My 7 month old daughter is driving me nuts!!! She got the flu about 2 weeks ago and since then she is extremely clingy. She cries if I put her down at all, she cries if someone else is holding her and she can see me, she cries when I try to feed her! Up until now she has been a very happy baby. I am going insane and need some advice on what to do!
I know that they start going through the "seperation anxiety" stage at this time, but it seems like more than that. She won't sleep unless I'm holding her, and if I try to put her down after she's asleep she wakes up and screams until I pick her up. I'm sure part of the problem is that she's tired since she's not getting as much sleep as she should be, but I have a 2 year old also, so I can't just sit around all day holding a sleeping baby. I have tried putting her in her crib and letting her CIO, but she just screams until I go in and get her (as long as 20 min. one day!)
Also the last couple nights she won't sleep unless she is nursing. We do co-sleep, so I'm used to nursing her in bed, but my nipples are super sore from her suckling all night long! If I try to unlatch her she screams! She won't suck on a binkie and she won't take a bottle.
Sorry if I'm rambling, I'm just trying to make sure I get all the info on here. I am just at my wits end!! I'm starting to feel resentful, and I hate having feelings like that towards my daughter! Most days I end up crying out of frustration at least once! Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated!!!
Kids get weird after they are sick. But this sounds like something more. Are her ears OK? Is she teething? I guarantee that she is just as miserable as you are.
If you have ruled out anything medical, I have been told that babies will get this way right before they are hitting a milestone. Is she crawling yet? My daughter was a great laid back baby until around 8 months old. For about 2 or 3 weeks she was so needy and clinging and never wanted to be put down. She also was sleeping terrible both at night time and for naps. Then she started crawling and overnight she became this little independent, happy, baby again. We also went thru this, but not as bad, when she was starting to walk. Just a thought that nobody had thrown out there yet. Hang in there.
Poor mommy! Poor baby! My daughter, and more recently my grandson, have gone through stages like that, and often after an uncomfortable illness. Your little girl may not feel back to normal yet, could be fearful of separation, and could be teething. If there's any combination of those, they could be much magnified.
At seven months, she is really not trying to drive you batty. She is expressing needs in the only way she knows. Can you consider wearing her in a sling during the day? This has been a fabulous solution for me, my daughter, and several other young families I've known. The baby gets more sleep, which helps settle her down more, the mom has free hands, and everybody's nerves get a chance to recover faster.
My best to you all.
Are you producing enough milk, still?
6 months was a growth-spurt time... and their intake needs increases. If they do not get enough intake at these junctures, they are basically hungry all the time... and will cry, not be happy and can't sleep nor nap..
I say this, because this is what happened to more than 2 friends of mine and their baby. Once the baby was getting enough intake, the baby was a different person and happier.
For the 1st year of life, breastmilk/Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition, NOT solids and NOT other liquids. And they need to be fed on-demand.
just another possible possibility.
Besides, teething or sickness, or separation anxiety.
Also at this age, babies go through "object permanence." It is developmental based. Look it up online.
all the best,
Susan
I'm with Dana, I would wonder if she had an ear infection.
Good luck,
K.
Are you sure she's 100% well following the flu?
From the sounds of it, there could be a few things going on. She may have arrived at the age that they understand separation anxiety, but it seems a little extreme.
My instinct reading your message - especially the part about needing to suckle is that she has something else going on - like an ear infection that the suckling is helping to alleviate.
Also, our kids were about that age when they began teething. Have you tried giving her tylenol to see if that helps? All kids are different. Ours never needed teething rings or Orajel, but tylenol was a Godsend.
Good luck.
my son will be 7 months on the 3rd. Were having the same problem he had an ear infection about 2 weeks ago and ever since he is acting the same way. Super clingy wont sleep unless he's held. I'm right there with ya mama.. dont have any advice but your not alone! good luck!
I'd say she is not completely well yet and so needs to cling to you , have you taken her to the doctor at all? Maybe she has an ear infection or something so this is why she is crying so much? It may not be , but either way I would take her to the doctor and have her ears and throat checked.
Take her to the pedi if you already haven't. My first thought was an ear infection. Eliminate any medical causes - you'll all feel better if you can do that. I love my Ergo baby carrier cause I could wear my son on the front or back. If she's still not feeling up to snuff, having her in a carrier that allows you to get your stuff done and her the added comfort to recover fully will help all of you feel better. Good luck!
Sounds like teething. Motrin works wonders. But see your pediatrician to rule out an ear infection or other causes.
It sounds to me like something more is going on. What you describe sounds like an ear infection. It just plain hurts to lay down. I'd have her checked out.
If you do go back to trying CIO, 20 minutes is not that long. I had a kid who did that just because, just to wind down. He was very happy doing it, just had to cry. My daughter was pretty intense and extreme on it, too. After about a week, she went to sleep very happily, although she did cry quietly. It's hard for babies to learn to sleep on their own at such an old age, but they do need to do it for both your sanity and hers. :) You both need some good sleep. It will help with how you are feeling. GL! I hope you both feel better soon.
If there is no infection / other serious issue - it could be teething. Mine has been teething for a couple of months now and she just turned 7 months yesterday. I love the Highlands Teething Tablets. They are super safe / homeopathic and you can find them in Walmart, Target, pharmacy's. I give mine a tablet or two when she's fussy for seemingly no reason and she settles down. Highlands also makes Calms Forte which helps w/ the "no real reason to be fussy" times. Good luck
HI!
A baby has no words to express when something is bothering them, and they sooth themselves by nursing. So I would guess that something is bothering her. If she doesn't have one ear that is warm to the touch, or something easy to diagnose, I would try giving her an appropriate dose of infant ibuprofen. If that makes a big difference, then you can be reasonably certain that the issue is related to pain or discomfort. If it makes no difference, then bear in mind that it could be her tummy. A baby doesn't know that continuing to eat when your stomach hurts may not make it better, and nursing is the only thing they know how to do. If she had any antibiotics for the flu, her digestion may not be functioning correctly. Some organic baby yogurt (made from goats milk is best, but cow's milk will work also) will often help. She doesn't need a lot, but you need to get probiotics going again. If you are nursing, make sure that YOU get plenty of probiotics, as well. IF she can handle the taste of the yogurt, then dip the binkie in it, lay down with her and snuggle her up like she's nursing...but slip her the binkie to give your nipples a break.
Blessings to you for nursing and co-sleeping. I believe that this is the natural way to grow a happy, bonded baby!
I hope this helps and you get it worked out...I have five kids, from 9 years down to 6 months, and I know exactly what you are going through!
Best wishes and blessings
Teething or ears...that was my thought. It is so hard to think straight when you are tired and a baby is attached to you 24/7.
Hylands Teething Tablets and/or baby Motrin are life savers. ]
HUGS to you!!
If by flu you mean the respiratory kind, sinus infections and ear infections often piggyback on the flu as secondary infections. The kind of behavior you're describing could indicate an undiagnosed ear infection. It may be a good idea to take her in and get her checked out.
Hi!! I have a 7 month old daughter also, we haven't had any sickness but I do think she is starting to teethe, she is showing all the signs. What I have noticed is that when she seems the worst (nose running, low grade temp, and whiny) she wants me alot more. Sometimes she even just wants me to sit in the floor beside her and play and talk to her. She also cries on the days I go to work and my husband is off with her.
Like you said I htink a big part of this is separation anxiety but even so, we cannot sit and hold them all day. My daughter was bad about only taking naps in our arms until she was 6 months old!! Finally I decided that was ridiculous and started trying everything I could to get her to nap in the crib. The only thing that works is letting her CIO. I rock her until she is drowsy and lay her down. She will cry for about 30 minutes and I let her cry as long as she is isn't wailing. She really justmore or less whines for 30 minutes until she realizes she's tired and I'm not coming to get her so she may as weel go to sleep.
I know you are way worse off as me bc you have a toddler-maybe start trying slowly to wean away from her? I think it's just kind of touch and go at the stage.
Good Luck!!
I agree with others. I would get those ears checked asap! Hang in there!
