[JoMarch]

Hi,

My almost 4 month old has turned into a little cranky monster the last week or so...
We went through the normal "purple crying" stage when he was about 4-9 weeks, then he turned into this really happy, smiling, cooing bub. I thought I had him worked out, understanding his cries and being able to respond to what he needed.

The last week (or so) he has been grumpy, clingy (doesn't want to be put down) and crying more than usual. His sleep has gotten worse (still not TOO bad, so I'm not sure if its 4 month sleep regression), he was in a routine of only being up once in the night for a feed for weeks, now hes up 2-3 times needing settling/feeding.

This morning he was screaming, just beside himself! Even the beloved dummy doesn't seem to settle him at the moment. All he wants is to be carried around (hes a BIG baby for his age, so it gets heavy and back breaking doing it over & over all day ).

I think I'm venting more than anything, but also wanting reassurance...does this sound like a developmental stage, I know babies go through quite a lot at this age... if you've been through this, how long did it last?

Thanks for reading, sorry it got a bit long.

[Ianthe]

Is he getting teeth? That could account for it.

I also found with my kids that they would be grumpy just prior to them meeting a new milestone.

[JoMarch]

I've been checking for teeth every couple of days but can't feel anything. I think there is a wonder week around this time, so yeah, could be about to meet a milestone. Just gotta hang out til it passes

[Ehill]

Yes, it is very common for babies to go haywire around the four month mark. Big leaps in development and also their sleep patterrns change (sleep more like adults) so this all sounds very normal.

Lots of cuddles, lots of feeds and some patience! Try and organise someone to come and help out or give you a break. Some nice walks in the pram maybe.

The sleep changes can last for ages but the whingy, clinginess should sort out in a week or two.

Hang in there. 4mo was easily the hardest time with both my bubs who prior to that slept all night!

[AryaStar]

Four to six months is hell.

This post has been edited by Shady Lane: 19/11/2012, 09:28 AM

[JoMarch]

Four to six months is hell.

fun times ahead by the sounds of it!

[AryaStar]

Mine has just turned six months and still hasn't turned the corner yet. Any day now....

[3mummy3]

My ds will be 4 months on dec 5th and he is going through some changes at the moment. He had previously started sleeping through (8-9pm ish to 6:30am) but now is having a night wakening again, sometimes two.
He is still happy to play down on the floor, doesnt need to be carried everywhere, but he seems to be already going through seperation anxiety where if anyone holds him he screams blue murder until i take him back. He is usually fine with dh and his older siblings carrying him but thats it. The grandparents are missing there cuddles with him though!!!
He also does occasionally have a burst of inconsolable crying where i just cant figure out whats up with him but luckily not to often.
At the same time though he is just the loveliest baby, lots of smiles and "talking". He is meeting milestones pretty well for his age, he can already reach out and grab things and put them straight inhis mouth, he grabbed dd's lolly pop out of her hand yesterday and stuck it straight in his mouth(was still wrapped so didnt actually get a taste!!).
His new trick started just yesterday when i hold out my hands and say do you want to come up, both his arms shoot straight out to be picked up!
So yeah i am certainly hoping that this seperation anxiety will pass soon and hoping that he will go back to sleeping through, but im a bit worried now after reading the previous posts that it might be a while yet!!!
I have three older kids but i really cant remember four to six months being all that bad, but i guess in saying that they were all such poor sleepers anyway that i probably wouldnt have noticed a regression!

[PurpleNess]

Yep massive mental development leap at 4 months so they do tend to be disrupted in sleeping and generally a bit more needy. Go with it & do the best you can, it shouldn't last too long....until the next one....
"This too Shall Pass"

[faithy]

Download the "Wonder Weeks" App if you can. It's based on the book and research that tracks when babies are going through mental leaps in their development (separate to growth spurts). It's pretty basic but shows you each stage and what your LO is learning.

Mine has just recently started to become fussy again.. I checked the app to see if it was linked and lo & behold she'd just started another fussy period. I know it doesnt necessarily change her behaviour but me "knowing" that she's experiencing so much learning that it overwhelms her helps me to be less frustrated on those 'bad days' where she's extra clingy and cranky (like yesterday!).

This post has been edited by faithy: 19/11/2012, 12:02 PM