why is my baby crying?

[Rachelmac]

Hi,

not sure if this is the right part of the forum but I need some advice on a crying baby.

Last few days my baby of 12 weeks has been very upset from late afternoon into the evening. I am completely confused as to why.
I know his overtired cry and I always try to make sure we don't have a melt down. The last few days he has slept well so I am pretty sure his cries are not because of this.

I suspect he could be going through a growth spurt but I know his cries are not for food because I know his hungry cries too. All the other things, like too hot, too cold, dirty nappy are all OK too. I even thought of colic but it seems odd to just start now at 12 weeks. Today he woke early from his nap at 5pm and got really upset and I was unable to calm him. Even when I pick him up he still cries. I thought it was perhaps a pain?? However the strange thing is that, after a long while of crying I put him down to take a break, and left the room for 10 mins during which time his crying eased and stopped. Once I walked back into the room he starts wailing again as soon as he sees me. He cried till it was time for his feed. I have just put him to bed and after a lot of angry cries he has settled. (normally he goes to bed no problem at night).

I have always blamed overtiredness for his manic depressive nature but I'm trying really hard to make sure he has 2hours sleep between each feed (he is on a 3 hour EASY, which i'm still trying to perfect but night sleep/wakings can shift the times from day to day). Sometimes just losing an hours sleep out of the day can really upset him later on in the evening. - is this normal? Or is it something else which is making him so upset.
I have read that during a growth spurt they can get fussy. Is this what fussy is?

[MDHmommy]

Have you tried to feed him even though the cry doesn't sound like his typical hungry cry?
The reason that I ask is because he stopped when you left and started when you came back again - as if to say, "ah, there she is, maybe she'll get it now!"
I noticed that my DS's hungry cry started to change as he got older - less cough-like and more of an all out wail.
Might be a growth spurt and he's hungry in the eve?

[Rachelmac]

Thankyou for your advice. I had fed him at about 5:15 i think and he started his cries at about 6:30. I figured this would be too early to feed him again (he was sick quite a bit after his 5:15 feed because he has reflux- i don't like to give him too much as he usually sicks it all back up). If he cries tommorrow i'll feed him like you suggest and hopefully it will work.

Thinking about it now, sometimes he still roots even after he has finished- I think he has emptied my breasts though and bobs on and off for a while then gives up but seems OK. - perhaps I don't have enough to meet his demands at the moment, hopefully my supply will adjust soon. 

Thanks again

[Sarahlolly]

My HV told me that your supply diminshes by late afternoon, early evening.  Maybe it's that?  I know with my DD I started giving her a bottle before bed and the problem went away.  Not that I'm saying thats what it is just letting you know what worked for us.

Sarah xx

[MDHmommy]

I remember when I was BF the lactation consultant told me that your supply will increase during a growth spurt faster if you feed on demand rather than on a schedule, you can then go back to your schedule/routine after the spurt is up. Make sure you're drinking TONS of water. Let us know how you do, I'll be eager to hear! Good luck!

[hatshetsut]

I agree w/ the prior posters.

1. Babies generally have a fussy time in the early afternoon and evening, this is very normal
2. Your supply decreases in the afternoon. If you cluster feed, and feed him every 1.5 - 2 hours in the evening this will do two things. it will give him more food and send a signal to your body to produce more.
3. Drink tons of water and eat. Your body needs 500 more calories a day to BF, and at least 1/3 more water than usual.
4. Sometimes kangarooing babies helps them to calm. letting them lay on your chest, skin to skin is warm and calming.

Hope that helps!!

[Sarahlolly]

Holly - just wanted to say what a beautiful avitar!!

[Rachelmac]

Last night was not as bad, although not perfect. I fed him on demand and it did help although by 6pm my breasts were pretty empty and he still got a upset and cried for some time. Nowhere near as bad as night before though.
Still wating for my supply to alter.

Thanks for all your help ladies

[MDHmommy]

Good! I'm glad to hear that. Give it another day or two and if it's still not helping, call your Lactation consultant and talk to her about some herbs like Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle that you might be able to try to give your body a boost. Drink more water too. Even more than you already are