Going Insane-- What Is with All of This Whining and Crying?

I know how you feel, I have been home with my now toddler 99% of the time since he was born. It's hard when you never have a break. My son was also a major colicky baby, and he cried a lot with teething pain. I tried a ton of random things, from Tylenol to Colic tabs (but NOT with belladonna in it, that is not a safe herb despite what the so-called experts claim). Everything seemed to work once, then that was it. So I have no real advice, but I can definitely empathize with you.

I'm so sorry and i definitely sympathize with what you're going through! Don't worry so much he's just in a lot of pain from the tooth. Try giving him a frozen washcloth to chew on, it worked best with my baby. Other than that there's really nothing you can do but wait it out. Good luck to you!

Hi C.,

My first reaction when I read your post was relief! I sympathise 100%, and am relieved to know that it isn't just my baby behaving like this! For the past week my 4-month old, Sam, has done NOTHING BUT cry, fuss and scream. Nothing I do seems to help for more than 10-minutes, I've tried everything and I am also feeling at my wit's end.

The only thing that really makes him happy for a while is our 2-year old son, Thomas, but I can't keep asking him to entertain Sam - he has his own 2-year old stuff to do!

One thing that has worked the past couple of days is just putting him in his crib with his music playing and leaving him. He fusses for the first 10-minutes, but then seems to enjoy the 'down time'. It only works for around half an hour, but that is a God-send to me at the moment. I understand that even babies need some 'alone' time now and then.

I also remember when Thomas went through similar periods his doctor told me that sometimes when babies are going through a developmental stage they can get overly fussy and difficult. Apparently this often precedes them developing a new skill - so maybe your little one is about to start sitting, rolling, or manipulating objects, (if he hasn't already, obviously).

Hang in there C.. For what it's worth, you are not alone.

D.

Do you get a chance to go out with him everyday? I work full time but I remember at that age when I was home on the weekend that if we didnt do anything but stay home, he became very fussy. Does he seem better when people come over to visit or you go out? New surroundings would probably take his mind off his teething.

How about trying baby orajel on that tooth? Or how about a cold washcloth for him to chew on? I tried teething rings myself but they were too big for his mouth at that age...
About being home by yourself with him- is there any way a close relative or friend could watch him for even an hour or two so you can go shopping by yourself or go get your nails or hair done? Even that little bit can take the edge off. Good luck with everything.

he's probably colicky.. My now 5 yr old pretty much cried nonstop for 3 whole mnths while she was awake at that age. Have you tried soothing music. If nothing works you may just need to get ear plugs & let him cry i know its hard. i've been there but sometimes nothing works. take care

God can I relate right now. Since the weather is likely to warm up some this week, take the baby outside. My son LOVED it outside and that usually did help (at least it helped me not go crazy). The baby is teething and probably will be this way for sometime on and off. My son, now 16 mths is finally cutting his late 3 teeth and it has been the same with the whining/crying. Motrin/tylenol switch I found works great as well. Wet washcloth helps too if he'll take it. It something you have to work through but I think staying outside will help alot (you at least). Good luck.....this too shall pass:) I'm home with the two kids by myself all day and some nights/business trips.....it's tough but at least their jobs allows us to stay home, right?

Try infant tylenol and motrin because they're not the same base ingredient...you can rotate them while not having to wait the full 4-6 hours between dosing. My kids slept would sleep like a dream after 2 doses and I felt so much better. My guess is that it's teething. He may be getting teeth you can't feel or see yet. If there's no fever I wouldn't worry.

I sympathize with you, because I'm a single mom. I left my sons father when my son was 3 months old. Even before that, I did it all alone, and when he was 4 months, I hurt myself, and was on disability for 15 months. (Alone with my son) When they cry like that, yes, the teething is part of it. When they get a tooth, it hurts! Also, your his mother. He wants your comfort and reassurance when he feels that bad. Have you tried baby anbesol? Rub it on his gums? Or, a cold washcloth? My son loved to chew on a cold wet washcloth.
Look, if it's getting to you, please, ask for help! Take him to the pediatrician and ask them for help. Something. I hate to tell you this, but while the crying and stuff my stop, you will always run into times where you are pulling your hair out. It's called parenthood. My son absolutely drives me CRAZY sometimes, but you have to remember, we were there once too. Try to remember back as a child, and remember when you had a tummy ache, or a bleeding cut on your knee. Didn't you cry for ever, because you wanted your Mommy, and even when she held you, you still cried? You have to remember that your baby is going through the same thing. You're his world. He doesn't know anything, or anyone else. He's a helpless, little person who can't tell you any other way how he feels. Just be patient. It does get better. If you can get through this, you'll get through anything.
Just please, ask someone for help. Find someone to babysit once in a while. I have some recommendations if you need any! My babysitter wants to take an infant during the day. Please email me, she's great, and she's inexpensive. Even if its only a couple hours a week.
I hope to hear from you, please be patient.
--L.

I CAN TOTALLY RELATE! It was as if you read my mind! My son is now right about 6 months. He is not taking naps or anything and I'm also on my own a lot, due to the fact that my husband works very later hours. I also have a 2 year old. I feel your concern. I THINK it's teething. I called the dr today and gave him tylenol .8 I think it worked a bit-but now he's SO tired and cranky again. I sometimes leave him cry b/c I know he's so tired. However, I feel so guilty. It's also hard b/c it's so cold. If we could get out, then he'd sleep better and probably be less cranky. GOOD LUCK and I'm sorry for not having advice, but you're not the only one! Try tylenol? :)

Could be growing pains. Have you given him a pain reliever. His tooth is probably making him very uncomfortable. His ears may even be aching also.

It sounds like teething to me. when my son was like that, I always gave him a little tylenol, even if he had no fever, it definitley helped!! Some kids are just absolutley miserable when they are getting a tooth and can fuss all day. My son was like that, but not my daughter. My husband also works long hours, he's gone from 6am to 9pm, so i know how lonely and frustrating it can be. It gets better, my kids are now 3 and 4 1/2. good luck, try the tylenol!!

It definently sounds like teething..and it's going to last on and off for along time LOL! :) My daughter is still going through these kind of spells every now and then- as for the tooth half way up- it still hurts even though it broke thru. Also just cause you can't see other teeth yet they still are putting pressure on your childs gums and also can put pressure on her ears. Have you tried infant tylenol?? it works wonders just ask your ped for the correct dosage. If you don't want to medicate you can also take a wet wash cloth and freeze it, my daughter loves this! good luck and it will get better.

Hi C.:

He may have colic. My son had it at about 2 or 3 months. You could make sure that he is on his tummy more. My husband and I use to turn the vaccum cleaner on and our son would stop crying right away like turning off the water. Of course listening to the vaccum for long periods of time was hard, but it gave us some calm from the crying. We just had to wait it out. You may also want to talk with his doctor.

Good luck, :-)

OMG C. I know just how you feel.My daughter just turned 7 months old and imgoing through the same thing.The only thing I can say is I sympathize with you,my husband isnt really here either to witness the sentence!!It definatly is the teething.Hang in there when that tooth comes through boom!!! It would be alot eisier.I have two other children and they did the same thing but not as bad.They have an over the counter teething tabs that are all natural they work in combo w/Motrin but ask your ped first.It is horrible i want to jump out a window come back in and do it again lol.Hang in there mamma it will be over soon (I hope).Best of luck try those tabs and see w/the motrin i give her the motrin in the morning and then before bed and its not as bad.Anything cold works water ice pops.Ice cold teething rings.Remember though the is in Alot of pain and cant deal with it like us adults.Apparently it is painfull for them.As far as waking up in the middle of the night.Its probably the pain.Hope I was helpful but i give my lil one motrin before bed so it sooths her sleepyhead and she gets better too.But as i said ask your ped first.R.

Try infant Tylenol. Make sure you have the correct dosing for his age and weight. I usually call the pediatrician to double check when something like that is going on. Both my kids (6 months & 2 years) can be MISERABLE when teeth are rumbling. If he calms down you know you found the key to quiet, if not he may need a trip to the ped. I have been where you are with my son a few months ago and my daughter is a miserable so and so these days all due to teeth. When it's really bad I give them some Tylenol and they calm down and we have a much better day. Good Luck and I hope it's just teething. Cris

ok first off take a moment for you ..you have to TAKE it....
breath..I have 4 children and one grand child im raising now..figured after my 15 yr old i would be done NO WAY!!!! somedays im angry at this but others im so happy about and greatfull.
second his toth is coming in slow and it hurts ambsol helps ( rub it on his gums....(childrens).it will make him cranky and whine..
and he is not crying and whining fo rno reason babies don't do that something is bothering him.... find out what it is..since you say he has a tooth coming in i bet on that..let him chew or suck on frozen chewies....

third he feels your tenseness of his crankiness so you need to calm down in order for him to.

when parents try to get children to calm down and like rock them to sleep or calm down when they are aggitated and the parents are too children can feel that and so they react to the parents feelings and run with it.....

sleeping not threw the night well try putting a bottle together with a little ceral made very fine his belly is not full enough to help him sleep all the way thru so thats why he wakes. you also need to find someone who will come in and watch the baby for a while so you can get a break sounds like you need it..look in your local area for groups mothers groups..sometimes they have co op sitter groups you help watch kids for free in exchange for them watching your s

hope all this helps :)

anymore questions ask away

it sounds like it is just the teeth it will end as soon as the tooth comes in all the way but then it starts all over again so you need to relax and you also need to find a sitter for your son so you can get a break from him once in awhile it will help with your stress plus give him a cold wash cloth to suck on to ease the pain he is feeling in his mouth thats why he whines give him tylenol too hope this helps if you need nything else please let me know my e-mail is ____@____.com

Hello C.,

My son is a little over a year old. He barely slept through the night not even now. So, in that aspect you're pretty lucky. However, the way your son is crying sounds pretty similar to how my son was acting when he was teething. The only thing I might recommend is taking him to the pediatricians just to check his ears. Whenever my son gets new teeth in he gets an ear infection most of the time. Except one time he did have strep throat. Not sure if that happened after one of his vaccinations or not. Just some advice though. They do get extremly cranky when they are teething. Try some tylenol teething rings etc. Baths seem to sooth my son. I hope any of this helps you a little!

Good luck!!!

Hi C.,
I am a mother of two and know how frustrated you must be. First and foremost, try not to let your little one feel your frustration. Put the baby down and go in another room where the baby can't see or hear you or go outside and just scream. It really will help release the tension. Then go back in calming and pick your baby up. This will not help the baby but it will make you feel a lot better. lol
For the baby. . .Your ped will probably tell you that there is no connection, but frequently babies get ear infections coinciding with new teeth coming in. Watch to see if the baby pulls at his ears or not. Lavendar essential oil can be very calming. Put a drop behind the babies ears where a woman would dab perfume or mix with almond oil and massage on the babies feet. If it is a good grade oil a little goes a long way. One drop would be sufficient. Don't over-do-it.
If the change in sleeping habits has you out of sorts, make sure you do not fall victim to your baby retraining you. don't get him up till it is time for him to get up. If he needs to be changed, change him and put him back to bed. You have to be firm. Good luck

Ok, let me start by saying that Im a SAHM of a 5 month old also. And she had the exact same symptoms that your baby had. And (dun, dun, dun) she was teething. They get that way, the same symptoms your describing. I use Orajel (the infant kind) and hylands teething tablets. they work wonders. It takes my teething monster and turns her baby into my sweet baby girl.