How did you deal with a fussy newborn?

BB - posted on 03/11/2010

My son was a very fussy newborn and I thought I was going to lose my mind. He would cry and cry. Everything I tried seemed to fail, until I got a vibrating bouncy seat.It was the only thing that would quiet him and get him to sleep or calm down.He was also gassy so I switched his formula to one with little to no iron(I asked his doctor first) and he was more comfortable. If he's hungry let him eat,some babies eat more than others...when it comes to the sleep try to sleep when he sleeps that way you won't be as tired.If you have family or a close friend maybe they could help out with your older child until your new baby finds his routine,that way you can focus on your new baby and your needs right now.

Carolee - posted on 03/11/2010

Feed him if he's hungry, and if he doesn't want it then it's experimentation time. I found that, with my son, it soothed him to run his head (hair) under warm water. I would literally swaddle him up, turn on the faucet, and wet his hair until he calmed down. It's odd, but sometimes the oddest things work. I hope you find what calms your son soon. Good luck.

Faith - posted on 03/11/2010

Kinda sounds like my lil guy, the paci hater and always hungry. I would walk him around and talk to him for his distraction. If it is really bad and he likes baths, give him one w/ bedtime bath. Pretty much anything that is a distraction from what he is currently doing generally works. Its a really hard time, especially with another lil one. Mine two eldest are 19 months apart. Sometimes I would just have to feed, change and then leave him in a swing or in his bed and just let him fuss for about 10-15 mins. He would pick up on my distress (the combination of exhaustion and frustration) and would fuss even more. If I could relax myself enough for a few mins to go back and deal with him, he would calm down a bit. Not very magical in the help sense, sorry. Every baby is different, you will figure out what he works soon. This is the really rough time of getting to know what he likes and figuring him out.
Good luck!

Renee - posted on 03/11/2010

If they were hungry they got fed, if they were not hungry and not dirty then I held and rocked or put them in their carrier and did dishes, played with my older ones whatever needed to be done. My second born was severely colicky~she had an intolerance to milk. Good luck, It is hard to have a fussy newborn scream like that

Keema - posted on 03/11/2010

Swaddle, Shhhing, Swinging, and sucking it's the 4 S's and they work for fussy newborns. My nurse told me about that. Swaddle in a blanket or swaddler, Rock and shush, Pacifier and rocking and swinging works.... It worked for one of my twins... He was really colicy.... Some cases the baby is just a fussy newborn

Dori - posted on 03/11/2010

My son is now 19 months and he was colic and it was due to him having acid reflux, which is more and more common in little boys. I have 2 older daughters and they weren't colic what so ever, but my son gave me a run for my money when it came to sleep. I suggest you ask your doctor about the acid reflux, and his sleep positions are important as well. Hope that is what it is, because after the drops we got for him, he was much better....

Torey - posted on 03/11/2010

Hello Laura,



The first thing I would do with your fussy newborn is go ahead and feed him if his cry is he is hungry. I know it sounds crazy, but when my son was first born we came home to him drinking almost 8 oz of milk at each feeding. Another thing I would do and still do to this day being I babysit in my home is NOT but him on a feeding schedule. I would let him tell me when he was hungry. By doing that I was not always feeding him. I had time to do normal things around the house. I hope this helps you and your little man out. If there any other advise you might need and just want to talk send me a message.



Torey

www.Moms4HealthyFamilys.com

BB - posted on 03/11/2010

My son was a very fussy newborn and I thought I was going to lose my mind. He would cry and cry. Everything I tried seemed to fail, until I got a vibrating bouncy seat.It was the only thing that would quiet him and get him to sleep or calm down.He was also gassy so I switched his formula to one with little to no iron(I asked his doctor first) and he was more comfortable. If he's hungry let him eat,some babies eat more than others...when it comes to the sleep try to sleep when he sleeps that way you won't be as tired.If you have family or a close friend maybe they could help out with your older child until your new baby finds his routine,that way you can focus on your new baby and your needs right now.

Renee - posted on 03/11/2010

If they were hungry they got fed, if they were not hungry and not dirty then I held and rocked or put them in their carrier and did dishes, played with my older ones whatever needed to be done. My second born was severely colicky~she had an intolerance to milk. Good luck, It is hard to have a fussy newborn scream like that

Keema - posted on 03/11/2010

Swaddle, Shhhing, Swinging, and sucking it's the 4 S's and they work for fussy newborns. My nurse told me about that. Swaddle in a blanket or swaddler, Rock and shush, Pacifier and rocking and swinging works.... It worked for one of my twins... He was really colicy.... Some cases the baby is just a fussy newborn

Torey - posted on 03/11/2010

Hello Laura,



The first thing I would do with your fussy newborn is go ahead and feed him if his cry is he is hungry. I know it sounds crazy, but when my son was first born we came home to him drinking almost 8 oz of milk at each feeding. Another thing I would do and still do to this day being I babysit in my home is NOT but him on a feeding schedule. I would let him tell me when he was hungry. By doing that I was not always feeding him. I had time to do normal things around the house. I hope this helps you and your little man out. If there any other advise you might need and just want to talk send me a message.



Torey

www.Moms4HealthyFamilys.com