Hands up. Who has a fussy babe? - Page 2

[brinalicious]

I highly recommend this book...

This is our third baby, and the second fussy one. Our first had colic REALLY BAD, and it lasted for nearly a year, not just the 3-4 months that it typically does. Anyway, this time around a friend just happened to lend me a book that I think is totally AMAZING! It's called "The Happiest Baby on the Block," by Harvey Karp. Our fussy baby calms down almost immediately when we follow his "Cuddle Cure." His theory is that babies are born too early and that the first three months of their lives are really a "fourth trimester" for them. The best way to calm them is to follow the five "S's"--Swaddling, Sucking, Swinging, Side/Stomach lying, and Shushing. As soon as our baby starts to fuss we swaddle her very snugly, give her something to suck on, and turn on a "white noise" (either a sound on our swing or a fuzzy radio station) and she calms down almost immediately. The white noise seems to be the real clincher--it's like baby crack for her!!! Also, she sleeps for 5-6 hours at a stretch now (she's 4 weeks and sleeps in our bed). I recommend his book to everyone, even if your baby only fusses a little bit. I just wish I'd known how to do this with my first son-it could have saved me a lot of tears (mostly my own!). Has anyone else tried his "cure"?

[Kmama2]

Originally Posted by brinalicious

This is our third baby, and the second fussy one. Our first had colic REALLY BAD, and it lasted for nearly a year, not just the 3-4 months that it typically does. Anyway, this time around a friend just happened to lend me a book that I think is totally AMAZING! It's called "The Happiest Baby on the Block," by Harvey Karp. Our fussy baby calms down almost immediately when we follow his "Cuddle Cure." His theory is that babies are born too early and that the first three months of their lives are really a "fourth trimester" for them. The best way to calm them is to follow the five "S's"--Swaddling, Sucking, Swinging, Side/Stomach lying, and Shushing. As soon as our baby starts to fuss we swaddle her very snugly, give her something to suck on, and turn on a "white noise" (either a sound on our swing or a fuzzy radio station) and she calms down almost immediately. The white noise seems to be the real clincher--it's like baby crack for her!!! Also, she sleeps for 5-6 hours at a stretch now (she's 4 weeks and sleeps in our bed). I recommend his book to everyone, even if your baby only fusses a little bit. I just wish I'd known how to do this with my first son-it could have saved me a lot of tears (mostly my own!). Has anyone else tried his "cure"?

Depends on the kid. I have read his book and he has lots of good advice... my dd loved the swaddling and white noise. This kid -not so much. I think reflux is my guys issue... that or dairy intolerance.. I am on day 6 of no dairy or soy.

[Maela]

Originally Posted by brinalicious

This is our third baby, and the second fussy one. Our first had colic REALLY BAD, and it lasted for nearly a year, not just the 3-4 months that it typically does. Anyway, this time around a friend just happened to lend me a book that I think is totally AMAZING! It's called "The Happiest Baby on the Block," by Harvey Karp. Our fussy baby calms down almost immediately when we follow his "Cuddle Cure." His theory is that babies are born too early and that the first three months of their lives are really a "fourth trimester" for them. The best way to calm them is to follow the five "S's"--Swaddling, Sucking, Swinging, Side/Stomach lying, and Shushing. As soon as our baby starts to fuss we swaddle her very snugly, give her something to suck on, and turn on a "white noise" (either a sound on our swing or a fuzzy radio station) and she calms down almost immediately. The white noise seems to be the real clincher--it's like baby crack for her!!! Also, she sleeps for 5-6 hours at a stretch now (she's 4 weeks and sleeps in our bed). I recommend his book to everyone, even if your baby only fusses a little bit. I just wish I'd known how to do this with my first son-it could have saved me a lot of tears (mostly my own!). Has anyone else tried his "cure"?

Swaddling and sometimes white noise help Ds, but he's still getting worse. Each "cure" that we used to have doesn't work at times now. His periods of inconsolable crying are only getting longer it seems.

If I want to start eliminating things from my diet to see if it works, what should I try first? Dairy? Do I have to give up everything dairy or just milk - I've heard sometimes that it's just the actual milk that bothers them. This is my last resort; I hate to give up any kind of food. But I'm going crazy here.

[Kmama2]

Originally Posted by Maela

Swaddling and sometimes white noise help Ds, but he's still getting worse. Each "cure" that we used to have doesn't work at times now. His periods of inconsolable crying are only getting longer it seems.

If I want to start eliminating things from my diet to see if it works, what should I try first? Dairy? Do I have to give up everything dairy or just milk - I've heard sometimes that it's just the actual milk that bothers them. This is my last resort; I hate to give up any kind of food. But I'm going crazy here.

I just spoke to my daughters allergist about it... I am doing the same thing. YOu need to eliminate all dairy.. whey, caesin, etc. If you google it you will find a list of things that contain milk or milk protein. 1out of 2 kids that has problem with milk also has issues with soy... so usually you do both and then introduce one at a time and see if it causes a problem. You need to eliminate it for at least 2 full weeks. It can take that long to get out of your milk.

[Pandme]

Hey, the exercise ball is my weapon of choice right now. I cannot believe how well it works.

[Kmama2]

I feel like I need a support group of something. Seriously... this kid is hard to make happy. He is either nursing, sleeping or crying. He crys for everything. he only wants to be in my arms or on my boob... which wouldn't be bad except that sometimes I have to put him down to change my toddlers diaper, get her a snack etc etc. He crys harder lately when I put him in my sling or the baby bjorn..
I know its normal.. He doesn't cry for hours at a time or anything and he sleeps decent.. wakes up every 1-3 hours to eat at night but jeez. I feel like a bad parent because he seems unhappy alot. My dd was just so content and happy 90% of the time.
I think he has a touch of relux and if he over eats he pukes more so I try to prevent him using me as a pacifer but he won't take the binky for me anymore. Just my husband...
Its so hard to get anything done!!! Like pee, make dinner, give some attention to my toddler etc!!

[Pandme]

Originally Posted by Kmama2

I feel like I need a support group of something. Seriously... this kid is hard to make happy. He is either nursing, sleeping or crying. He crys for everything. he only wants to be in my arms or on my boob... which wouldn't be bad except that sometimes I have to put him down to change my toddlers diaper, get her a snack etc etc. He crys harder lately when I put him in my sling or the baby bjorn..
I know its normal.. He doesn't cry for hours at a time or anything and he sleeps decent.. wakes up every 1-3 hours to eat at night but jeez. I feel like a bad parent because he seems unhappy alot. My dd was just so content and happy 90% of the time.
I think he has a touch of relux and if he over eats he pukes more so I try to prevent him using me as a pacifer but he won't take the binky for me anymore. Just my husband...
Its so hard to get anything done!!! Like pee, make dinner, give some attention to my toddler etc!!

PM me any time, I am right there with you.

The elimination diet has done nothing for us so far. How old is he now? Fussiness tends to increase and peaks around 6-8 weeks, I've heard. With my first it seemed like it started then, but this one is definitely different.

[the2amigos]

Fussy here too...some days are great, some days aren't. He has a fussy period every night for anywhere from 1/2 hour to 4 hours where he screams his little head off no matter what we do. During that time only I will do to help settle at all - he seems to dislike my husband for some reason.

Poops are yellow, no skin issues, just the screamie thing at night and fussy some days. Is that a reason to do an elimination diet?? Food stuff doesn't run in either of our families. My husbands halfbrothers with a different dad have diary intolerances, but not his full brothers.

I'm thinking he is just fussy. Bummer, cause DS1 was super easy, hardly ever cried, like sometimes went days without crying.....ah, memories!

[Kmama2]

Originally Posted by the2amigos

Fussy here too...some days are great, some days aren't. He has a fussy period every night for anywhere from 1/2 hour to 4 hours where he screams his little head off no matter what we do. During that time only I will do to help settle at all - he seems to dislike my husband for some reason.

Poops are yellow, no skin issues, just the screamie thing at night and fussy some days. Is that a reason to do an elimination diet?? Food stuff doesn't run in either of our families. My husbands halfbrothers with a different dad have diary intolerances, but not his full brothers.

I'm thinking he is just fussy. Bummer, cause DS1 was super easy, hardly ever cried, like sometimes went days without crying.....ah, memories!

I am only doing an elim diet b/c dd has a peanut allergy and ds was puking 6-8 times after a feeding. It seemed excessive to me. He pukes less now and does have some alert quiet times where he isn't fussing. Not sure if its a dairy/ soy issue or nuts. He is 3 and 1/2 weeks... so we have a ways to go yet before we hit that 6-8 week mark.

[Pandme]

Mine will be 6 weeks on Friday. She had some really good days with lots of quiet alert time last week and over the weekend. I thought we were turning a corner. But nope. This week has been bad and she won't stay asleep for as long anymore.

I've honestly screamed in frustration more than once. My parents watch my DS so you'd think this would be easier but the truth is I hate the newborn stage. I started to love motherhood after the 6 month point last time and when he hit the toddler years it was fantastic. I am just not good at the newborn thing and really dislike it. I also dislike BFing in these early days because I am sick to death of wondering what it is I am eating that is causing this. Because I don't notice any difference. Yet I keep cutting more and more things out.

[Maela]

Originally Posted by Kmama2

I just spoke to my daughters allergist about it... I am doing the same thing. YOu need to eliminate all dairy.. whey, caesin, etc. If you google it you will find a list of things that contain milk or milk protein. 1out of 2 kids that has problem with milk also has issues with soy... so usually you do both and then introduce one at a time and see if it causes a problem. You need to eliminate it for at least 2 full weeks. It can take that long to get out of your milk.

Thanks. I might try that.
If he's only fussy in the afternoon/evening, but not in the night and morning, could it really be a food issue? Can you tell that I'm resisting the elim. diet?

Originally Posted by Pandme

Hey, the exercise ball is my weapon of choice right now. I cannot believe how well it works.

Yes, this works for us about 80% of the time.

Originally Posted by Kmama2

I feel like I need a support group of something. Seriously... this kid is hard to make happy. He is either nursing, sleeping or crying. He crys for everything. he only wants to be in my arms or on my boob... which wouldn't be bad except that sometimes I have to put him down to change my toddlers diaper, get her a snack etc etc. He crys harder lately when I put him in my sling or the baby bjorn..
I know its normal.. He doesn't cry for hours at a time or anything and he sleeps decent.. wakes up every 1-3 hours to eat at night but jeez. I feel like a bad parent because he seems unhappy alot. My dd was just so content and happy 90% of the time.
I think he has a touch of relux and if he over eats he pukes more so I try to prevent him using me as a pacifer but he won't take the binky for me anymore. Just my husband...
Its so hard to get anything done!!! Like pee, make dinner, give some attention to my toddler etc!!

I totally know how you feel! Except my DD was like this too!

Originally Posted by Pandme

I've honestly screamed in frustration more than once. My parents watch my DS so you'd think this would be easier but the truth is I hate the newborn stage. I started to love motherhood after the 6 month point last time and when he hit the toddler years it was fantastic. I am just not good at the newborn thing and really dislike it. I also dislike BFing in these early days because I am sick to death of wondering what it is I am eating that is causing this. Because I don't notice any difference. Yet I keep cutting more and more things out.

I usually cry at some point every day. I also dislike the newborn stage. I can't wait for him to be just a few months older!