Fussy Baby...

Both my sons had GERD (acid reflux) and that was exactly how my first son acted. He was constantly, constantly fussy. It was so hard. How is her eating? My son really didn't get less fussy until they changed his medication to Prevacid. Even after that, it was a long battle. He's over 2 now and just got off his medication. I remember I used to just put on music and dance and be really silly just to try to get him to laugh. And he only would nap in his swing because it was soothing to his stomach. I hope some of this helps.

It could be teeth - my daughter started getting quite fussy around 12-13 weeks... turns out she was cutting teeth and having a growth spurt. Its a good thing kids don't remember how hard it is to be babies! Its a rough time - I know you'll get through it A-OK!

Hi J.,

I also have a reflux baby so I feel your pain. If you are breastfeeding, your baby may be sensitive to something you are eating. There is a short list of top tummy trouble causing foods you could try to eliminate from your diet -- I think they are -- dairy, soy, peanut, wheat, and something else...please check on the web or wiht your doc. Our little one seemed to be gassier, much fussier when I ate dairy so I dropped it from my diet and went to using Rice Dream (rice milk) whenever I needed milk (like for my morning coffee!). It has made a big difference.

Our ped also said that caffine and greasy foods (anything deep fried and most fast foods) can cause reflux flare ups -- again, if you are breastfeeding.

Someone mentioned sleeping on an incline. There is something called the Tucker Sling that is highly recommended for reflux babies. I didn't use it personally,but have heard it mentioned often. Do you otherwise keep your baby girl upright after feedings for like 30 - 50 mins? This was suggested by our ped. After night feedings, I still put our 6 mos old in his baby chair to sleep for like an hour before putting him back in his crib to help keep the milk down.

Good Luck!

It's really not too early for teething. My daughter cut her firs tooth at just 6weeks. It's rare, but it happens. Also "teething" can last for weeks & even months (sorry) before a tooth actually appears. Remember all of her teeth are there already & have been since before she was born, they're just waiting to come through the gums.
If you are nursing, as someone suggested try adjusting your diet. Along with the foods already suggested, try avoiding caffeine, onions,garlic, peppers & tomatoes. And as suggested already talk to your health care provider or a lactation consultant for other ideas.
If it's gas trying gently bending her knees in to her tummy after eating. It can help dislodge bubbles more than traditional back patting burping.
Also, do you use a sling? Babies really love that next to you touching. Within a couple days of you getting use to the sling, you'll probably find you can do almost anything with the baby attached. There are many great styles out there for different body shapes- try googling "wahm made slings" to see some examples.

Hi.
My name is H. and I'm a mom to 3 girls who all had reflux. Not all of them screamed two were fussy and one screamed for the first 4 months of her life. We tried zantac & cereal first then we switched meds. She did much better after that. Maybe you could talk to your doctor about different meds. If you feel like somethings bothering her just keep brining her in to the doctors. I always did. I even made it a point to see someone different. They all have different opinions on reflux. Is she on formula? My kids were all switched to hypoallergenic stuff nutramergin or alimentum. Maybe that's all she needs. Hope this helps. I know how hard it is when you don;t know what to do for them. It can be frustrating & sad.

does she sleep on an incline? maybe the meds are wrong for her and you need to try something else? and yes, teething can start this early.. it takes a long time for a tooth to pop out, but they feel it long before we see a bump... call your ped and talk to them.. maybe it's something simple.

My baby was colic too she didnt stop screaming until she was 6mo old It was terrible. It's just part of being colic what did your doctor say? Baby Bliss Gripe Water is the best thing we ever bought you should check it out. And its all natural. It saved our life. You also need to try different things to see what sooths her more. You could hold her while you sit on one of those big balls and bounce that helped us. Some people say they take their babies in the shower the feeling of the water on their backs helps sooth them. Also repeating sound patterns like shh shh shh in her ear while you walk her always works. Her fussiness it sounds is just part of being colic we went through that too.

My daughter was the same way and i switched her to formula called allementum << not sure if the spelling is correct. What it does is help break the digestion up for the baby after that it was like a had a new baby

We used Mylicon gas drops when our little girl was an infant. Someone told me about them and we bought them before she was born. I hate medicating our child but my husband doesn't mind and he would use them and she would stop crying. I have heard that colic can last a long time. It might be to early for cereal. She could be teething, try something cold on her gums and see if that soothes her.

Hang in there - it probably won't last too much longer. Age 4 months was the magic number for my son. He was the same way. We couldn't figure out what was wrong but he was constantly fussy. We think it was mostly gas and always gave him Mylicon and tried to burp him real well. Once he turned 4 months old he was like a new baby. Don't disregard the teething thing either. My son started teething very early - around 4 months actually. Feel his bottom gums in the front - you might be able to feel the teeth ready to come through. I think the 2 front bottom teeth are the first come in. Hope this helps? Good luck!

Hi, I don't know if I have any advice, but I will say that 14 weeks is still so young, and babies can be fussy for no reason at all. Have you ever heard of the book "The Happiest Baby on the Block"? I read this book too late for my own good, because my first daughter was sooo fussy all the time. In the book they describe the fourth trimester, which is the idea that new babies are so much happier inside of you than out. So the idea is to mimic the womb, swaddling tightly, white noise, rocking, etc. All I can say is that I read this book while pregnant with my second child(because I was so scared from my first), and all of the things they said really worked. I don't know if it will work for you or not, but anything is worth a try right? It probably seems endless to you right now, but hang in there and know that your baby will not be fussy forever! (otherwise I wouldn't have three of them!)

My little girl was fussy for the first two months of her life. Not with acid reflux but with gas...didn't get any sleep. Mylicon gas drops (or the generic store brand which I used) and Enfamil gental ease formula (if you are formula feeding) worked for me. I also would wrap her up tight at night and .... put her on her tummy(I know I know, but it was the only way she would go to sleep).

She's actually not too young to teeth. My daughter got her first tooth at 16 weeks, second around 20 weeks. I was shocked, but it sure explained her grumpyness!

Just wanted to let you know that I have had friends with children as young as 16wks who have gotten teeth. don't rule that out just yet. she may also be getting to the stage where she wants to be more active too so she is unhappy being held or in one place for too long. Its that stage bfore they can crawl they get fussy/frustrated really quick.
hope this helps.It's only a phase and it will pass eventually, thats what I tell myself to get through it. my son has acid reflux as well and is on medication he is 6 mo and still spitting up everywhere. happier now on the meds but it is still frustrating...can't bring him anywhere without a change of clothes for him, me, annd anyoune else who happens to hold him.... a little embarising at times. lol
good luck.