14 weeker starting to freak out at random

[Lintu]

Is this a normal phenomenon? My baby is just over 3 months old and all of a sudden will work herself into a huge tizzy in almost no time. If I dare set her down in her swing (which she used to love), she screams bloody murder. As long as I hold her (and ideally walk around with her), she calms down. But set her down even for a moment and she flips. Is this something developmental or what? I feel like I'm going to lose it sometimes with the crying, especially when I've fed her, changed her, *tried* to get her down for a nap (keyword tried), burped her, tried gripe water, etc.

For what it's worth, it almost always happens in the late afternoon/early evening.

[LadyCatherine185]

I couldn't put my DS down without him crying until he was around 5-6 months and could sit up and play with toys by himself. Even then it would only last maybe 5-10 minutes.

At 14 weeks, they are starting to really wake up to the world and becoming more aware of their surroundings. A lot of babies want to be held most of the time. I suggest trying to do some babywearing (I love my Ergo) so that you can still have your hands free and your LO is still being held.

[Lintu]

My house is over 80 degrees --- wearing her is unbearable

[Knitting Mama]

I have noticed a little bit of this with Cecilia, also 14 weeks, and the only thing I can chalk it up to is her developing awareness. While she's always been an extremely alert baby, she's very obviously more aware of the environment around her these days, and I think that awareness means that some things she used to be ok with are now kind of foreign to her. Around 12 weeks is one of the major mental growth times according to The Wonder Weeks.

Another thought-- is she getting enough nap time in the afternoon?

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

I have noticed a little bit of this with Cecilia, also 14 weeks, and the only thing I can chalk it up to is her developing awareness. While she's always been an extremely alert baby, she's very obviously more aware of the environment around her these days, and I think that awareness means that some things she used to be ok with are now kind of foreign to her. Around 12 weeks is one of the major mental growth times according to The Wonder Weeks.

Another thought-- is she getting enough nap time in the afternoon?

Our babies were born the same day

I suspect she is NOT getting enough nap time in the afternoon, but she just won't nap! I try nursing her down or using the swing, and she just doesn't want to sleep even while she's rubbing her eyes and yawning.

[h@ppy mama]

My 10 week old boy is doing this too. He was sleeping well in the swing or hanging out in the bouncy seat for stretches of time but this whole week he's been FREAKING out when I put him down. I can't wear him all the time, plus it's hot. I'm wondering when this is going to let up...

[Knitting Mama]

I have to either wear Cecilia on the Boppy or in my gauze wrap for most of her naps, the exception being the first one of the day. I am in the desert, so I can commiserate with you on the heat, but I've sort of gotten used to it.

Some thoughts: Cecilia sleeps way better swaddled. Can you use something light, like a muslin square and swaddle her just in her diaper? Also, maybe a gauze wrap would work since it's really lightweight? I love my Wombfruit for its breathability.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

I have to either wear Cecilia on the Boppy or in my gauze wrap for most of her naps, the exception being the first one of the day. I am in the desert, so I can commiserate with you on the heat, but I've sort of gotten used to it.

Some thoughts: Cecilia sleeps way better swaddled. Can you use something light, like a muslin square and swaddle her just in her diaper? Also, maybe a gauze wrap would work since it's really lightweight? I love my Wombfruit for its breathability.

We do swaddle her at night. When I try the same routine during the day (diaper, swaddle, nurse, rock), she just looks at me with wide eyes like "are you crazy? I'm not going to sleep."

That Wombfruit looks nice---much lighter than the Moby, I suspect.

[Knitting Mama]

Yeah, it's SUPER light. There's a learning curve if you're used to a stretchy wrap, but she has videos on her site.

Hmmm, I would really try to push the swaddle. Maybe wait until she's definitely rubbing-her-eyes tired? I honestly don't know what I'd do if Cecilia didn't use hers; the only time she'd ever sleep then would be in 5 minutes stints while nursing.

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

Yeah, it's SUPER light. There's a learning curve if you're used to a stretchy wrap, but she has videos on her site.

Hmmm, I would really try to push the swaddle. Maybe wait until she's definitely rubbing-her-eyes tired? I honestly don't know what I'd do if Cecilia didn't use hers; the only time she'd ever sleep then would be in 5 minutes stints while nursing.

That's exactly what we're going through --- very short stints of sleep in the afternoon just like that. She'll usually do her morning nap lying/nursing with me, then MAYBE a nap in the swing around noontime/early PM, but then in the late afternoon she just gets tired tired tired and won't sleep.

The other odd thing---she was never a big pacifier user, but now if I offer it to her, she looks at me as though I just gave her a ball of nails and spits it right out. In the past, she would typically at least accept it and then spit it out, but now it is an automatic block. It would sometimes help calm her down enough to get relaxed for a nap.

[LadyCatherine185]

With the napping issue-- once my DS became more aware of his surroundings we had to put him to bed in a pitch black dark room, with a fan going for white noise. Anything else was too distracting.

I feel for you on the heat thing.. It was really hard the first couple months with DS having to hold him all of the time when it was hot (he was an August baby). Can you try getting out of the house more? How does she do in the car? Can you go to the mall/store/someplace air conditioned and walk around wearing her or pushing her in a stroller for a little while? Also, I had to lay DS on his belly for naps once he was asleep for him to sleep longer than 5 minutes.. he still only took 15-20 minute cat naps, but that was better than 5!

[npl]

DD is generally happy with other people, but has started crying for me if she sees me in the room, even if it's her father holding her (and she loves her father, who spends a lot of time with her during the day). It's an attachment thing, if I remember correctly from the other kids. That explains not wanting to be put down, and yes it's hard, and hot, and tiring. Wish I had a solution!
Also, being interested in everything around and trying out new skills keeps dd from falling asleep as easily during the day. The days I do carpool to camp seem to help with getting a longer nap, but she's pretty unpredictable with daytime sleep, anyway.

[Ldogg]

Yep, we're going through the same thing here. DD is almost 4 months old, and has been MUCH more alert -- and cranky -- in the past few weeks. She freaks out in the car now, and at other random times, and fights sleep like crazy. I think it's definitely due to being so much more aware of her surroundings.

I second the swaddling... it's the only way she'll sleep. And in the heat, we just use a light swaddler with diaper underneath. And lots of fans and noise machines and darkness.

We just got a solarweave connecta carrier, and love it! Though they are hard to find. I got mine used from www.thebabywearer.com

[Lintu]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185

With the napping issue-- once my DS became more aware of his surroundings we had to put him to bed in a pitch black dark room, with a fan going for white noise. Anything else was too distracting.

I feel for you on the heat thing.. It was really hard the first couple months with DS having to hold him all of the time when it was hot (he was an August baby). Can you try getting out of the house more? How does she do in the car? Can you go to the mall/store/someplace air conditioned and walk around wearing her or pushing her in a stroller for a little while? Also, I had to lay DS on his belly for naps once he was asleep for him to sleep longer than 5 minutes.. he still only took 15-20 minute cat naps, but that was better than 5!

Thanks! I'll try a different napping environment.

Today I couldn't get out of the house because I had one of those annoying appointments where you have a window for the person to come . But usually yeah...I would try a walk.

I think she might sleep better on her belly, but I'm so scared of SIDS

[LadyCatherine185]

When I started laying him down on his belly, it was only for naps, and I was always right there. I never left the room, but for me to get 15-20 NON-holding minutes made a huge difference. Obviously you have to do what is comfortable for you. Soon it will be Fall and not so hot anymore!