Is There A Mute Button On This Baby?
Published on June 23, 2004 By simplethings In Blogging
Alysia has been crying for the past 3 hours. Nothing is working! I'm frustrated! I tried everything I could think of before I handed her over to Shawn about 10 minutes ago. Shawn keeps looking to me for advice, and I keep telling him "Honey, if I knew how to make her happy, don't you think I would have done it already?" and he just looks at me with a blank stare. . . and thats where I reply "I didn't think so. Just hold on! I'll take her in a minute!" Is parenthood like this from here on out? Oh dear. . . I want to sleep tonight, at least for 10 minutes. I well tell you all what I've tried already, and if you can think of something else, please let me know. . .

1. She didn't need changed.
2. She wouldn't eat.
3. I paced around with her.
4. I tried swaying her.
5. I rocked her.
6. I sang to her. (probably just upset her even more. . . heheh)
7. I've also given her to her dad.

NOTHING HAS WORKED!!
HELP! Please!
Emma

Comments
on Jun 23, 2004
First, try burping her--do it for a while, sometimes it takes ages, but if she's gasy she'll be upset.

If that doesn't work, hold her really close to you, sway back and forth, and use one finger to stroke her from the top of her nose to the tip of her nose. Every once in a while, rub across her eyebrows. She'll find it impossible to keep her eyes open if you do that and should fall asleep. (That trick worked wonders for me when I worked at a daycare as a teacher for 3 month olds--yup, I said teacher--glorified babysitter was more like it!)

Good luck.
on Jun 23, 2004
thank you! I will try it right now!
on Jun 23, 2004
I know this is an obscene word to some people, but have you tried a pacifier? My youngest AJ just wanted to suck. Not hungry, just wanted the sucking sensation.

Burping also worked for us. Over my right shoulder.

Praying for quiet.

IG
on Jun 23, 2004
For some obsurd reason for the first few weeks we were against dummys (pacifier) and so Elana sucked on our finger when she wasn't hungry - that got old fast and we bought 2 dummies exactly the same incase she dropped one aand it needed sterilising etc.
We had a really difficult period from about 6pm to 11pm for the first few days I guess - it felt like months - my husband had an office chair that rocked if it was unlocked - I used to swaddle Elana in a bunny rug and rock and sing with her in the dark doing exactly what shades said to do
on Jun 23, 2004
OMG! She stopped!! YAY! I'm trying so hard to keep all my emotions inside right now so I don't wake her up! Shawn's got that sexy grin on his face that he always gets when he feels like he's done something spectacular. . . that was probably too much information. sorry. I'm just so happy!

IG-She spits pacifiers right back out, I think its because right now they are all a little too big for her and it makes her mad. But I think it would help her if she would just leave it in her mouth. . . lol

Shadesofgrey-Thank you soooo much. All I had to do was tell Shawn what you said to do, and he sat there with our baby in his arms (I couldn't help my self from saying it like that I think its so cute) and he rubbed across her eyebrows for a little bit and he whispered "Hey baby, its a miracle, she's sleeping!"

Emma
on Jun 23, 2004
I know you might not want to hear this, but researchers have found that about 20% of babies are "inconsolable" at various times.

They are attempting to name this as a syndrome called "blue baby" (I believe), so that parents realize this can be normal and don't end up doing the "shaken baby syndrome" thing. Put her in the other room if you desperately need a break. Be assured, that she'll survive. The other good thing is earplugs - but only when you're holding her. That way, the noise becomes less irritating, but you're still alert if there's real trouble.

I had a colicly baby myself - everyone said it would cease at three months, which is typical I guess, but Serena went closer to nine months. Well, I survived, and hopefully you will too.

Good luck, best wishes - and most of all - get some earplugs ...

Jay

Oh, we tried a little chamomile tea in her formula, and that seemed to help (a bit...)
on Jun 23, 2004
Thank you Jay. That was really helpful, I'll be sure to remember that.

Emma
on Jun 23, 2004
Have you ever tried riding in the car? You don't want to over do it, but there were a couple occassions with our first when that was all that worked. We put her in her car seat and then went for a drive up the canyon. Not too fast, but not stop and start, just a nice late night drive. It would help her calm down and then she was able to fall asleep.

I also used to gently bounce her in my arms. I would put one hand under her neck and the other under her behind, gently bob her up and down and hum, whisper or just say "Shh, shh, shh". That has worked wonders for calming both of ours as well as other little ones I have helped take care of. Best of luck.
on Jun 23, 2004

Swaddling can help too....they're so used to being in utero that having all that space for arms and legs to wave around in can be scary.  Shades advice is excellent (I wish she'd been Davey's cyber-auntie when he was tiny!) and so's Trina's.  I sent you an email about this, but sometimes 'Kangaroo-ing' can help calm them...take off your shirt (or have your husband take off his) and strip her down to her diaper, and lay her on your chest....cover both of you up so you don;t get cold.  She'll be able to smell you and feel/hear your breathing and heartbeat...it's a great way for dads to bond with their babies.

How often are you feeding her?  And how long is she nursing on each side?

on Jun 23, 2004
Dharma-I'd like to kangaroo my husband! lol. . . Maybe if I cry like that he'll do that with me! I'm just kidding, I've turned a blog about my daughter's tears into my wishes.. opps! um, I've been feeding her every 3 hours unless she's sleeping, (I don't wake her up for anything) But not very long on either side. She hasn't been eating much and my doctor said to continue trying to nurse her for today and if it wasn't getting any better he'd advise me to switch to formula

BlueDev-That was a good idea, if the Kangaroo-ing doesn't work then I'll try it, Hopefully we won't have to go out of the house to make her happy, its so hot outside tonight! ugh! i miss my pennsylvania weather! heheh. . .

I'm going to help Shawn with the Kangaroo-ing and perhaps make my nervous, jittery husband laugh a little, He's so tense, I feel so bad. I think he needs to relax a bit. . . Thanks everyone!

Emma
on Jun 24, 2004
I just wrote some things that helpe us in your Mommys and daddys blog, hope somthing works!
on Jun 24, 2004
Thanks