Difficult 7 month old -When will this get easier?

[sahm]

I'm hoping someone out there has had a similar situation and can give me some hope.

I have a two year old boy who is an absolute angel. Honestly, it's not fair to compare other kids to this child, he is so placid and compliant.

DS2 is 7 months old and has cried (screamed, tears and all) since he was 3 weeks old. At home we have a grudging truce and he will allow me to put him down for a bit of time here and there but whenever we go out, if he's not being held, he'll scream. It doesn't necessarily have to be me holding him but it's incredibly stressful.

I am quite confident, given his behaviour at home, that there is nothing medically wrong with him, but rather, he is just demanding. Some sleep times he'll settle perfectly, others he screams for an hour. Me standing with him just makes him angrier and more agitated.

Everyone keeps telling me it will get better, but it isn't and I although I love him, being his mother is so hard sometimes I wish I didn't have to do it anymore.

He has never once slept through the night and I doubt he will any time soon. I'm exhausted and looking for some hope.

Anyone?

[UmmInayah]

i have a 12 month old who is much the same at the moment, although she hasn't been like that all her life.

:hugs: it must be so tiring for you.

have you tried a carrier of some sort? it helps you get things done around the house and he will probably be a little bit more satisfied in one.

is bub crawling yet? maybe once he starts crawling he will be happy to go about exploring on his own a little

with regard to sleeping through, my almost 12 month old has never slept more than 3 hours at a time, and lately has been waking every hour on the hour. my 2.5 year old only started sleeping though a week or so ago..

have you tried co-sleeping?

i hope things settle for you soon. must be especially hard having to do things with a toddler too.

[MumNeedsCoffee]

DD got easier when she became mobile at 9 months.

DD has medical issues and luckily she's a pretty cruisy happy baby but from 4 months to 8 months when her problems first started and her condition was undiagnosed and we were trying to get her on the right treatment she just cried all the time and needed to be held all the time
I know it's hard to keep your sanity

Hoping it becomes easier for you very soon

[bookwormmum]

My DD is much the same as your son. She didn't start crawling til 9 months so I held her a lot til then. Even now that she can play on her own, she'll be alright for a bit before she's crawling up to me asking to be picked up, and she bawls her eyes out if I don't or if I get up to go do something. I'm basically stuck next to her all the time unless there's someone else around to occupy her.
She's 11 months now and although it's eased considerably since she was your sons age, she's still quite similar. So I don't really have any advice, just wanted you to know you're not alone. :hugs:

[becca022]

My 15 month old dd was similar until she crawled at 12 months. She still becomes really clingy again when teething or sick.

[Cordelia]

DD was the same and something clicked when she was 10 months and she's been reasonably ok since!!!! It won't be forever :hugs:

[TripleTime]

Sounds like DD1, her development is behind her sister which frustrates us all. Untill she could move, she was demanding & wanted you every second she was awake.
Now she can move, everyone is happier.

[sahm]

Thank you all for your replies, it's confirmed what I've believed to begin with ie. once he can move on his own he will be more inclined to be independent.

In the meantime I guess we keep muddling through.

It's hard at the moment, because I think he's teething. He screams so loud for every little thing, it's become impossible to tell when something is genuinely wrong.

I don't want to deprive him of attention or affection, but I also don't want my toddler to be "neglected" (for want of a better term) just because he is well behaved!

[MumNeedsCoffee]

My older sis had the angel first son and difficult second son.

Her advice to others experiencing the same is to get your older child involved with care of your baby. Ask him to help get nappies and wipes. Ask him to be involved in play with your baby. Just involve him as much as you can until things get easier.

[tootiredtosleep]

DD2 was like that until 14 months. She is a great little sleeper now, but still has her moments.

My DD1 was an angel too, and it was a shock for us when DD2 arrived.

I found walking every day was great. We have a limo style pram (toddler front/baby back) and it kept me sane, just been able to leave the house.