if she isnt sleeping or eating she is crying :(

Amanda - posted on 01/13/2009

Sounds like she loves her mama :) everyone gave lots of good advice, so all i have to offer is to try running the vaccum cleaner, i've heard that they are soothing to babies because it sounds a lot like what they hear in the womb, and not to worry about how loud it is because it's almost like white noise. i hope it helps and i also hope that all goes well for you :):):)

Jen - posted on 01/13/2009

When my baby seems inconsoleable, which seems to be more and more recently, if I turn the bathtub on and bounce on the exercise ball, she seems to calm down...for a while.  If she doesn't fall asleep, she amps up again and we go through another cycle.  I have also found that laying her on her tummy across my thighs and vigorousIy rubbing her back helps.  I will also confess that my baby sleeeps on her belly.  She is still in a bassinet in our bedroom.  SInce we have started that, she sleeps soundly and comfortably...I on the otherhand sleep much lighter and check her fairly often through the night.  I am also a fan of Happiest Baby, but also really like the Baby Whisperer series.  Good luck.  They say...this too, shall pass.

Fenella - posted on 01/11/2009

This is going to sound ridiculous, but i found with my boy when he was doing the same thing that a slowly running tap worked. It would lull him off to sleep or quieten him down during the day. Another thing that worked was the coffee grinder or the vaccuum cleaner. I guess its just the sounds they heard in the womb? With Aurelia (my 2 month old) i worked all the way up until 4 days before she was born (she wasnt due until the 30th nov, and was born on the 12th) and I went into work with her just after i had her to sort out some stuff with my boss. As soon as she heard the familiar sounds of people checking in and checking out (i work in hotels) she calmed right down. So if neccessary get a portable dictaphone and go around all the places you were commonly when you were 30 weeks + pregnant and just record the sounds. And then just play them back when shes getting fractious. You never know :) what works, works :)

Kerrie - posted on 01/11/2009

I dont have any advice for how to stop this but my advice is to not be so hard on yourself. If your baby is eating and sleeping well then that's the main thing! I'm sure the crying thing will pass in time - talk to as many mums as possible and get as many ideas off them as possible and use what works for you. You know your baby the best and will know when something isnt quite right. I was told just after my little girl was born on the 3rd of Nov that babies enjoy being patted on the back because it sounds like mums heart beat when they were in the womb. Whether or not there is any truth to that I dont know!! But it certainly works for me. Hang in there - you're doing great!

Jessica - posted on 01/10/2009

My baby was born November 3rd. He too used to be the same way. It seems like every day he gets older he gets better about spending time by himself. Trust me, it will pass in time :]

Beth - posted on 01/09/2009

Emily - First, you aren't doing anything wrong!! I read the other responses, and I highly recommended that DVD/book "The Happiest Baby on the Block" too! I am an occupational therapist...well, presently, I'm not working...but we use that video with a lot of the families and they report such great things. I found that with our little girl, she would cry a lot and the best thing was swaddling and SHOOSHING her. It sounds mean, but repeatedly saying "shooosh" over and over really soothed her. I guess it has to do with the noise that they are familiar with in the womb. I think it's 5 S's: Swaddle, Shoosh, Suck, Sway, Swing.... that the happiest baby stuff talks about. It's really amazing, although, if you watch the DVD you'll porbably laugh a little bit! Hope it helps. And, hang in there...soon Bella will be giving you great little smiles and that will make it all worth it!

Alma - posted on 01/09/2009

try swaddling your baby. sometimes being wrapped up nice and snug helps them feel more comforted, the warmth helps too. you don't want her to be too hot though. but swaddling helps it really does.

Emma - posted on 01/08/2009

Quoting Erin:

Emily, you sound like a super mom, you are doing nothing wrong at all. If you talked to your pediatrician they would tell you the same thing. But, I will tell you something that I got at a shower that really helped me with my first child and now my second. I read the book and watched the DVD called "The Happiest Baby on the BLock," by Dr. Harvey Karp. I know, I know, the whole reading books thing now is a bust, but maybe the DVD....anyway, everybody has suggestions for things you can do individually to calm babies down, but this book and DVD put them all together--seriously, they take each thing, like wrapping up a baby, putting them in a swing, giving them a pacifier, and it is combined to help the baby calm down and get to sleep better and faster. Again, you are doing nothing wrong, and if you don't check the book out from the library, still you are a great mom, but this really helped me. Hope Bella calms down a bit for you. Good luck, sweetie!

I am going to second this.. Charlotte was exactly the same through the night, and I bought this book to perhaps try some of these techniques.. Turns out it works wonders! I wish I had had it before little one was born. It would have saved us a lot of angst filled nights!

The books name has been changed in some countries, and is now called 'Baby Bliss' by Harvey Karp. Amazon sell it. Give it a go.

Jen - posted on 01/02/2009

My son is like that too.... He is pretty grumpy in the evenings when not eating or sleeping...(my husband usually refers to him as "Screamy") during the day i've been getting him used to sitting in a vibrating chair with dangling toys for longer and longer periods.. our nights are pretty rough too...his best sleep is usually 10 pm-3 am (usually about 3 hrs depending on when he falls asleep)..then he wants to nurse constantly, not sleeping more than 15 mins to 1/2 hr at a time...

Kim - posted on 01/02/2009

Same thing with my daughter Stella Josephine born 11/24. She is pretty good during the day, although needy and wanting to be held all the time, but at night between 7 and midnight she is terrible! She gets really sensitive, wants to nurse constantly and just screams for no apparent reason. She does calm down for periods of time and even falls asleep, but not for long. I finally get her to fall into a deep sleep around midnight every night and she sleeps til 4am when I nurse her again and she sleeps again til around 7 or 8. It's just really stressful at night and since that is when my husband is home to see her, he thinks she is always miserable and really it's just at night. Poor Stella - I always feel so bad for her. My son was not like this at all. Today I'm going to put her in her carrier and see if that works. She is a big girl so hopefully my back will cooperate :)

Colleen - posted on 01/01/2009

Hi Emily, my daughter(born 11/23) is the same way! I am currently typing with one hand because she is in the other. Although she dosnt really sleep as much as Bella does(enjoy that!!). She does cry almost all the time shes awake, with some periods of calm as well. The doctor said Delaney had Colic and reflux because of the colic. A few things she suggested were also the happiest baby on the block book, to continue breast feeding(if you are!) or a special formula by Enfamil "Nutramigen", its expensive, but supposed to help! I also carry her around in a sling ALOT. We also just ordered a cocoon swing that is supposed to work miracles!! I know its heartbreaking to hear them cry, but as everyone will tell you, it wont last long( at least thats what im hopeing for!). Best of Luck

Erin - posted on 12/31/2008

Emily, you sound like a super mom, you are doing nothing wrong at all. If you talked to your pediatrician they would tell you the same thing. But, I will tell you something that I got at a shower that really helped me with my first child and now my second. I read the book and watched the DVD called "The Happiest Baby on the BLock," by Dr. Harvey Karp. I know, I know, the whole reading books thing now is a bust, but maybe the DVD....anyway, everybody has suggestions for things you can do individually to calm babies down, but this book and DVD put them all together--seriously, they take each thing, like wrapping up a baby, putting them in a swing, giving them a pacifier, and it is combined to help the baby calm down and get to sleep better and faster. Again, you are doing nothing wrong, and if you don't check the book out from the library, still you are a great mom, but this really helped me. Hope Bella calms down a bit for you. Good luck, sweetie!

Emily - posted on 12/30/2008

"This too shall pass" is what I keep telling myself. I am in the same situation. My first was the same way too. Around 3 months, things start to settle down. Until then, I use my baby bjorn and do a lot of squats.

Sharon - posted on 12/30/2008

Not sure if there is anything you are doing wrong. My son was born 11/24 and he's pretty much an arm baby too. He loves to be held and when he's not, he cries. Sometimes if I know he's just fed and not hungry, I let him cry for a few minutes before I pick him up. I've also found out that he likes to be on his belly so often times I'll put him on there when I have some time to sit and do nothing but watch and play with him as I don't like to leave my baby on tummy and walk away. My son is not sleeping that great. He is sleeping good during the day and not so good at night. Good luck to you!