please help - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

sweetpea333 · 03-14-2005, 05:32 PM

this may sound awful but, my 7 month old is fussy all the time and sometimes i feel frustrated with her, almost angry, she wont let me put her down even to go to the washroom without screaming (in her excersaucer or sitter)she likes to go on the floor but i cant leave to go to the bathroom, what can i do, are my feelings normal? does everybody get a bit frustrated?

sam0831 · 03-14-2005, 06:06 PM

You do not sound awful - it is frustrating. They are so small and when you do not know what is wrong it can drive you crazy - i asure you of one thing you are not alone - a couple of questions - First has the baby any problems with colic or acid reflux? second does she stop crying when you hold her or distract her?

My baby was very fussy every minute of the day for the first four months - then my doctor diag her with acid reflux - put her on zantac and she was a new baby.
she eventually outgrew the reflux and went through another fussy period and against my first insticts my best girlfriend convinced me that if she wasn't hungry, wet or poopy sometimes you have to let them cry. this happened just a couple of times and she eventually started soothing herself with her toys and animals. and now plays great by herself ( I would only let her cry for 3-4 minutes each time - not hours) Good luck - i know what you are going thru

rouge · 03-15-2005, 08:52 PM

Seperation anxiety starts around that age. It helps to get a sling or carrier and wear your baby with you as much as possible. It helps with the separation anxiety and helps keep you bonded with your baby. They grow up so fast. Good luck. We went through the same things. If I got up to walk across the room my DS would scream. He was like this until he was about 13 months old.

worried_mommy · 03-16-2005, 06:18 AM

Oh Sweetpea, I feel for ya! My DD was/is the same way. If you are giving her all the attention you can and you know there is nothing wrong with her, then I say put her in her crib/playpen and go to the washroom! I used to play peek-a-boo for 5 minutes out of her bedroom door while she was in her crib, then I would run to the washroom or whatever else it was that I had to do. Sometimes sure she would scream, but for all of 3 minutes while I was gone. I'm not a fan of crying it out, but you do need to keep your sanity! As long as your not leaving her for long periods of time crying by herself, then she will eventually learn that your only gone for a few minutes and you WILL be back. Try talking to her when your not in the same room so she can learn the even though she doesn't see you that you are still there. This worked great for my DD and I, but now she seems to have started this all over again at almost 14 months

worried_mommy · 03-16-2005, 06:35 AM

Also I just wanted to mention that if you do try this, when you come back into the room, keep your voice and expression cheery. Don't rush in to comfort her, hence reenforcing her her feeling of insecurty (if Mommy is running in to make me feel better I must have a reason to be upset). Even if she is throwing a fit, keep a smile on your face and ask "Did you miss me?" "I wasn't gone long, see I'm back now, lets go play." or someone like that, and try to distract her. (easier said then done I know)