I am in need of some advice. My 7 1/2 month old daughter has been the best little baby until just recently. For the last 5 - 6 weeks, she has been battling colds, vomiting and diarrhea. I think most of it has cleared up now, but since all this started, she has begun screaming everytime I leave her sight. She even does this if I sit her down on the floor and I stand up. The only way she doesn't do this is if I am holding her. Even sometimes when I pick her up, she still screams. I don't think it comes from me holding her too much since she was born, because we have tried not to do that. She is my second child so she always has her big sister around but that doesn't even help. I don't know why she has started this or if it is a normal stage. Also, what should I do, just let her keep screaming? She can be screaming and I will walk in and sit beside her without picking her up, but that doesn't do the job. She still keeps screaming and crying. Someone, please shed some light on this and help me handle the situation. I appreciate any help I can get! Kim

Hi Kim, I am not sure if I will be of any help, but I thought I would try!
When my son was around your daughters age, he also went through a unhealthy time and also a major crying phase (and I stress, phase!). He was about 8 months and contracted a terrible stomach flu, which lasted 5 days, then it went straight into a cold, and then ended up in the hospital about 5 or 6 weeks later with the croup!!! Needless to say, I was a nervous wreck! When I look back on it, I think the crying thing was partially because of me being so paranoid of every little squeak he made while he was sick and rushing to comfort him, or pick him up. Also, he was teething really bad at that point so I am sure that didnt help the situation! The good news is, after that winter from hell, he returned to the sweet, non-screaming baby that he was before http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif I really think their teeth have alot to do with it. They just dont know what else to do when they are in pain. Good Luck, sorry I babbled on forever, but I love talking about babies!!!

Smiles,
Honey

Hey, I just noticed you are a fellow Hoosier! I live in Indianapolis! Talk to you later http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Honey

Honey, thanks so much for your response. Our situations sound so much alike. The only difference is that she hasn't been in the hospital yet, thank goodness. I am just about to go nuts. I keep thinking that once she starts crawling and eventually walking things could get better. I am hopeful. Do you think I should just let her cry it out so that she will learn that she can't be held all day? I am so stressed, I don't know what to do with her. She is screaming as we speak, but I am letting her go to see if she eventually stops. Anyway, thanks again and it is good so see a fellow Hoosier on the boards. Kim

Hey, Kim! I hope your baby girl is better! You mentioned maybe the screaming and crying would stop (or lessen http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif) when she starts crawling and walking around, that could definitely be true! I looked back in my son's babybook and he didn't start crawling until he was about 9 months old! He was pretty chunky, so that probably didn't help much, but I do remember thinking that maybe he was bored, or agitated because he could'nt get to something he wanted. There are so many things that you can think of, but I would guess that it is a mixture of wanting to be held all the time, especially if she is under the weather, and just the age! I used to lay him in his crib for a nap and he would scream at the top of his lungs! I felt terrible but I would go in my room and watch the news, or something and TRY to tune him out! I know that probably sounds terrible, but it paid off! I would let him cry for awhile and then I would peek in his room just to make sure he was okay, but I would not get him out of the crib, no matter what. It took a couple weeks of pure hell, I let him cry up to 30 to 40 minutes (still checking on him) He could fight sleep with the best of them! But eventually he stopped, and he sometimes would start to fuss when we left the room, but he would stop after a couple seconds because he knew it was time to go to sleep. It really sucks, I know, but believe me it will get easier! Does she have any teeth yet? If not, check for red or swollen gums, she might need some ambesol! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Good luck, chat with you later!
Friend from Indy,
Honey

Honey, good to hear from you again. I did a test run on Courtney yesterday. I put her on the floor of the living room with a ton of toys and went about my business of cleaning and doing bills. She did scream alot so I just got out of her sight all together. She kept screaming but I think that she finally she got tired of it and slowed down on it quite a bit. Then today, she would start to do the same thing but if I would let her see me and she would know that I was still around, she quieted down some. I have not picked her up any of these times until I knew she was very sleepy and hungry. Also, I tried putting her in her bouncy chair and let her feed herself. That helped a tone. She is really good about going to sleep on her own in her crib. She was always good about it before she got sick, then she fought sleep alot, but now she seems to be going back to putting herself to sleep. I am lucky in that respect. She does have two teeth on the bottom, but I know she is trying to get more just by the way she is gnawing the heck out of everything. She slobbers like crazy (She has done that since she was born though) Anyway, I am going to try to just let her cry things out and break herself of this. Hopefully it will all work out for the better. I'll keep ya posted! Thanks again for all your advice! Kim

Teething could be the problem. My little one busted all 4 molers at 13 mo and for a week needed extra attention. Also my youngest, same one had Gerd and was never consolable and since Nov. 16mo we started just to let her cry and now at 21 mo she is so less dependant on us. It was hard. I felt as though my child only cryed and I was a bad mom. I am so glad she has come around. The test is how does she do with others when your not there? I wish you the best!

I too have an 8 month old who just recently was running a fever of 102+. He was very irritable and unconsolable. If I even left his sight for a second he would whale!! It took him several days to get over this too. I think that they feel vulnerable when they are sick and are afraid that mommy/daddy if out of sight won't be there to comfort them. So not to worry it will get better with health I think. I have a 6 year old who brings everything under the sun home. It has been a very rough winter!! Good luck to you and your family.