Suddenly Fussy

Updated on November 02, 2006
S.H. asks from Charlotte, NC
17 answers

Hi all! My wonderfully happy, grins and giggles 3 month old son, has in the space of one day has gone to fussy, and difficult. He had a cold last week, (a fairly bad cold). He was not all that fussy during the cold. I mean he wasn't playful, but he wasn't crying all the time either. Now the cold is mostly gone, and he is crying almost all the time. It is not gas. He has been this way for the last 3 days. He was also sleeping throught the night, and now wakes up at least once if not more, every night. I checked to see if a tooth was comeing in, but I don't feel or see any. He is not running a fever, and he doesn't seem to be hurting anywhere. Help!! I want my happy little guy back. I am worried there is something really wrong with him. I have been feeding him more too, because I thought he might be hungry. Am I just expecting too much? It just seems that his personallity has done a complete 180. Any sugestions would help.

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M.H.

answers from Birmingham on

He could possibly be getting an ear infection. He will not always run a fever at the onset of an ear infection.

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A.J.

answers from Fayetteville on

My daoughter is the same way...one of the happiest kids ever..but she got teeth at an early age as well. Remember that just because you can't feel any yet, that doesn't mean they aren't coming in. She was very cranky and fussy for about a week before the tooth came in then it was back to normal. She liked those teehing rings that you keep in the fridge, the cold sensation helped a lot.
Good Luck
A.

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S.O.

answers from Charlotte on

Sounds to me like what it sounds like to everyone else. Probably teething and/or an ear infection. Again, just because there is no fever and you can't feel a tooth, doesn't mean that he isn't teething.
Have his ears checked, because that happens a lot. And a lot of babies do what yours is doing. They start out so sweet and innocent, then they start getting their own little personalities and it takes awhile to get used to not having that perfectly calm, laid back baby! Doesn't mean he'll be fussy forever, but he will change over the next few months.
Do check his ears, though

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T.D.

answers from Greensboro on

This sounds like what happened to our baby a couple of months ago after a cold. I called the Pediatricians office for help with my child's "behavioral issues." She just had such a personality change. They saw us in the office, examined my sweet baby, and what do you know...she had her first ear infection. I was totally shocked. She received her antibiotic, and within 2 hours, I had my sweetie back!!!!! She is sleeping through the night again, and is feeling so much better.

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T.O.

answers from Columbia on

i would say maybe he might have an ear infection, my daughter is almost 2 and has had the first 2 ear infections ever this month, shes ALWAYS!!!! happy and never fussy, until she got these 2 ear infections, she was just fussy and feverish, and when the fevers went down she just kept cring for no reason, up all night and couldnt sleep, short naps, then i took her to the doc and they said ear infections, with a small case of broncitis, maybe you should take him to the doc just to be safe. and for your peace of mind, hope this helps, let us know how ur little man is doing!!!

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F.E.

answers from Dothan on

There's a good chance that he's teething. You won't neccessarily feel any teeth. Teething can begin up to 3 months before a tooth actually shows, but that doesn't mean it will neccessarily take 3 months for a tooth. But I know that it does interrupt sleep patterns, try not to feed him if he's suddenly waking in the night, this can retrain his stomach to be hungry in the night, and he will start waking regardless of the reason--that is if he had been sleeping through the night up until now.

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T.F.

answers from Charleston on

Hey S.

I am a mother of 3 and my 8 month old boy went throught the same thing at about 3 1/2 months. It was his tooth, at first I could not see or feel anything. Is he bitting down on anything like your fingers, blankets, or even toys? I would keep an eye on him and if he isn't biting down then i would call the doctor, the nurse can/ will normally give you help on the phone, based on your child's records or past. If it is a tooth then you will see white gums soon. Good Luck I hope I helped.

T.- mother of 3 in Goose Creek

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T.P.

answers from Charlotte on

I'm not saying this is what it could be but my son would go through bouts of fussiness. It was strange though. It would last for an entire week, literally 7 days and by the following Monday he was back to his old self. Fussiness will come from teeth you can't yet see, sleeping patterns will change ALOT which can make them fussy, and just growing pains in general.

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A.D.

answers from Charlotte on

He could just be tired and cranky after being sick, remember how tired you are after fighting a cold/illness. Just try to stay at home and rest with him. Also at night try to stay consistent with his bed routine and he will fall back into that pattern, go into his room and rub his back a little, don't talk or take him out of his crib. If he is eating good that is a good sign. Did you hold him a lot when he didn't feel good, that could be the extra attention he got used to. We have four boys and one baby girl and all my boys are so cranky after the sickness, they are just so tired. I would wait about a week and if he is not his normal self have him rechecked. Having a cold/runny nose can back up into the ear and cause an infection and that takes a little longer to develop than the cold. Good Luck!

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S.D.

answers from Lubbock on

He could be catching up from being sick and there is the possibility of an ear infection...they sometimes follow the cold and congestion.

S.

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E.B.

answers from Raleigh on

Hi S.. This is a great forum, isn't it? Well, it sounds to me that your son may be just going through a growth-spurt and those can sometimes last a few days. My daughter, who just turned four months - has had several of those. She, too, is a normally very content baby - but there were a couple of occaisions where she was just crying all day - no matter what I tried. And, I was sure it wasn't gas, either. All she wanted to do was eat, eat, eat. Just keep in your mind that it's temporary - and you should have your little boy back to normal in, at the very most, a week. These little babies are growing so fast - they can hardly keep up with themselves. Hope this helps.

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M.

answers from Charlotte on

I would take him in and get his ear looked at. When our daughter was that young she wouldn't tug on her ears but every time she had a cold she got an ear infection.

Having gone through an eardrum rupture at 8 months, I wouldn't wait unless your doctor feels you should.

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H.C.

answers from Raleigh on

S., I had 2 boys go through very similar problems when they were around that age. They both ended up with chronic ear infections. Sometimes a cold can cause congestion that can't drain well from the ears and cause lots of pressure and discomfort even after the cold is long gone. Have your pediatrician check out the ears to see if that is the culprit. Also, at 3 months, he may be getting some teething pain. My first one got 2 teeth the day he turned 4 months old. Monitor his mouthing habits and drool production for clues there. Good luck! :) H. C.

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B.

answers from Charlotte on

I'm sure you've heard this before, but it might just be a growth spurt. My daughter is 4 mos old and around 3 months she went thru the same thing for just a few days - a week at the most. If it continues, you may want to check with his pediatrician just to have peace of mind. At 5 weeks old, my daughter was admitted to the hospital. She was very agitated all of a sudden, so her Dr took a urine sample and found out she had a urinary tract infection. Probably not very common for boys, but I always say go with your gut. If you think something is wrong, go to his pediatrician.

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E.D.

answers from Asheville on

I would definitely have his ears checked. My sons always seem to develop ear infections after a bad cold. Usually they get a fever, but not always. If his behavior has suddenly changed, it's very likely something's going on. Also, at 3 months he could definitely be going through a growth spurt, and cutting teeth. But don't be afraid to call your pediatrician, crying all the time is really not normal!

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Y.M.

answers from Richmond on

S., my first guess would be an ear infection. It could be something that began after taht cold. The passageway for ears-nose and throat is all so closely related, its easy to get an earache. Have him checked and see if they see any inflammation in his ears. If thats not it then maybe he is just beginning to teethe?

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N.A.

answers from Norfolk on

HI I am N. I have one son that is two years old and when he got a cold he wasnt to fussy not as bad as I thought it was when the cold was pretty much over I think your son if he's not andocating a certain area that might be bugging him he could of just got scared and needs the securaty of mommy and daddy or just mommy

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