10 week old constantly crying. What could it be?

[MissR]

My DS is now 10 weeks old and I'm beginning to get more and more upset by his constant crying. My DD was a crier and she was hard work but she had a kidney infection that was left undiagnosed.

Now my DS was fine for the first 3/4 weeks and I was hopeful he would be an easy baby. Since then it's been hard work. He always had trouble with wind so I started him on Infacol, which seemed to work for a short period and then the crying started up again. I have also tried gripe water to no effect. I don't even think it is trapped wind as he brings up burps quite easily. Throughout the day he cries continuously, even when held, unless I walk around with him. The only time he stops is if I carry him around with me, go out in the car or pram, or if he's sleeping. He struggles to sleep well in the day but thankfully sleeps better at night. Just to add that I leave him to cry and he doesn't get picked up as soon as he cries. I have to leave him as I have things to do so he can cry for a good long while, after being fed, changed and winded. He seems to be crying for no apparent reason.

I thought he could have silent reflux so sit him up for at least 30 mins after feeds bur he hasn't got a lot of symptoms of it,only a few. Lately he seems to constantly want milk. He isn't sticking to his schedule, he seems to want it hourly to 2 hourly now.

I'm finding it hard to get anything done with him constantly screaming and it is distressing not knowing what is going on with him. Does anybody know what the cause could be? Surely he wouldn't be crying continuously for no reason? I am going to give the health visitor a call tomorrow, and they will hopefully shed some light. I mentioned it to one of the health visitors when I last got him weighed and she brushed it off, basically saying he just wants attention. Advice much appreciated! Sorry for the long post xx

 

[VickyLou]

It could be reflux, they don't have to have every symptom that comes with it. Does he spit up? Sick a lot? Wriggle in pain when lay down? Swallow a lot? Or want a bottle a lot even though he can't be hungry?
He could also be struggling with the milk you are feeding him. Perhaps he is allergic.

My daughter was the same, screamed and screamed all day, didn't want to be put down, wouldn't sleep. Always wanted a bottle. I've since learnt that she always wanted a bottle cause sucking on anything helps reflux. I didn't want my daughter to have a dummy but had to give in and let her have one so it would help her reflux.
She was also diagnosed cows milk protein allergy at 10 weeks old after a number of trips to A&E and the GP. Again that was a fight cause she didn't have the typical signs of an allergy.

Maybe go to the doctors and talk to them do not let them fob you off though.

 

[Teri7489]

Yip could be reflux. My dd wasn't diagnosed with it u til 9months because she didn't have all the symptoms. It was only when I suggested she had asthma (like her dad) because of some symptoms that they listened. My son also has reflux but was medicated at 9 days old due to severe symptoms. He's now on rantitadine and if he's late for a dose he sure let's us know! I'd go back to the gp and get some advice. But don't let them push you out the door, ypu have to be tough sometimes xxx

 

[Willow01]

I agree hun take him back to your doctor, how rude of them just to fob you off like that. I was thinking an allergy to the milk whilst reading then you mentioned he is hungry every 2 hours, have you tried formula for hungry babies? Maybe he is just needing a bit more? Good luck and let us know how you get onx

 

[MindUtopia]

I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, but reading this my assumption would actually be that he's crying because you are leaving him to cry. Crying is a sign of distress. If you are making sure he's fed, changed, warm, etc. but then not responding to him when he continues to cry, that would be a reason he would be really unsettled and continue to cry. Babies aren't really made to be put down when they are little and only being content when he's being held and walked around with sounds really normal to me. I would expect any baby to cry when put down at that age. It doesn't mean they all are. There are these magical babies that just lie in a carry cot and are content without much interaction (I don't know many, but they do exist). But most are generally unhappy to be put down for the first 3 months. It's not easy, especially when you have an older child to care for to, but it sounds very normal to me.

Being left to cry causes a lot of distress, so it's easy to get in that cycle of being distressed at the slightest thing because they have a very instinctive flight or fight response. It's counter-intuitive to a lot of what we get told about infant behaviour - that if you hold them every time they cry, you'll make a rod for your own back and never be able to put them down, but actually it's the opposite. A baby who is content and relaxed because they were held loads, is easier to put down as they get older because they're more confident and secure. What if instead of putting him down you held or wore him all the time? We had a wrap and it was a lifesaver. It meant I had a happy, content baby who slept well during the day and I wasn't stressed out or had my arms full. I now have a very confident, outgoing, non-clingy toddler as a result. It also meant I spent more time in the day doing things I enjoyed, like going out to meet friends or reading or getting things done around the house because I wasn't stressing about a crying, stressed out baby. I can't recommend it enough.

 

[Shandelion]

I hope this doesn't come across the wrong way, but reading this my assumption would actually be that he's crying because you are leaving him to cry. Crying is a sign of distress. If you are making sure he's fed, changed, warm, etc. but then not responding to him when he continues to cry, that would be a reason he would be really unsettled and continue to cry. Babies aren't really made to be put down when they are little and only being content when he's being held and walked around with sounds really normal to me. I would expect any baby to cry when put down at that age. It doesn't mean they all are. There are these magical babies that just lie in a carry cot and are content without much interaction (I don't know many, but they do exist). But most are generally unhappy to be put down for the first 3 months. It's not easy, especially when you have an older child to care for to, but it sounds very normal to me.

Being left to cry causes a lot of distress, so it's easy to get in that cycle of being distressed at the slightest thing because they have a very instinctive flight or fight response. It's counter-intuitive to a lot of what we get told about infant behaviour - that if you hold them every time they cry, you'll make a rod for your own back and never be able to put them down, but actually it's the opposite. A baby who is content and relaxed because they were held loads, is easier to put down as they get older because they're more confident and secure. What if instead of putting him down you held or wore him all the time? We had a wrap and it was a lifesaver. It meant I had a happy, content baby who slept well during the day and I wasn't stressed out or had my arms full. I now have a very confident, outgoing, non-clingy toddler as a result. It also meant I spent more time in the day doing things I enjoyed, like going out to meet friends or reading or getting things done around the house because I wasn't stressing about a crying, stressed out baby. I can't recommend it enough.

Yeah...unlimited cuddling (and boob) do miracles. I can't imagine how long it would take my son to feel secure again if I ever left him to cry, or ignored hunger cries because it was less than X minutes since his last feed. My son still nursed 24/7 at ten weeks, desperately. And he was frantic when put down.

 

[jodilee6]

It's hard with 2, when you have things to do sometimes they do need to be left to have a little fuss and a moan but I wouldn't let DS2 properly cry for any extended length of time

You say he's happy being carried about, have you tried a sling/wrap?

DS2 is coming up to 5 months and I'm finally able to start putting him down for periods of time both awake and asleep.

It will get easier but for now I'd say it's a case of doing anything to get through each day (I'm typing this as DS2 is asleep on me while DS1 is playing Lego) I hope things start improving for you soon

 

[k4th]

Sounds really hard. I second the idea of a sling, it might help you to get some stuff done & comfort him at the same time.

I totally get that sometimes he just has to be put down - same with my ds when I'm having to do something with dd. There are some things I cannot do whilst holding a baby (e.g. Plaiting her hair - & yes... I've tried to do it holding ds - doesn't work!!).

It doesn't sound right that he's screaming all the time. I'd definitely be going back to the dr & going through your concerns again. I also just wondered how much sleep he's getting in the day & how often? If he's crying so much, is he overtired & then not sleeping for the crying & ending up in a big cycle he can't undo?

Is he bf/ff? The two hourly feeds could be a growth spurt - depending on how long it's been going on. There is a big one around 12 weeks so maybe yours has hit early?

Hope you get some support from you hv

 

[Ceejay123]

Colic... Riley was a terrible sufferer. I didn't sleep for 4 months :'( x

 

[Charmed86]

My son screamed most of the time for 7 weeks! Not cried, screamed in pain! He has cmpa, which was diagnosed after I marched us all down to the hospital! Even then, it took some convincing. The nurses accused me of over feeding him, but he was taking more milk for comfort. He also has silent reflux & takes Gaviscon for that. Since starting nutramigen, he's like a different baby. He's going through a developmental leap atm though, so he's rather fussy!

 

[MissR]

Thank you everyone for your replies... I only leave him to cry when necessary, he gets plenty of attention and cuddles, but sometimes I need to get things done, and the only option is to leave him to cry. I have however, invested in a carrier to see if he likes that.

I took him to the doctors last week and he agreed that he thinks he has silent reflux and has been put on baby gaviscon. It seems to have helped somewhat but we still have bouts of crying, however nothing like before.

Mummies with reflux babies, I am thinking of changing him over to cow and gate reflux milk as I've heard good things, experiences? Of course I will talk to health visitor about this first.

Last thing that I am concerned about is the dosage of the gaviscon. The doctor told me based on his weight that he should be having 2 sachets (one double sachet) every feed. It also says on the actual packet that babies over 10lb, which he is, should be taking 2 sachets per feed. The thing that I am concerned about is that it says to mix each single sachet with 4oz of milk, and LO is only on 5 oz a feed. I have been mixing the 2 with 5oz and LO seems happy with it and seems to be helping him. I am going to contact docs about dosage tomo but would you say it is fine to be giving it to him in this dose or I should be mixing it with 8oz instead? I don't want to be wasting 3oz of formula but will be doing so if needs be x

 

[Charmed86]

It depends on your LO, our pharmacist told us that it had to be 2 sachets in 8oz.. We got away with only 1 sachet up to around 6oz I think! Have you tried 1 sachet in 5oz? My LO is now on 6-7oz a day so we make up 8oz with 2 sachets & he gets on well with that.

With the Gaviscon and reflux formula, be careful of constipation We don't have that problem as the formula he's on gives him loose poos anyway. If it does become an issue then speak to your HV. They can advise on cooled boiled water vs meds like lactulose.

I'm glad it's helped! If it stops helping then don't be afraid to keep pushing your GP! There are other reflux meds out there & it could be something more (for us ot was reflux & cmpa)

You're doing s great job! xxx