Help Help 8 to 12 Nonstop Crying

My daughter did this also. My doc said it was due to their brain not being fully developed and having a hard time blocking out sudden noises. Try anything with white noise like a vaccum, TV, etc... There were times nothing worked and I just held her as she cried. It is hard. It usually goes away when they get a few weeks older, so you probably don't have long to go.

Y.

My 3 month old did this along with two of my other kids. How old is he? It sounds like it could be colic, 6-8 pm is primetime for those symptoms. it usually peaks around 6-8 weeks and is gone by 12. I know how hard it is, especially with no one to give you relief. Honestly, I think you are doing everything that you can. The gas drops never did a whole lot for us. The best thing i can suggest is to find a friend or family member who can give you a break so you don't go over the edge.

Try wraping him really tight with a blanket!!!
Also try to put in down around 7pm, because it seems that he is so tired, that he can't even put himself to sleep and nothing works...
My newborn son did that and all I did was put him down at 7pm.
Now when you wrap him try to hold him close to you and give him his bottle, that way he will feel comfy...
It worked for me..
Goodluck,
M.

J.,

This sounds like colic. The definition of colic is a baby that cries for more than three hours a at a time more than three days a week. It's usually at the same time each day. They used to think this was caused by gas, but it's not. It is caused by overstimulation of their immature nervous system.

Human babies are thought to be born about three months before they are neurologically ready to be in the outside world. This has to happen because if we continued to gestate until they were ready and their brains were big enough, their heads would be too large to fit through the birth canal. That's why some doctors refer to the first three months of life as the "fourth trimester". Most babies have something like this to a greater or lesser extent. We just call it colic when it is on the more extreme end of the scale.

There is unfortunately no solution but time. There are techniques that will help to calm your baby, but you can't cure it. In the vast majority of babies, it disappears right around three months of age.

Here are things you can try:

1. Swaddling. Babies are held very tightly in the womb, and a tight wrap helps them feel secure. It also controls their startle reflex, which is when their arms and legs suddenly fly outward. It's disturbing to them, so helping it not happen can help keep them calm.

2. Shushing. This is what people are talking about with white noise machines, the vacuum, or the washing machine running. It simulates the sound of your heartbeat and blood vessels from in utero. It has to be loud, though. Put your mouth right up to his ear, and SHUSH loudly.

3. Sucking. Either a pacifier or nursing will help. It triggers the baby's calming reflex.

4. Side holding. Rather than cradling your baby, or holding him up on your shoulder, hold him sideways in your arms, like a football.

5. Swinging. Either use a swing, or walk and rock. It's the same feeling as he had inside when you walked around.

I am sure you are already doing a lot of these things, but it's the combination of some or all of them that does the trick for a lot of babies. Which will help your son is trial and error. You'll have to try them out, and in different combinations. Nothing will be foolproof, though.

Don't worry about the fact that he's crying. I know it's more like screaming, but there's a reason that he's doing it. He closes his eyes and screams to drown out the sights and sounds of the outside world that are overwhelming his senses. It's okay, and he won't hurt himself. If you feel better about it, you can get him checked out by his pediatrician.

All of the things I just told you are in a book called "The Happiest Baby on the Block." It's a great resource for Moms with colicky babies, and you can find it at Amazon if you are interested.

Hold on, J.. Your baby is fine, your doing what you need to do, and the fact that he's got these sensitivities doesn't mean you're a bad Mom, or that you're doing anything wrong. He'll grow out of it, and be just fine. I know it's overwhelming and frustrating. I've done my fair share of walking and rocking and crying right with my first son. It will end, and you're going to make it through. Don't be afraid to enlist help. No one should go it alone through the newborn months.

Jess

Sounds like you are doing the best you can - I wish you both well.

Here is an article that had some other tips too:

During pregnancy, when you imagined parenthood, you probably never pictured your new baby crying inconsolably in your arms. But here's your child, sobbing for hours on end, and you have no clue how to help. It's enough to make you cry, too.

About 20 percent of babies develop colic, which is something of a medical mystery. If your newborn cries for more than three hours in a row, three or more days a week, for three weeks or more — and there's no clear medical reason — it's colic. It typically starts at age 2 to 3 weeks and is at its worst around 6 weeks, diminishing after that.

The good news? Most babies are through it by the time they're 3 to 4 months old. (Yes, that's a lot of crying!) Until then, here's help figuring out what could be causing your infant's distress, along with products and strategies for soothing it.

Could it be tummy trouble?
There's no conclusive evidence that a colicky baby cries because of gas pains, but if your baby scrunches up his legs, kicks, and passes gas while screaming, it's at least a reasonable possibility. (You may notice this more often right after a feeding or before a bowel movement.) Your baby's digestive system isn't in full swing yet because it has very few of the digestive juices it needs to break down food. So as his body tries to process proteins, he may indeed produce gas. Gulping milk — which causes babies to swallow air — won't help matters, either.

Another possibility is that something in your breast milk or your baby's formula is bothering his tummy. Ask your child's doctor if you suspect that formula is the problem. Or, if you're breastfeeding, look for possible culprits in your own diet. Potential problem foods include dairy, wheat products, nuts, and caffeine — with dairy being the most likely because some infants are intolerant of the protein in cows' milk, which does pass into breast milk. Some nursing moms find that eating spicy foods or foods that cause the mother to produce gas, such as broccoli or beans, seems to aggravate their baby's colic, although there's no scientific evidence for this. The best way to identify the problem is to stop eating all likely offenders for a few days. (In the case of dairy, you'll have to cut it out of your diet for up to two weeks because cows' milk protein can remain in your breast milk for that long.) If your baby seems to improve, introduce each item singly, waiting to see if his body reacts to it before adding the next. The process may take a while, but if it saves your baby any crying time at all, it's worth it.

# What helps: The right bottle. The more air your baby swallows with breast milk or formula, the more likely tummy trouble becomes. Experiment with feeding positions: Try holding him more upright, for example. If he's bottle-fed, it's important to find a bottle that won't contribute to gulping. The nipple should have a hole that's not too small (which could frustrate him and make him gulp for more food) or too large (which would cause the liquid to come at him too quickly). Some bottles are especially designed to prevent colic by reducing air intake. Some are curved, while others have internal vents or liners, which keep air bubbles from forming in the liquid and the nipple from collapsing.
# Musical accompaniment. Frantic feedings will also cause your baby to gulp air, so don't wait for him to start screaming. Feed him before he's starving, and try to keep the surroundings calm. Turn down the lights, put on some soft music, and ask siblings to listen quietly (you can always hope).
# Natural remedies. Parents have long treated colicky babies with natural remedies like weak herbal teas (especially fennel, anise, and chamomile) and gripe water (a combination of herbs and sodium bicarbonate). You'll want to be careful with dosages, so consult a reliable herbalist and always talk to your baby's doctor. Some breastfeeding moms report that if they drink helpful herbal teas themselves, their babies benefit noticeably.
# Anti-gas drops. You can try over-the-counter anti-gas drops if you think gas is bothering your baby. Look for the active ingredient simethicone on the packaging, and be sure you're buying drops created specifically for babies. And as with any medication, get your doctor's okay first.
# A hot water bottle. You may be able to release some of the pressure on a troublesome tummy by placing your baby across your knees, tummy down, and rubbing his back. Some babies appreciate a hot water bottle (filled with warm water and wrapped in a towel) under them, too. Or simply place the hot water bottle between his tummy and yours, with him lying on top of you.

Tip: Frequent burping will help get those air bubbles out of your baby's tummy before more liquid traps them on the bottom. Don't wait until he's finished a full-course feeding to burp him. Prop your infant up for a burping when you change sides during nursing, or every few minutes when bottle-feeding.

Could it be an immature nervous system?
Some doctors speculate that there may be a connection between an infant's immature nervous system and colic. If your baby was born prematurely, he may need extra time to adjust and mature. Another possibility is that your baby is just a little sensitive by nature. It's certainly easy to understand how any newborn might be overwhelmed by all the stimulation around him — especially by the end of the day. Colic may be one way, then, to block out everything around him and let out all the tension inside. No matter what the reason, your task is to help your child relax, to feel safe and secure. It's a matter of trial and error, but try to find out what soothes him. (Hint: Things that mimic the familiar environment of the womb are a good bet.)

# What helps: Continuous noise, 'er, music. Babies like sounds that remind them of the rhythmic heartbeat and whooshing noises they heard in the womb (think vacuum cleaners, humidifiers, and clothes dryers). You can even find soothing CDs of womb sounds. The rhythmic sound of a shower may also be music to your colicky baby's ears. Turn on the water and put him in a bouncer seat on the bathroom floor. When your baby's ready for a change (or you are), try lullabies or other gentle tunes.
# Rockers, swings, bouncers, and carriers. Everyone knows that babies like to be rocked. In fact, they're comforted by gentle motion of all kinds — try a baby swing, or a simple bouncer. Your baby might also find it soothing to be walked around the house or the neighborhood in a front pack or sling. Keep in mind that he may prefer being held higher in the pack, close to your chest and your heartbeat. Try gently bouncing up and down in this position while hugging your baby close. Keep in mind, though, that while some babies are comforted by motion, others need a reduction in all stimulation and respond better to quiet, stillness, and darkness.
# Swaddling. Think about how snug your baby was before his birth, and you'll have a good idea how wide the world seems to him right now. Swaddling — a method of wrapping your infant in a blanket or cloth — can help him feel less out of control. You can try swaddling him during feedings if he has trouble focusing on his meal, during his usual colicky period, or for sleep. Not only might it help him get to sleep, there's a good chance it will help him stay asleep, too. Researchers have found that babies who are swaddled sleep more soundly than those who aren't. That's because when a baby twitches during sleep, his own movements often wake him up. Swaddling keeps that little twitch from becoming a full-fledged flail — something he's not likely to sleep through. The swaddling technique is easy to master. Once you find that your baby loves to be swaddled, you may even want to invest in a special swaddling bunting.
# Aromatherapy. Some babies respond well to scent. Aromatherapists develop essential oil formulas, based on aroma, for a variety of problems and conditions, from headaches and fatigue to anxiety and fear. You might try one geared for calming and soothing nervousness. A spritz of rose oil or a scented bath might just do the trick (if not for your baby, then for you).
# Pacifiers. Anything that helps your baby calm down is priceless right now. For some babies, sucking is the ultimate soother. So you might want to try offering a pacifier, even if you ordinarily wouldn't.

Tip: Many parents find that the noise and vibration of a ride in the car is the best remedy for colic. Buckle your baby into his car seat and go for a drive to get a change of scene for you and (possibly) relief for your baby.

Caring for a colicky baby can be very stressful and for your own emotional well-being, you need to take regular breaks. Be sure to have your mate or a friend or relative take over for you while you take a walk, go shopping, or have a good cry yourself.

maybe he has reflux, or in laymans terms, heartburn, indegestion, starts about the same time every night, best thing is to stop it before it starts. instaed of laying him down, try sitting him upright in his carseat or babyseat when he takes his late afternoon nap, see when you lay down with reflux all that stomach acid comes up into the esphogous and lays there burning, if you sit up it stays down in the stomach where it belongs.

you can give pills and diet changes etc, but all that does is have more side effects on top of the reflux, my 4 year old had it since birth, and the drs played lap rat with her so much she started having constant seziours from the reflux meds, so i took her off everything and let her sleep sitting up right, sometimes this meant that i would hold her like she was getting burped, and i would sleep propped up all around with pillows so i would not fall over. and sometimes it meant propping her up so she was sitting straight up to sleep,

it may seem like a pain but my babys rest and health was worth it, i know you feel the same. and if thats not the problem, then that might just be your babys fussy time. all babys have a fussy time, just be thankfull its not from midnight-6 a.m !

Hi J. - poor you!! {JEssica knows what she's talking about } but you can try some of these too. Definately get the little one checked out by the Dr. to make sure it's nothing physical. You can try a lavendar baby lotion rub before bed, also try some white noise like a fan. They also sell these vibrating belly pads that are supposed to help with colic like symptoms. Just realize that you are doing nothing wrong - that this is just a temporary thing. :] Also you can try laying him across your arm - belly down when you walk with him, the books say that can help belly pain.
Hope this helps *hugs* K.

J.,
I had the same issue with my daughter (who is now 8 months old). She would cry at 1:30-4-5-6-7 in the morning. It was terrible and nothing worked. After hearing from my doctor that it was colic I began to believe that colic means they don't know why your kid cries. After talking with family and friends whose children suffered the same problem I went back to the doctor and demanded to see a specialist. It was at that point we found that they Soy formula they switched her to was eating her stomach up at night (after being fed all day). We also found that she had acid reflux. They put her on medication and changed her to Nutramagin formula and she slept through the night from one month old. She was just changed to Good start (nutramagin was $9 a can). She is the happiest baby who sleeps from 7 at night till 7 am. I know that people can offer suggestions here that seem like they may work ... (swaddling and walking hte baby around and sleeping in the carseat). However when your own little baby is screaming in pain you need to stop what is causing the pain. I would talk to the doctor about the formula or acid reflux. i also bought a crib wedge to put under her mattress to lift it up to help the reflux. after 2 months she was able to come off that medication. Best of luck any other questions please feel free to email me
D.

Try white noise like the vacuum. My son did the same thing only earlier in the evening. He would scream for hours. Sometimes massaging his legs and belly helped but only for a few minutes. Sometimes sitting in a dark room completely quiet would help. The vacuum always helped but I would only use it for a few minutes because I was afraid if I used it too much it wouldn't work anymore. As long as you have made sure everything is okay, you can just put the baby down in the crib for a few minutes and walk away to keep your sanity. I know it can be a really hard thing to deal with and sometimes it helps to have someone help you during that time. My cousin and my mother would come over and try to help. The baby wouldn't stop crying but at least I wasn't alone in the world with a crying baby that wouldn't stop. If you don't have anyone to help you try to get a white noise machine or something. Sometimes, I would walk laps around the room and just sing very softly to him. Occasionally it would work for about 20 minutes, but at the time 20 minutes was heaven! Good luck and remember, it won't last forever and it could be worse, there are babies that do that all day long.

try taking off your shirt and putting him againest your skin so he can smell you. it sounds crazy but that is what i had to do with my one child she screamed all day and i would actually lay her down in my shirt to sleep. she is now 3. also sometimes when a baby gets to tired they can't sleep try laying him down before he starts his crying. don't worry it will get better.

Acid reflux could be one culprit- prevacid or zantac may work. The prevacid tastes better for them though. A swing that can go either side ways or front to back at different speeds with different music is a godsend. The one that I use with my son is the Fisher Price Ocean Wonders swing. One thing that I am concerned about is breathing. Has your sons oxygen level ever been checked at night? Perhaps when he starts to fall asleep he starts to loose his breath (apnea) and he gets scared. My son has this problem along with chronic ear infection, acid reflux, allergies, and severe asthma. If he is on formula I would try Enfamil Lipil Low Iron (easiest to digest for both of my kids). As for bottles I would use the Playtex Drop-Ins with the Natural Latch nipples. When you press the air out of the liner the bottle can be held virtually up right with no air getting into the babies digestive track. Hope that helps you. Good luck with everything. I will be praying for you and your son.

I don't have a suggestion for you, and I have to say, Jessica knows what she is talking about. You should definately try some of the things she suggested. My first son was the same way, and I just wanted to reassure you that it will end soon. One of these days he will just stop. It seems like it will never happen, but just be patient. Here's another bit of reeassurance; My colicky son was the most delightful mellow child when he grew out of the colicky stage. My daughter, who slept through the night from the day she was born is my holy terror. Hopefully you'll have many peaceful mellow days ahead of you. Good Luck!

My son was also colicky for the first few months of life. The good news is that it went away around 3-4 months. Jess's suggestions for "Happiest Baby on the Block" really worked for us. For my son, swinging was the trick. Unfortunatly, he didn't love his swing duing this part of the day and I had to swing, sway, rock and walk him. Since you can't get anything done this way (as you well know!) I bought the Moby Wrap sling (www.mobywrap.com). This wrap combines swaddling and swinging because it wraps very tightly around the baby's body and then you can walk around comfortably (it feels like being pregnant, for both you and the baby). I even got to sit down for a few minutes once he was wrapped! This was a miracle worker for us! I could put my son in it, walk around all evening, and get things done, and he would rest somewhat quietly. I hope this helps! Contact me any time if you need help or just a place to vent. I know it can be hard for people with non-colicky babies to understand. Good luck!

My son was the same way when he was a baby. Have you thought about starting your routine earlier so that he is getting to sleep earlier. My son acted this way when he became overly tired. When he did do this I would turn him on his side with his stomach pressed against me as tight as I could hold him and rock him very fast. When I did this he would be asleep within minutes. Another thing that works sometimes is a car ride. I would take my son for a ride to get him to sleep and them leave him in his carseat by my bed so that I to could get sleep.

J.
My son did the same thing, there is something bothering him, did you have a doctors checkup --check his ears or his troat.have them listen carefully to his lungs. My son had rsv and no one dedected it until he screamed to over 4 weeks and I changed doctors. There is something wrong with him, they only scream when they are in pain.
C.

MY son was like that. I used to put on a lullibys cd and rock him or dance around the room rubbing his back until he fell asleep. and always remember to stay relaxed if your tense or stressed that will make him cry more. I also would wrap him tight in his blanket he seemed to like that..

try gas x for babies. I went through the same thing and sure enough he had gas. works like a charm good luck

Hi J.: My name is J. I am also from Willow Grove. I am a mother of 6 children and my second son was the one who did what your sons does. First don't worry - you will survive. My son would cry from 6pm to about 10pm every night for about 3 months. We learned early if we turned on the vacuum he would stop. Since that was noisy we started using his monitor on the wrong channel (lots of static) and hanging it by his swing, bed or anywhere close by. He seemed to love the white noise. It would calm him. Once we turned it one, he calmed down. Eventually he grew out of it. He is 12 now and it is hard for me to remember when this drove me crazy.

J.,

As everyone has mentioned Jess provided you with some awesome information. Many of the moms here have.

Something that comes to mind when dealing with this sort of behavior is finding the root cause. There is always a cause, as the inconsolable nature is just a symptom of a larger undiagnosed problem. Reflux is also a symptom, not a cause.

What is your son eating? If you're nursing, there are so many things that could be the culprit. If you're formula feeding, again there are a few possibilities. Let me know either way and I can offer you some suggestions to help make the diagnosis easier, and help you avoid the infamous reflux trap. As someone mentioned this is very common these days. That is true, but the cause of much of it is the quality or lack thereof of the ready made/mix formulas that are available. And hypoallergenic formulas are not always the best choice. They're full of yucky stuff... even more so than the traditional milk and soy based ones.

Gripe water is wonderful for soothing those upset tummies, and dark quiet places starting at around 7pm to help combat the onset of the dreaded 8pm cry fest might also do the trick, if not just help him stay calmer a little longer.

I went through this with my first, who was nursed, and it's rough, I know. Wishing you the best, and looking forward to hearing from you.

Blessings,
Rolinda
Wife, Mother, Friend

luvbnamomof3 @ gmail dot com

J.,

How old is your son? What time is his last feeding? Does he have trouble napping during the day lying down?? There was another mom who brought up possible reflux. My son has reflux (as well as FPIES -gi disorder) and we found that in the early monthe what helped us get some sleep was putting him in the swing to sleep. If you haven't tried that I would give it a shot, you might be able to get some rest to be able to handle the crying. Hang in there!

D. B.

my son was also a screamer except the doctors told me it wasnt colic he would scream all day long as long as he wasnt eating or sleeping the only thing that soothed him was walking around with him and bounceing him as you walked or putting him in a swing and letting him swing in it he did finally calm down and stop crying so much right around four months when he started crawling and getting around. just keep doing what you are doing its hard now but he will grow out of it

Hi, J.. My baby had the same thing. Turns out he had gastic reflux which seems to be very common these days. My (old) doctors did not diagnose this, but a friend whose baby had it did. Once I talked to the doctors (again) they prescribed Zantac. Another trick that worked for me was letting the baby sleep in his car seat in the room with us. Keeping him elevated helped with the reflux. Last but not least, the one thing that nobody told me with my first baby was that all of these phases do pass. You think that they never will, but trust me, they do. Hopefully this will help. -C.

Hi J.,
My twin sons did the same thing every night for months. At the time I was both nursing and giving formula. I finally asked my pediatrician and he suggested changing their formula to Nutramigan. It was much more expensive but after 3 days their crying decreased dramatically. To me it was worth every penny. He told me that they were not able to digest the normal formula. I suggest asking talking to your doctor.
Good luck,
D.

P.S. As long as the baby is safe, it is ok to walk away for a while. Otherwise it can drive you mad.

Wrap him real tight in a blanekt.

When my daughter was a baby what helped her was a nice warm bath with Johnson and Johnson's Lavender bath. After I got her dressed in pj's I would then give her a nice warm bottle and usually she went right out.
Hopes this helps you.

My advice is to invest in a sling or wrap. I use kangarookorner.com and the mobywrap. They were (and still are) lifesavers! I put my son in it when he was newborn and had that incredibly fussy time and he calmed right down, and best of all, I could do things. At first, you will have to go out and take a walk to calm him down, but soon, it will just be wearing him that will calm him down. It is something about being extra close to you and feeling your heartbeat that soothes them. Now, at 15 months we don't have fussy times anymore, but when he is sick or just not feeling well, he loves going in the wrap!

try loosening his diaper, sometimes that helps.
also try GripeWater instead of gas drops. you can get it in a natural foods store or on the internet. that worked for my daughter who cried for 3 - 4 hours each night until she was 2 months old.
i also got 2 of the dr brown's natural flow bottles that do not allow air into the nipple. that helped with the gas and the fussiness.
try moving his legs in a bicycle peddling motion. that also helped us.
have reassurance that this will stop. all of a sudden one day he will just not cry every night anymore. that's what happened to me and then all of a sudden, my daughter is also sleeping thru the night!! try to relax, i know it's hard, but there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Every baby has a fussy time but this sounds like more than that. My twins would cry form 6 to 10 or later every night and then started to refuse to eat or lie down, they had acid reflux. they did not spit up much but they kept the spit up down and once we started them on Zantac for a few weeks only they were so much better and actually very pleasant.

But routine was also extemely important too. Every night we gave them a warm bath, just a few minutes, then m,assaged them for a few with lotion and rubbed their bellies in a clockwise motion to help with moving the bowels and the air through. Then we dressed them fed them and then they went to bed. We continued this process till they were almost three. Not always a full bath and massage but as often as they needed it.

They went to bed at 7:30 like clockwork everynight maybe one got up twice to eat and we had very pleasant nights once we got the reflux taken care of. It is very common in infants and can account for why many babies seem "colicky" the old excuse they used to give our moms. It is more than that and talk to your doctor. We all want our babies to be happy and healthy andcrying that long is upsetting to us and I always wondered what my girls thoughts were when they cried that long.

Good luck. Sorry for the long answer...

every one of my children has had fussy time. They were generally 1- 3 months old, the timing varied a little with each child, but it was generally 2-3 hours a night. Nothing works. No one knows why they do it. This too shall pass. The one thing I did not try was gripe water. Take breaks when you can and hang in there.

Hi J.,

My son did the same thing for a month. What worked the best was bouncing him. I would sit on the edge of the bed and just bounce, as soon as I would stop, he would start again. It's okay to put him down in a safe place and walk away to catch your breath. My husband works night, so I was alone with my son and it does take a lot of patience. My doctor told me that newborns cry an average of 3 hours a day and mine was getting it all out at one time. Good luck and remember, this will pass.
D.

My niece was the same way for several months when she was born. She would cry and scream from 7 pm - 11 pm. I don't know if she was labelled as being colicky but my brother and sister-in-law noticed that if they had her in bed before 7:00 they averted the chaos. It seemed by that time in the evening she was too tired and/or over-stimulated and couldn't be calmed down. For them, the solution was putting her to bed between 6:30 and 6:45.