Every night my little angel turns into the meltdown monster

[FrugalGranolaMom]

DS just turned 4 months old and started teething shortly after turning 3 months and our generally happy baby started having fussy fits but nothing to severe. We gave him Hyland's teething tablets and he comfort nursed a lot and that seemed to be working well. However, going on two weeks now he starts to get really, REALLY fussy at night. During the day he is a very happy baby. It also doesn't help that he often fights taking his afternoon naps. He had his 4 month check up on Monday and I talked to his pediatrician and he thinks it might be gas (DS is a bit of a tooter) and he told me to try gripe water (which we already use for his hiccups), gas drops, a warm blanket on his tummy.

Well now the fussiness has reached a whole new level. When he starts to get fussy I nurse him and then DH gives him a bath, which he loves and he is totally calm during the whole thing, but when DH takes him out he has a complete meltdown and it takes a while for him to settle down sometimes even the "magic boobie" doesn't work. We have been trying the suggestions by his Dr. but sometimes they don't seem to help at all. I just feel so bad for him when he is wailing and there doesn't seem to be anything we can do and poor DH is sometimes alone with him at night when I have to work.

I am just wondering if anyone has any advice to help us through this rough patch. Thanks.

[tracymom1]

Could it be that he is chilly when coming out of the bath? I always crank up the heat for a while before bathtime so that DD is not cold when coming out of the warm water.

[sunnygir1]

If it is digestive pain, that is often worse in the evening (as is teething pain). If you think that's what's going on, you might want to try eliminating some things from your diet for a few weeks. Dairy and Eggs are good ones to start with.

[FrugalGranolaMom]

Thanks ladies. It has been colder here recently so I think I will also try warming up his towel too. And I will cut out eggs and dairy for a while to see if that helps.

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

Originally Posted by sunnygir1

If it is digestive pain, that is often worse in the evening (as is teething pain). If you think that's what's going on, you might want to try eliminating some things from your diet for a few weeks. Dairy and Eggs are good ones to start with.

ITA. Diet changes can make a big difference! My DS has always been fussy in the evening. You can almost set the clock by it. From 5:30 until about 10:30 if he is not nursing or being held constantly, he is screaming. I feel for you.

[melamama]

For us there was something about 4m also. I had to eliminate eggs at that time, and dd's digestion is much happier.

Also, for some babies baths can be stimulating.

I also have gone back to swaddling. Dd really likes being swaddled for sleep and when she is especially overtired this works especially well.

[FrugalGranolaMom]

Thanks for all the advice.

Last night we gave him his bath a little earlier than usual and he did just fine. Today is the first day of my new dairy & egg free diet so we shall see if that helps. I am slightly lactose intolerant myself so it's probably better for both of us.

Unfortunately, DS never liked being swaddled. He would always wiggle until his arms were free and then kick the blanket all the way off and stretch out.

[HoosierDiaperinMama]

I wanted to add, that around 9:30 or so every night we give DS a bath and then his last feeding. It really relaxes him for bedtime which is usually around 10:30. If we don't do this he has a difficult time settling down for the night. He cluster feeds at night also and so the bath gives me a chance to replenish my supply get some water down, a snack, etc...

[HappyMommy2]

Aahh, the witching hour, or "grandma" hour .... how we wished we had a grandma to hold our kids during those hours. My youngest cluster fed for about 4 hours each evening. Makes it tough to make dinner and play with the older one!

I don't have any advice, but it is common, and it will be over someday!

Good luck mama.

[sunnygir1]

Originally Posted by HappyMommy2

Aahh, the witching hour, or "grandma" hour .... how we wished we had a grandma to hold our kids during those hours. My youngest cluster fed for about 4 hours each evening. Makes it tough to make dinner and play with the older one!

I don't have any advice, but it is common, and it will be over someday!

Good luck mama.

Lol! My mama has always called it "arsenic hour"...I have never been sure if the arsenic is for the children or the mama (or maybe the dad).