At what point do you throw the towel in!? Last night DS slept amazing and tonight he's been screaming since 11. I finally just set him in his crib because I'm exhausted (dh is out of town) and he is wailing like I've never heard...:-( he is almost
1 month.
You might also enjoy...
-
First of all your sanity is important. If you need to set him down for a break that is fine.
Personally. I think it's way to young for CIO. At this age they cry because they need something. However I don't think that letting him cry to sleep is the worst thing in the world as long as he's clean and fed.
It's tough how fast they change!!
-
I know it can be so, so hard to do this on your, especially at that age. Do you have any family or friends who can come check in on you those nights your husband is away? Have you tried swaddling or using motion to help your LO ouT tonight? Sometimes as a last resort I'll put my DS in the baby carrier which helps calm him down but I know other people use stroller walks or car rides on particularly difficult nights. I also swear by the Happiest Baby on the Block for really fussy times; you should be able to find a video on YouTube to show you how to do it.
Its important to walk away when you reach your limit, especially if you're the only one home. Take a few minutes to calm yourself down. Unfortunately newborns don't really have the skills to self-soothe so CIO isnt really going to work at this age. Take some time to calm down and get back in there. You can do this! You're a totally capable momma and you will get him back to sleep tonight. Hugs, you're doing a great job! Keep at it!
-
Oh my gosh so exhausting!! I had done everything. Swaddle, reswaddle, nurse (while screaming), swing, shush, bounce, paci, change diaper, baby Ferris wheel...I was about to give him a bath to calm him down. When I checked on him in his crib he finally stopped and was just looking around. He woke up around 230, nursed about 10 minutes, whimpered around 6 and fed him and now he's back asleep--no problem. So crazy to me!
@honeybee thanks! We do HBoB too...usually works like a total charm...except when he is crazy screaming!
@thestoryofus thanks too! I agree..too young, and way too hard on me emotionally! Ugh!
-
HBoB was amazing but there were those times that nothing seemed to work!
The only other thing that we have found that works wonders to at least get her calmed down is a quick walk outside to the mailbox. Point out the trees and some flowers in a calm voice and usually they will start looking around. Even just the change in temperatures from A/C to outside sometimes gets them to "reset".
-
Is there anyone that can come help when your DH is away? When my DH goes out of town I always have my mom come sleep over.... it's just easier that way since I also have a pup to take care of and of course she loves it.
Is it common for your LO to cry a lot? Is there a lot of spitting up? Do you think it could be reflux? Is the crying often after feedings? Especially after he's been on his back after a feeding? My LO had reflux and she would cry and cry and cry and nothing would sooth her, it was soooooo awful until I finally realized what it was and we were able to get her some meds and help her to feel better.
Personally I'm not a fan of CIO at all for me and my family, but I don't think a baby that young would respond to it anyway. I would try a walk in the stroller, a car ride, etc.
-
@artbee no, I wish there were I have a friend who had a baby a couple days before I did and her family takes shifts at night so she can sleep...so jealous!
It's not his nature at all! He is so happy during the day and most nights even which makes me so sad over it. I took him to the doctor on Tuesday in fact because I thought something might be wrong with him because its so out of his nature. A nurse practitioner said its probably colic, but from everything I've read about colic (rule of 3), that doesn't fit the bill. That is interesting you mentioned about reflux because he did just start spitting up large amounts on occasion, but he still seems like a happy spitter?
-
Here is my story: my son screamed 12 hours a day from the moment we brought him home. He only stopped because daffy didn't bring him in to nurse after midnight. He would also just put him down and scream cause it was too much.
Solution: dairy and soy intollerance so we pulled those from the diet.
Issues: he didn't trust us or sleep. It's been a long and hard process. He is a perfect baby/toddler except for sleep. -
Have you tried the Happiest Baby on the Block routine?
-
I second what @thehistoryofus says about going outside for a few minutes. I don't know why, but if I tried all of my tricks and nothing worked I'd take baby out to our porch and the fresh air would calm him down. He's 3 mos. now.
-
@winniebee yes huge believer! Works during the day like a charm, but 1am is a whole 'nother story...
@brownie no dairy here! Darn. No spicy...cabbage/broccoli/citrus...etc...just want to play it safe!
-
yes! take baby outside for a bit! almost always works when my son has a total meltdown and all other bases are covered.
-
@lydg: make sure you remove hidden dairy and try removing soy and see if it helps. I totally understand sometimes he would cry in my arms for hours and I couldn't do anything. At some point it's like he's gonna cry no matter what I may as well get myself okay.
-
that is way too young for CIO, but I agree with other posters that you need to set him down for a moment for your own sanity. Also with HBOTB and the outside trick. Liv used to do this, but she had colic and it was 5-6 days a week. Im hoping for you that its only a one time thing!
-
Aww sending your hugs!!
like PP's said, 1 mos is too young for CIO but if you need a quick break setting him down won't hurt him. Also, I feel like if my son is crying in my arms than crying in his crib isn't making much of a difference - he's upset either way. If you've tried everything, and know that he is changed, fed, comforted etc then what else can you do!!
-
@lydg: DD was a good, easy baby, but she did have occasional nights like this. I think it was the second night homw from the hospital that she screamed for 5 hours straight. Nothing worked to calm her down! She often had major breakdowns around bedtime; sometimes it would take me hours of vigorous bouncing/running in place/really loud shushing to get her to sleep. Eventually (around 6 months, maybe) she just grew out of it. Looking back, I think a big part of the problem was that she was probably overtired. When she was overtired, she became a mess and would fight sleep like her life depnded on it. Anyway, if you eliminate all medical issues that might be causing his fussiness, it might just be something he needs to grow out of. Some babies just have "witching hours" and they are incolsable during those times, regardless of what you're doing to help.
-
I feel your pain
LMW has gone through periods where I have spent SIX HOURS straight trying to get her down. So frustrating and it must be painful for her too, not getting good sleep for that long. Back when she was that age, I think her gut / gas was probably the issue. Once she was able to get her gas out consistently (we burp religiously during her feedings, and after she wakes up from any sleep we immediately put her on her stomach and she farts like a trucker for 10 mins straight) she was a lot better. She still has trouble going down most nights, but at least the HBOB routine keeps her calm and quiet.
-
LOL @mrswagon!
Thanks everyone. It is just so hard being alone a TON and by late night...I am so zapped, even if I nap during the day! I am so lucky it's not as bad as some of you have had it! Praying its just a phase that goes away fast.
I have noticed he is spitting up like craaaazy this morning and not really nursing, lots of sleeping (go figure)...and tooting while sleeping...maybe it is a weird gas issue! (And of course one that resolves during the day...ugh!)
-
@lydg: if Wagon Sr. didn't completely take over as soon as Wagon Jr. is down for bed, I would be absolutely insane by now. By the time Wagon Sr. takes over I'm ready to murder someone... but by the time he's gotten her down, I'm all smiles again. Taking care of a newborn makes me feel bi-polar sometimes...
-
At that a age, a baby is absolutely crying because they need something. Way too young for CIO (IMHO).
-
It will be so nice when DH is home next week just to have someone to pass the baby off to!
-
Awh, I feel for you
There were times when LO would just scream for no reason whatsoever. Her diaper was clean, she was fed, she had been burped, she was swaddled, etc, etc, etc. Nothing I did helped. There were a couple times when I totally thought I would lose my mind so I just put her down in her crib and walked away for a bit to clear my head. Like as @cocobee said, if the baby's crying in your arms, it's not much different than crying in the crib. Although your LO is too young to CIO (in my opinion), if you need a breather, I think it's fine to put him down for a bit to gather yourself together. Good luck!
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
21 comments