screaming 7 month old - Children's Health Message Board

KimberlyV · 03-16-2001, 02:18 PM

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

Honey · 03-16-2001, 08:15 PM

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

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

Honey · 03-16-2001, 08:20 PM

Hey, I just noticed you are a fellow Hoosier! I live in Indianapolis! Talk to you later

Honey

KimberlyV · 03-17-2001, 06:22 AM

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

Honey · 03-18-2001, 12:59 PM

Hey, Kim! I hope your baby girl is better! You mentioned maybe the screaming and crying would stop (or lessen

) 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!

Good luck, chat with you later!
Friend from Indy,
Honey