from a nap at around 6pm. Then she refuses to nurse. There are a few factors at play here, as she is in a Pavlik harness, so not as comfortable nursing as most babies but won't take a bottle so is kind of stuck with my boob. Sorry baby! She will soothe in various holds, places, to songs, while being swung (oh how many different ways can you swing/bounce a baby? I could write a book) but only temporarily then start moaning again. Last night she went crazy with crying, tonight it's more fussing. Oh and she never used to take a paci but tonight and last night kind of gobbled at it and although she spits them out further than the Olympic javelin throwers, they seem to help. The other thing that calms her is laying her on her changing table, holding her hands and saying her name over and over until she focuses on your face, then she breaks into a big grin. This is why I don't think there is pain, because she can go from really upset to gurgling and giggling.</p> <p>I do NOT know what to do. She doesn't seem particularly in pain, she's not spitting up, burping excessively or anything.</p> <p>My thoughts are that</p> <p> a) She's overtired and maybe that nap she takes earlier that we try wake her up from should actually be her bedtime and she'll wake up from it when she's hungry.<br /> b) She is hungry but too worked up to eat.<br /> c) This damn harness is making it really hard to soothe her because she's harder to hold close and nursing positions are very hard.</p> <p>Can any of you make sense of it better than me? Do you have any suggestions? </p>