What could cause a 7MO to cry/scream all day?

[MamieCole]

I'm baffled and feeling desperate here. My normally happy, only cries when he is sleepy baby has been crying pretty much non-stop for two days. And when I say crying, I mean screaming at the top of his lungs as if he is pain. The only time he isn't crying is when he is sleeping.

He slept pretty well last night, woke up this morning happy...for about 30 minutes. Then started screaming. I tried nursing him. Didn't help. He has a clean diaper. I thought that maybe he was already tired??? So I tried bouncing him on the yoga ball to get him to sleep. Still screaming. He did this all day yesterday. Scream for a long time, finally fall asleep, wake up screaming til he falls asleep next time. Taking him outside doesn't help. Wearing him doesn't help. Nothing makes him stop screaming until he finally falls asleep. He'll sleep anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, wakes up, 5 minutes later he is crying again. *sigh* But, he slept for hours at time last night, woke up without crying to nurse, fell back asleep no problem.

He has no teeth yet and no obvious teeth about to erupt. Is this teething? Neither of my other two babies screamed like this when they were teething. Crankiness, yes. But not this full-blown panicked scream. I put his teething necklace on him, doesn't seem to be helping. I've given teething tablets. Doesn't help. I've checked his body from head to toe. No hairs wrapped around toes or anything like that.

I don't think he is nearing a major milestone. He has been crawling for a month and I don't think walking is anytime soon.

His diaper output is normal as well.

I don't know what to do. Should I give him ibuprofen just to see if it helps? Call the doctor? Or is this a common thing that babies do and I just got lucky with the first two? Help!

[tzs]

just me, i'd do ibuprofin, see if it helps, it it does but not totally maybe even tylenol 2 hours later. if not then i'd call. just because i have no other idea what it would be.

maybe somebody else will have a better answer

[LadyCatherine185]

My DS did this when he had an ear infection around that age. Can you take his temperature? It could be teething... does taking him outside help? That always helped put my DS in a good mood. If it lasts much longer I would take him to the doctor.

[akind1]

DS did this the last few days - I was like, who are you and where did my happy baby go? - Hyland's teething tablets helped, and honestly I would try these before ibuprofen. as did wearing him (sometimes) oh, and I held an ice cube for him to suck on. He really enjoyed this. I need to make some "momsicles". also, sometimes the car would put him to sleep. If he wasn't asleep in it, he was screaming. It has been a wearing few days. (Our A/C being busted hasn't much helped either)

Is he pulling on either of his ears?

[neveryoumindthere]

my first thought was ear infection, only because my first dd went from mellow to completely freaking out screaming/writhing overnight.

I'd do pain meds too to rule out pain

s

oh i posted this before refreshing. I forgot about teething tablets! I'd definitely do those first. We used Camilia by boiron and they are AWESOME

[justKate]

Ear infection. Is it worse when you try to lay him down? Pulling on ears/messing with them is a good sign, but my DD never did anything but scream.

Reflux. Again, might be worse if laying down. Is he stretching his neck in an unusual way? Nursing more or refusing to nurse?

Any accidents lately? No sensitive spots when you touch him?

I too would do ibuprofrin (sp?) because I personally find severe ear infections intolerable and can't stand the thought of DD in pain, and would probably take her to the doc.

Of course this would be normal for DD (the screaming all day), but it sounds like it IS NOT normal for your LO, which would bother me.

Good luck. I hope you find an answer soon.

[BunnySlippers]

I'd assume he has an ear infection and get it checked out.

[MamieCole]

Thanks for the replies. I went ahead and gave him some ibuprofen. He nursed and is asleep on my lap.

He hasn't been pulling on his ears, doesn't have fever and lying down doesn't seem to make it worse.

So maybe it is teething. I might see if I can get him into the doc this afternoon to have his ears checked, just to know for sure.

[texaspeach]

another vote for ear infection. ds had one with no fever or other signs just crying a lot. he did start refusing to lay on his side to nurse but he does that from time to time without an earache

[Friendlee]

I think that sometimes the teeth are shifting underneath the gums for a period of time and it hurts. Then they settle for a few days and the shifting may start again. Could be that. I usually gave my dd 3 Hylands tablets and made sure to hold my finger in there and really rub the tab right on her bottom gums. I'd also take the paci out, allow her to chew for just a moment on my finger and then put the paci right back in. For some reason she needed a little chew, but then it felt too intense and the paci was a comforting "chaser".

But I agree, PP's that I'd be sure to check out the possibility of an ear infection since they can be awfully painful. I read about a study that said 100% of babies who did have an ear infection (in the study) did not pull their ears! And it also said that a temp does not always accompany an ear infection and that, in fact, it's not even likely. So even if there is no ear pulling or temp, it still might be worth checking out. I have a very happy baby who has bouts of clinginess and all day whiny crying and during those times I'm always worried about an ear infection...but she's never had one (knock on wood). She HAS popped out two teeth...but I don't know, maybe some babies just have a few irritable days here and there.

[MamieCole]

Took him in to the ped.
No sign of ear infection. She said it is most likely teething.
If any new symptoms develop I will bring him back in. But for now he has responded well to the ibuprofen.
*sigh* poor baby. Guess he has a low pain tolerance like his mama.

[akind1]

I am glad it was not an ear infection! DS had an awful day earlier this week, and thankfully has gone back to his happy self - hope your Grayson does the same!

FWIW, he hasn't popped a second tooth yet, maybe it was just moving around? He popped the first one without a great deal of fuss.

[liberal_chick]

Teething woud've been my guess as well. I take no issue giving tylenol or motrin to keep the pain at by for my kiddos, but I know there are some here who don't give it. I just can't stand for them to be in pain like that.

Hope those teeth quit moving around soon!

[2boyzmama]

Glad it's not his ears! Could it be a pressure change, allergies, the beginning of a cold? He could have a head ache, sinus ache, etc.

Has he had any new food recently? Have you? Could be a belly ache??

Has he had any vaccines recently?

I do give tylenol or motrin if my kids seem to be in pain that I can't control with nursing, teething tabs, chewing, rubbing, snuggling, etc. While I understand the potential risk to their livers from having to filter out meds, I also understand the potential risk to their brains and nervous system from unresolved pain. You have to weigh it for yourself, then don't feel guilty about resorting to meds if you need to.

Try a nice soothing bath, a dark cool room, and make sure that you're taking the breaks YOU need because it's SO hard to deal with a screaming baby!!

[MamieCole]

Originally Posted by 2boyzmama

Glad it's not his ears! Could it be a pressure change, allergies, the beginning of a cold? He could have a head ache, sinus ache, etc.

Has he had any new food recently? Have you? Could be a belly ache??

Has he had any vaccines recently?

I do give tylenol or motrin if my kids seem to be in pain that I can't control with nursing, teething tabs, chewing, rubbing, snuggling, etc. While I understand the potential risk to their livers from having to filter out meds, I also understand the potential risk to their brains and nervous system from unresolved pain. You have to weigh it for yourself, then don't feel guilty about resorting to meds if you need to.

Try a nice soothing bath, a dark cool room, and make sure that you're taking the breaks YOU need because it's SO hard to deal with a screaming baby!!

You know, I am beginning to wonder if he is fighting off the beginning of a cold of some sort, or maybe allergies/sinus issues. (I've had terrible sinus issues my entire life.) Maybe in addition to teething? But he's been nursing more than usual and pooping more than usual yesterday and today. And now today he seems to have some post-nasal stuff going on.

I know I can rule out foods (he is still EBF, I haven't eaten anything new,) and vaccines (we don't vax anymore.)

We are following the "rest, pull the curtains, nurse, cuddle" advice today.

[sunfish21]

The chiropractor has been wonderful for us and whatever ails DD...