4 Month Old Screamer

For one thing, don't mix formula with breast milk. It's not recommended. It should be one or the other, preferably when problems like this come up, it's best to use breast milk.

My youngest was a screamer but for her, I believe in the end it had to do with her IQ level and the fact she was bored. Nothing held her attention until we began buying toys that were above her current learning curve of age. I'm not talking dangerous toys but advanced learning toys.

Once we removed the boredom factor, the screaming stopped. This child could read, knew colors, shapes, and numbers, as well as the ability to compute simple math all before her 2nd birthday. She is heading to the 8th grade in the fall yet she is still 2-3 grade levels ahead of her classmates and always has been even since kindergarten. She's a straight A student, always has been, and she is in the Junior Honor Society, advanced math, etc...

In the end it all came down to boredom and keeping her occupied. It had nothing to do with food or being hungry although she had a healthy appetite and yes, I did breast feed her, but when she wasn't napping or eating, she was engaged in educational play. It stopped the screaming in its tracks.

Formula feeding AND breastfeeding are perfectly fine to do, however, the baby may be intolerant to what your sister may be eating. First she should try to cut dairy from her diet and switching the baby to soy formula.

Next I suggest she pick up the book The Happiest Baby on the Block AND Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. I am sure she can check these out at the library. Also, she might want to invest in a baby carrier-either a baby bjorn type carrier or a mei tai carrier-to keep the baby close to her and will keep him in an upright position. Babies at 4 months shake things up-their sleep patterns change and so do their eating patterns.

Tell her to hang in there! She'll find something that works.

Has she had him tested for allergies? My nephew was similar to this and was allergic to dairy. My neighbor's little girl was also a screamer, never slept, screamed all the time and was allergic to wheat (she was getting it through the breast milk). The doctors also told her she was just a "fussy" baby. But she was actually uncomfortable and in pain. Within a week of my neighbor figuring it out and eliminating wheat she was a happy baby who actually slept. (unfortunately it took her almost a year to figure it out)
Its worth looking in to.

My son would scream from midnight until 5 am every night and he always wanted to be held and was fussy all the time. I really think he had reflux because my daughter started off the same way but once we started using Zantac it's been completely different. If it is colic it will get better but I would get a copy of "Your Fussy Baby" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. Good luck!

How does he do with being carried? I don't have a particularly unhappy baby, but he goes from being bouncing to peaceful and content if I put him in a chest carrier of any type. She might just need to keep him close to her body for a long time. I heard someone say that they spend 9 months in your body and then another 9 months wanting to be attached to your body. So just try attaching him.

My kids did okay on a combo of breast milk and formula (low milk supply) but one had reflux. But have the doctor check for reflux and food allergies (dairy or something the mom is eating getting into the breastmilk). The never seeming satisfied sounds like reflux because the baby gets heartburn and wants to eat more to soothe the sore spot. Medication really helps reflux and so does putting the baby upright and still for 20-30 minutes after a meal.

I'm curious why the half formula half breast feeding? With that said babies do eat a ton in the first months to prepare mom's body for growth spurts, to sooth incoming teeth, to suck. Did she have problems with just letting the baby have the breast when he wanted it? Try that, with no formula. It will be hard physically for a bit, but I bet it will lessen the screams.

I had no problems doing both breastfeeding and using formula.

Google the issue - there is so much information out there and so many blogs, I would think you could find one that helps. I have read something about sensory processing disorder for babies that scream a lot. But colic seems to be the main diagnosis for 'screamers'. It wouldn't hurt to go to another doc - ask around for references from other moms. I have also heard of babies going to chiropractors (of course, one that is experienced with babies) due to some tension in the baby's skull or spine from normal growth that needs to be alleviated. These are just a few things I found when I googled 'baby screams all of the time'. Of course, don't do anything w/o the advice of a doctor. Tell your sister to hang in there...it is only temporary.

He may be colic, or he may be spoiled. sorry to say it moms but yes spoiled. If her sons controls her with his screaming, and there is nothing medically wrong with him, it's called spoiled. Every time he screams is she picking him up, is she sticking a bottle or boob in his mouth, is he being held? if so the screaming is working for him, so there is no reason for him not to continue to scream. I don't know everything, but i have been a mom form 26 years, and I have ran a home daycare now form 13, I have seen this. She needs to feed, nurture, and make her baby feel secure, but she does not have to be controlled by his screaming. Michele made a good point, that's why I said if there is nothing medically wrong with him. Some baby's are just criers my now 26 year old was, and I have a 8 week old in my daycare that is. But it can't hurt to get things check out for peace of mind. One mom suggested soy, Please research soy, in my daughters health class in college they did, it has some health hazzards to it. J.

Have the baby's ears checked out. Babies with fluid in their ears will react this way when they are eating or positioned on their backs. My son had these issues and the doc called it colic. I tried everything for his stomach thinking that was the problem. Only when he had speech development problems did I find out why my baby cried all the time and woke 5 times a night. The ped would see fluid in the ears and sometimes we'd put him on something for allergies. My ped...who is great...didn't catch it so he went way too long in pain because he coulldn't communicate and we just assumed colic. It's the answer given to all babies who cry like this.

My only advice is to change pediatricians. Wish I had. Our son was the same way. My siblings kids were the same way--their peds changed their kids to soy formula and put them on reglan and the babies were content. Meanwhile, my baby suffered. Change doctors.

I'm going to 2nd the mom who suggested taking him to a Chiropractor! He could be "twisted" or "unaligned" from his birth. There might be something pinching on a nerve (even if he can't feel it). Find someone who's dealt with babies and just take him. At the very least, it can't hurt.

I babysat a little baby just like this. Turns out she had diabetes. Not sure if that had anything to do with her screaming or not.

Also, Mixing formula and breast milk is no big deal. I did it with both of my babies and they were & are very calm babies. They never gave me any signals to even know the difference between breastmilk and formula. They were just happy to eat! :)