My bub has become suddenly fussy unhappy baby. She needs constant entertainment and attention. She wants to be held all the time, she doesn't take bottles, doesn't stop grunting, wakes up at midnight and demands being entertained. I see some white spot on her gum, but it doesn't seem to be coming out just yet. On the other hand, she does respond more to our effort to make her laugh and smile. She giggles a lot and smiles a lot. Has anyone experienced similar situation??? My bub is almost 4 months now.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi there,
Not taking to the bottle- is the bottle a new thing for her (as in you have always been on total bf)? if so, it will take awhile to take to the bottle i am sure.
has anything major in her little life taken place recently? e.g. she has been moved into her own room? that will take time to get used to. you went away recently too right, how long have you been back - she might be still jet-lag and will take time to adjust back to local time.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi Wheelymate,
We have been back for 10 days and she was fine till a few days ago...Bottle is not new...she has been taking it from week 2 just fine, and now doesn't seem to be sure about it. She would take it in the end when she is really hungry. There hasn't been much change, not changed the room etc.. But I have started doing more things around the house like tidying up the room. Before, I really didn't do anything other than taking care of her since we have a helper, but I just thought since I quit my job, I should be doing more productive things than just playing with baby. I do make effort nt to let her play alone too much, bringing out the bouncy chair to the room I am working in, carrying her in a baby carrier while tidying up closet, etc.
Please support our advertisers:
White spot on gums can possibly be a sign of thrush, which can cause discomfort. Or, she's coming down with something, kinda feels bad and fussy but responds happily when you distract her from the source of discomfort? Or perhaps she's teething (give her something to bite on)? Or, she's teaching you to respond to her, by giving you positive and negative reinforcement? Or all of the above?
Please support our advertisers:
Thanks Meiquoren, I will ask the doctor tomorrow at a check-up. It doesn't seem like she's coming down with something...Probably that she is understanding more now and sensitive. Today, she didn't take bottle, and cried, and suckled on breast, for a while happily and when she realized there isn't much, started drinking out of a bottle . It is so difficult to know what she wants. (I thought I figured out a while ago...) She does not go to bed alone, I have to feed her on my bed and put her in the cot after she fell asleep. Well, I guess it may be time to try control crying.
Please support our advertisers:
MM -
controlled crying (AKA FERBER) is NOT recommended for babies under 6 months old. In fact, closer to a year is the recommended age for controlled crying. I've used Ferber and highly recommend him - ONLY if the baby is old enough - you've got to wait a bit yet.
at 4 months, they are going through some developmental changes - they suddenly stop napping less, are more alert and they NEED stimulation more. It doesn't have to be from you solely- there are some great infant stimulation pictures you can find from the web, some colorful pictures for babies to look at, musical CD's.
As for the nighttime wakings - which are painful after having had a baby sleep, keep them VERY low key - no eyecontact, rock her to sleep if you need to, pat to sleep if you need to, but no talking and as little stimulation as possible. No lights. No diaper changes if you can handle it (unless it's poop.) If you can get her to settle back into her crib awake it will be quicker to get her to sleep through the night again. (tapping sometimes helps in this situation.)
Please support our advertisers:
It's good to know that control crying is not recommended for 4months old! My relatives in UK all told me that I have to do it as they felt I was cuddling her too much and not letting her settle by herself! I will do some reading on sleeping/routine for 4month old. I have read Gina Ford and Baby whisperer, but I don't find them very helpful at this juncture... Is there anything else that's good??
Please support our advertisers:
Hi MM,
Of course when a 4 month old is awake, she will need and want cuddling and as a mummy, it's only natural to do that!
I know v little about controlled crying but i think that's only for those with pretty serious sleep issues. at 4 months, your kid is still so young, you will need to give her time and yourself time to figure out what works best for you. books are useful for guidelines, take bits of it at a time. e.g. if your plan is for her to settle on her own eventually, try small steps...i find the baby whisperer is very good with advice on settling baby .
Please support our advertisers:
you can try Elizabeth Pantley's book "The No Cry Sleep Method." I used controlled crying very well with my first - it only took a few nights and she was sleeping through. She was older though, so you need to wait a bit.
I also walked my friend through her controlled crying sessions (a few of my friends actually) - and they were all very pleased with the results. All their babies were 7 months or older, and so when your baby gets older you can do it.
If it's a mini whine - you can usually let it go - if't s a loud scream - loud wails, then going in, tapping them gently - letting them know you are there, but not necessarily picking them up was a method that worked really well for me.
Please support our advertisers:
thanx hkcc and wheelymt. I have tried to pat her when she started crying in her cot but didnt work. i always end up picking her up... It seems when i pat her, she cries all the more...
Please support our advertisers:
Thanks Ruth at Clifford. I realized that I stopped taking this Japanese herb tea that is supposed to increase milk supply because it was very very bitter! Then I took it, I started making more milk again , yeahy!!! However, formula aversion still continues with my bub. She cries so loud and bends her body back and forth to fight the bottle. She always loved bottles either pumped milk or formula. She also started crying when held by people other than her parents. Does this mean she has started defferenciating family and strangers, milk and formula etc. etc...??? I am practically with her forever entertaining unless she is sleeping. I cannot put her down more than 5min to do anything. It is driving me crazy. I guess I just have to put up with it until she can entertain herself a bit more... We have a helper, so I don't have to do much around the house. I cannot begin to imagine a life without a helper with a needy baby!
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail