Why does my DD scream for hours each night?

**Jenga** · 23-08-2012 07:55

You should see a dr or paediatrician ASAP to rule out any cause for her crying. If she's screaming all the time there must be a reason. I know youre stressed and definately need support but leaving a 6 week old to cry for 20 mins will only distress her more. Is your partner supportive? Can they help? Do you have a family member that can help during that time? Hugs!

**~Bec~** · 23-08-2012 08:04

Babies can be such difficult things to work out!
I know this sounds really obvious so please forgive me but have you tried popping her back on the boob? Both my babies loved to comfort suck and it would help with tummy problems or just sooth them. It doesn't matter if I had just fed them, they still wanted b00b for comfort. Another idea to sooth is a warm bath.

**AllYouNeedIsLove** · 23-08-2012 10:06

I suggest talking to your doc or mchn about the feelings youre having as you may have PND, I waited until DS was 4 months and regret waiting so long, things were SO much easier to handle on meds

**jennibear** · 23-08-2012 10:35

Yeah id say get yourself to the heath nurse and have a chat with them.
Id be putting her on the boob as much as possible, she could be having a growth spurt. My DD was a comfort feeding and that would usually get her to go to sleep. I know its not ideal to feed them to sleep but YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT GETS THEM TO SLEEP!!!!!!Also, try a baby carrier...put her in the carrier at nighttime and go about your routine. Like PP have said, get a nightim routine started ASAP...it will really help in the long run.
It also could be just that she OVER tired. If they are awake for more than 2 hours they can get really overtired and not be able to settle. When she wakes, change her nappy, feed her, have a little play (a chat or a rock) then after about 1.5 hours (including nappy change and feed) give her another feed. If she falls alseep put her over your shoulder for about 10 mins then put her down in her cot/bassinette and hopefully shell have a nap. If she doesn fall asleep, put her in the baby carrier and go for a walk until she does!
Lastly, have you tried a dummy?
Good luck, its so hard!

**lovesushi** · 23-08-2012 10:46

Please see a doctor to make sure it's just not the witching hour. It can be silent reflux, wind, mom's diet ... which are very uncomfortable for bub. Another possibility is overtired, have you tried to put her to bed earlier, does she have wind down time befor sleep? Is she swaddled? Good luck, i hope you have some rest soon!

**lovelymum** · 23-08-2012 22:02

Totally agree, sometimes its better to just accept this is the way things are than to search for answers you may never find. Babies cry and have unsettled periods for no obvious reason. As hard as it sounds try to just go with the flow, extra cuddles, extra feeds whatever is needed to get you through. I used to rotate DD between boobs for hours on end just to get a little peace during her unsettled time, she outgrew it, I survived it I chose not to fight it.

Originally Posted by cakeish

Google 'arsenic hour' or 'witching hour'. It is a natural thing for bubby to want more cuddles and cluster feeding during this time.

All I can suggest is:

A) have your dinner pre-prepared or have someone like your DP agree to be in charge of preparing it.

B) find the position your baby wants to be held in...mine only likes being hoiked way over my shoulder with a tap-tap-tap on her bum. Accept that you will need to keep her in this position...watch Telly, read a book or slow dance to some music...something that makes the time relaxing for you.

C) plan a walk in the stroller...exercise for you and hopefully temporary relief from crying

D) establish a bath and bed routine...I find baths relaxes them even if they tend to still cry throughout. After a bath I either cuddle bub if she's still inconsolable or pop her in the rocker and rock until Shes asleep.

Ultimately you need to accept that you LO is going to be unsettled during this time, plan around it and develop coping strategies..and repeat always 'this too shall pass'.

**Cat13** · 23-08-2012 23:40

In the case of my now 8week old breastfed DD the cause of the crying has turned out to be caffeine. She was miserable from about 7pm-1am until I figured this out. I would have put it down to normal unsettled newborn crying except that the crying was different to what I experienced with my previous two children. Not in terms of duration but in terms of intensity and seeming to be in pain rather than just upset. We suspected silent reflux as the episodes were characterised by an odd swallowing action followed by hysterical and inconsolable crying. A feed would calm her temporarily but prolong the episode and her discomfort. She'd only fall asleep in an upright position. Improved a little after we started holding her upright for 30mins after feeds and feeding her from one breast only at each feed. Then I decided to eliminate some of the usual suspects from my diet just in case and overnight she was a different baby to the point we thought we must have imagined/exaggerated what we thought were reflux episodes. Decided to have a coffee after a week of 'being good' and all symptoms and screaming came back. Have tested it a couple of times now with the same result.

The point of my rambling is not to tell you to do what I did or suggest that your bub has the same problem. Just to trust your instincts if you think there might be an underlying problem and get some professional advice before deciding it's just something you have to accept and deal with. But be very clear about the duration and intensity of crying and any other symptoms (including its effect on you) to make sure they don't brush off your concerns.