Anyone Had Experiance with Rwally Bad Crying Fits?

I do think it could be that she was over tired. I know, finding that just right level of tiredness can be tough!! But usually when my son cries a lot he is either extremely tired or hungry. Both of those things can elicit some serious crying. She is at an age too where she can start to learn to comfort herself a bit. It may be a little trying because it is all new for her. I was nursing my son at this age so I would schedule a nursing session when I knew he was tired and he would go to sleep while nursing. If he was slightly awake I might rock him a little and then put him in his crib. If he cried I would give him some time to settle down. If it went too long, of course I would go get him and try to put him down a little later. If you aren't nursing her then maybe just a little rocking when she starts rubbing her little eyes or if you catch a yawn before any fussing starts. Best wishes to you!! You will get through this and she will be a champ napper before you know it :)

Hi P.,

I had the hardest time getting my son to take naps at that age. He hated to sleep and it was really difficult for me to determine when he was truly tired. He also refused to lie down. I ended up working more on a routine with him and just gaged his really fussy periods. He was still taking 2 naps at that age one in the morning and one mid afternoon. I tried to put him down before he became fussy or overly tired. Instead of him rubbing his eyes, yawning or doing anything that would indicate tiredness he was the exact opposite, he winds up. He becomes more and more active. If your baby is like mine, you may need to look for her trying to wind up instead of down. When I finally figured that out, nap times and bed time became so much easier.

At that age, I still rocked him until he was drowsy and then put him in his crib and then I would place my hand on his back or tummy until he fell asleep.

Good Luck to you and your little one!
J.

Our first daughter stopped taking naps at about 9 months. Period. So I dealt with it by lying down with her for about an hour in the afternoon (I was more tired than she was) and she wouldn't sleep but she'd get what she apparently needed. She and I had it easier at that time b/c my time and energy was available to do that. I couldn't take the crying fits because she wasn't tired and didn't want to be left alone. She resumed naps on her own when she got a little older. The important thing was that we both rested enough for what we needed and the home was peaceful. Granted, what would have worked wonders would have been to truly tire her out, exhaust her in a good way, with lots of physical exercise every morning....but I didn't so I was with a young, young crawler/toddler who just plain wasn't tired no matter what the baby books said.
Do NOT blow on your baby's face to relax her (you might be sick and not know it until that night and pass something on to her). I used to blow onto the diaper region just to speed up putting the diaper on (didn't want to put it on too soon after wiping baby down while it was still damp from the wipe) and I had strep throat which I didn't know I had. Passed a strep infection onto baby #2 with that once...but I've never done it since. Something that has helped my kids is to let their hands play in cool water and also to do a light, effleurage-type massage on their bare backs while chanting nursery rhymes. My first was the only one with terribly bad crying fits as I think it was a high-strung personality and lack of me exercising her and tiring her out until she got older and I changed us to a very active lifestyle (full-time childcare and constant movement and play)! Best wishes.

I didn't read through all of the responses, but I agree with what one of the other moms said- my son also gets very hyper when he's tired. Always has. Once we figured that out, it made life much easier. at 3 1/2, he still takes a nap at his preschool, and he still has to go to his room for at least 1 hour of quiet time each day on the weekends. sometimes he fights it just for the show, but then lays right down to sleep. he would do the same thing with the crying fits, and the more we tried to calm him, the worse they would get. when we left him in his room to just cry it out- that's exactly what he did and he felt better later.

I do think they just get overstimulated and don't know how else to express it at that age.

Hi,

My son had similiar episodes when he was a baby, probably at 1-3 months. He would cry gently at first, then it would build to really crying, then he would stop making any noise at all, like he hsd stopped breathing. If I didn't figure a way to calm him, it would start over again. It usually happened at night during/after giving him a bath. Looking back, I should of had him ready for bed much earlier so that I could start putting him to bed (rocking, nursing, dark room, gentle music) at the first sign of tiredness. I think the best you can do is start your naptime routine early, even before you notice tiredness (which I know is impossible!) so that the overtiredness can't happen. This phase will pass. My "little one" is now 5 and about to start kindergarten. Yikes!! Take care, let me know how it goes...

A.
NW Houston

One thing that would occasionally work is as soon as my daughter started crying I would blow gently into her face. This would sometimes distract her. Also, try rocking her in your arms while softly singing lullabyes/nursery rhymes. Singing also helps you to not be so focused and stressed about the crying.
Keep trying new things until you figure out what works. Good Luck.

P.,
I'm sure this is somewhat normal, so I wouldn't freak out too much, especially if she seems fine at other times. I'm going to guess that she is over-tired when you put her down and perhaps a little spoiled. Maybe you could have a routine ~ put her down at the same time everyday, and walk away from the crib. It is normal, and healthy for the baby to have time alone in the crib. It is also good for them to learn to awaken alone and "babble" to themselves a bit before rushing in to get her. Try not to be there at her beck and call ~ you could regret it later!
I hope it gets better ~ give it a little time to see a change.
God bless.
D.