Crying... help!

[caggimedicine]

Harry has been crying since about 7.30 pm. He's obviously over-tired but has wound himself up into a frenzy and won't settle. We've managed to get him to almost drift off a number of times, but the second we move to put him into his basket, he wakes back up and starts again. He's only 4.5 weeks old - can you leave a baby that young to cry themselves to sleep or is he still too little? I just don't know what to do and feel that our intervention is actually making things worse and keeping him awake. He's been fed, nappy changed, he's not too hot/cold... i'm pretty certain he's just really sleepy.

 

[Aussie Jen]

I know times like this are REALLY difficult. However, you need to do what YOU feel is best. If you want to cuddle him, cuddle him. If you feel putting him down to try to self-settle is best, then try that.

I think when ppl start to tell you the best ways for them, it doesn't give you a chance to listen to your own intuition.

All the best, hun.

 

[Serene123]

IMO babies don't cry for no reason, but I'm sure people will disagree. Maybe he has a tummyache or something.

 

[babezone]

it could be colic hun does he cry alot?....has he got trapped wind at all archie used to get that alot....personally that young i wouldnt let him cry himself to sleep id cuddle him till he fell asleep obviously if he is only whinging when u put him down then leave him to it. maybe he might be a little thirsty have u tryed giving him sum cooled boiled water.
gripe water may help if u have any sorry i cant be any more use xxx

 

[brownhairedmom]

Renah does this every single night. What I do is turn the lights off, give her a bottle, turn on some music (I have Raimond Lap Sleepy Baby, she loves it) and she goes to sleep.

At 4.5 weeks I think that is too young. He doesn't even know he's crying at that age

 

[Vickie]

Too young I would say. Honestly I would hold him and let him sleep. He's overly tired and nothing is going to help until he gets some rest

 

[caggimedicine]

He's not normally like this no. I've given him some Gripe Water, and have burped him - got a few burps up. Not sure what's wrong with him. He's not what i'd call a colicy baby. I agree that babies always cry for a reason, and i'm 99% of the time on the ball with what it is he wants - but when you've gone through the checklist and they're still crying... what next?! He does look tired though.

I've never given him a drink of water before - have been told by midwives and the health visitor that breastfed babies don't need to be given water - is this not right?

He's in his nursery now in the dark and seems to have settled. Well - he's not crying right now, but is still grizzly and what i'd call "on the edge"! I've got a feeling tonight is going to be a long night.

 

[charlotteb24]

Noah has a time of night every evening where he is unsettled. He has colic and my HV said they can have these "episodes" of upset where their little tummies are just sore and unfortunatly there isn't much you can do other than wind, feed, cuddle etc them until they calm down. I use Infacol to help him bring up his wind, it seems to work quite well but he still gets his unsettled times.
We find what works for him is cuddles until he is over the worst, maybe some cooled boiled water (if he will take it, 9 times out of 10 he gags on it and doesn't like the taste!) and a dummy (which i reluctantly started using as he forever had my finger in his mouth) when suckling he drifts off quickly.
Some of that may work for you but each baby is so different!

 

[Vickie]

when Hannah got to the overly tired stage she would cry and cry. We had to hold her so she'd sleep (woke up as soon as she was laid down and started crying again ) It was the only thing that seemed to work

 

[caggimedicine]

Thanks for all your replies.

He's been "on the edge asleep" now for half hour and we're keeping our fingers crossed he stays asleep, at least for a while so he's not so tired.

I've got some Infacol so may give that a try if things start again tonight. Hopefully that won't happen.

Do breast fed babies need drinks of water??