My 4Month Old Daughter Is Cranky All the Time, Any Suggestions?

My experience with reflux had everything to do with food. My 5 month old does not like dairy. I seriously thought she was colicky and I would have to live with it. But, my wonderful doctor said it is almost always FOOD RELATED. Did you try to change her formula? Lactose free or soy based might be good alternatives. Remember, as adults we get reflux and gas pains when we eat the wrong foods so I think it might be the same for babies. Best of luck to you.

Hi K.,
My son was the same way around that age. Wanted to be held all the time. Do you have something you can carry her in? I used the baby bjorn for awhile and that helped tremendously. 4 months old is still very young and they want their Momma's all the live long day! :) I know it's hard, hang in there. My son finally settled down around 5-6 months and I was able to put him down much more.
Good luck,
Lynsey

If holding her and walking with her is soothing maybe you can try using a sling - I used the native american sling for my son who was colicky, you can search for it on the internet and find it - he loved it and it gave me free hands to at least do other things while holding him 24/7. He also really liked the cradle swing...we used the Baby papasun nature swing.

I'm sorry you're going through this, it's so hard. The only thing I can say, my daughter was a month earlier, had bad reflux, but it responded to Prevacid, and at 14 months old she's still on it. I remember holding her literally 24 hours, even when I went to the bathroom, I went without showers, and rocked/bounced her for hours on end, I think it only helped me feel like I was doing something, but didn't make much difference for her, she was wailing nonstop, and I had to also work 25 hours a week. She was the same way, and we started the Prevacid at about 4 months of age, and her crankiness didn't go away until about 6 months. The doctor said it's probably not 100% reflux, but just colic - I guess a catch all phrase for "We don't know", but probably immature GI tract. And, your little one has been through a lot, I'd be cranky too.

So, I would say just keep doing what you're doing, you love her. The sleep deprivation doesn't help you, but what really killed me was watching my daughter suffer. It will end this phase, and hopefully you will be able to put it behind you.

Hi K.,

I read your message earlier and have been wondering for a while what to say or write. My heart goes out to you. I have a child with some extra needs and he had some feeding issues early on, so I know how difficult it is to deal with. It breaks a mom's heart to see her child suffer and not even know what is wrong. The poor little things can't even tell us.

There is some info on reflux on Donna Gate site www.BodyEcologyDiet.com I would try and contact her to find out what you can do to help your baby. The traditional medical doctors really won't do anything to cure the problem, unfortunatly. If you look at her site, it may be info that will be very foriegn to you, but it is probably your best shot at helping your baby heal.

Get back in touch with me if you have any questions.

God bless you.
T. E.
www.LiveWellShopSmart.com

I understand how difficult it is to try and help your daughter and not know what to do. I truly feel bad for you because I've been there. My daughter had untreatable reflux but I was never given the option of surgery so we just lived with it. At the time, it was a long painful experience and I had a 14 month old too! You are doing everything right and it only seems like she's constantly cranky. I did keep my daughter in a baby carrier attached to me most of the time. She would sit in a vibrating baby seat for short periods and she liked car rides. Once she started eating "adult food" her reflux began to subside. Just keep doing what you're doing and get a sling to carry her everywhere...it helps. I know it is miserable to feel so helpless and not know how to soothe your baby. Don't get yourself down, I know each day feels like an eternity but you ar doing all the right things! My daughter is 10 years old now and she is the happiest, sweetest girl I know! What I really need for you to understand is this is the shortest stage of her life so allow yourself to just focus on her...don't sweat the small stuff...it will still be there to take care of when your daughter is feeling better. When you are living the moment it feels like it will never end but now(10 years later) it feels like a lifetime ago... a total blur, so savor the moments and carry her everywhere you won't regret it!! Good luck to you and God bless you both.

K.-
try Gentle Naturals Homeopathic Teething Drops, you can find it at Target usually it has Winnie the Pooh on the box. i know she is not really teething, but the drops are essentially chamomile and it seems to help sooth them and it is safe. good luck.

It certainly can be the mickey button. I have experience
with g-tubes. I have one. Someimes it can kink or
hit the stomach wall. That is extreml painful. Good
luck.

You should go to pediatric gastrointerologist specialist and get another opinion form another doctor. If she is crying all the time then she is uncomfortable and there maybe another solution.

good luck

My daughter had reflux, too. At 4 weeks, she choked and turned blue. She went to hospital on the ambulance MORE than once. It was terrifying. So, I know what you are going through. Unfortunately, my daughter did not sleep through the night until she was a preschooler.

I broke down and asked for help from family and friends so that I could get more than 4 hrs of sleep a day. That's all I did get for a long time. I was exhausted.

She cried on and off all day. For months and months, she would cry (alot) every night from dinner time until 3:30 am, too. At 3:30 am, she would close her eyes and go to sleep for 4 or 4 1/2 hrs.

I nursed as long as I could, Then, we gave her formula w/ rice. Not much helped.

No one really understood how difficult it was. It did get easier with time.

My second child did not have reflux and slept through the night when she was approx. 5 or 6 months old. I was dumbfounded!

Please send me a personal message if you'd like to know what steps I took...