Teething? Separarion anxiety? I'm at my wit's end!

[shazdee]

Sorry in advance for the length of this, but I have a few issues which may or may not be related! I'm not sure if it's in the right place, but if not please move it for me!
Our almost 7 month old DD has always been a pretty good baby, but the last month she's been...well..a little monster! She got her first 2 teeth through at 16 and 17 weeks without any trouble-they just popped up all of a sudden. But for the last month or so she has been very unsettled and just not herself. She was sleeping through the night and having 2 or 3 1-1.5hr sleeps each day. But now I am lucky if she sleeps for an hour or 2 in total during the day-she keeps waking up after the first sleep cycle and won't resettle. She's also started waking 4 or 5 times during the night-though goes straight back to sleep when given her dummy. She's also not eating a great lot-she was having 4 FF of 200mls each plus 3 solid feeds. She's dropped back her FF to the point where I am lucky to get 500mls into her a day, but she will happily eat her solids. I tried cutting out her solids thinking that may be the problem but it didn't make a difference. I actually took her to my GP about that, but she said as long as she still has 5 or 6 wet nappies a day and doesn't show signs of constipation then I should just continue with whatever she will take as she is still gaining weight. I've put it down to teething, as she's getting her top teeth-not the front 2, but the ones next to them! But the main issue is her CONSTANT crying! Sometimes it goes on for hours on end. I've tried Panadol and bonjella in case it's her teeth causing pain, but it doesn't make a difference. It just feels as though all she does is cry and it's really getting to me! It gets worse when DH or I leave the room and if we both leave the room she gets hysterical! So what I'm wondering (after all that!!) is whether or not this is normal?! I was told that separation anxiety usually starts at around 8 months, but maybe it's that? If there was just one issue I wouldn't be so worried, but the fact that she is having problems with sleepin, eating and the crying is so troubling to me! I feel as though I am at my wit's end and just don't know what to do with her. Any advice would be much appreciated!

[Heva5]

I'm sorry, I don't really have an answer for you
but just a thought, could she be crying alot bacause she's tired, from lack of sleep?

*hug* I hope you figure it out soon

[shazdee]

Thanks Heva5, that's a good point. And tbh I hadn't even thought of that! But the last couple of days I've managed to get her resettled and she's been having a 2 hour sleep in the afternoon. She is still pretty grouchy, but not nearly as bad as she was when I wrote the original post! She has tooth #6 coming through, so I can understand how getting so many teeth in quick succession could be hard to deal with!
We are still having issues with her feeds though. According to the guide on her formula tin she should be having about 1000mls per day but I am lucky if I can get 500mls of formula into her each day.

[amberj]

Getting those top teeth through is HARD. The top four teeth caused us more grief than any other teeth coming through, even the molars (so far....!). We went through all sorts of disruptions when DS was getting his top teeth. I think it all builds on itself too- pain, sep anxiety, lack of sleep....just gets into a bad cycle. Poor little mites!

As far as the feeding goes, how is she on her solids? My thought is that if she is getting those top teeth through, its awfully sore up on that gum and sucking on her bottle might just be quite painful ATM. Is she still eating smooth things from a spoon ok (like pureed fruit)? It might just be a bit less painful for her to eat those things than suck a bottle right now. I know DS has gone though patches where he just wasn't interested in his bottles much, and then it passes and he's back into them. Often I have no idea why, it just happens.

Glad to hear your little girl is getting a bit more sleep- hopefully the rest settles soon too.

(BTW, if you don't have one already, I strongly recommend an amber teething necklace, they really are great!)

[~Kim~]

Hey hun, tough isn't it?
Poor little chicken having all those teeth already!
Sadly I'm up to my second screamer. Some babes just cry - a lot. My two both started the separation anxiety thing from birth lol. You should see the show from Nate if I have to go to the loo! He won't even sit with his father for any length of time.
Also 6months is kind of an unsettled phase they seem to go through. They are becoming more aware of the world and themselves in it.
IRT the formula thing. It's just a guide babe. Don't stress. SOme babies don't eat anywhere near what it says, some eat way more.

[Winter]

Your baby sounds like my baby - except mine isn't teething, she's just being 7 months! I have a sling & it is the only thing keeping us going!

Sending you sympathy & lots of them!

[anna]

Teething always puts DD off her food, so that could explain the lower feed requirements at the moment. Did the GP check her over for ear infections or other illness?

I remember those top teeth. Yuck, yuck, yuck! The good news is....it will pass. I just repeat that to myself a hundred times a day during teething phases.

Separation anxiety started at around 7 months for DD. It was really hard at first. I actually found playing peek-a-boo and teaching her how to wave 'bye-bye' to things really helped her understand.

its a massive thing our babies do. They are growing into little people. Some find that a lot harder than others.

GL.

[Nettie]

Do you remember being a teenager and getting growing pains? If so, try to imagine what it's like to not understand what that is or why you're aching and irritable. And babies must feel those pains constantly during some growth spurts.

If you don't remember - they are awful. They feel like deep itches and make you ache and very grumpy. Teething and a growth spurt together can be hell on a little person!

Hang in there - and like others have said - this will pass. Sometimes they've just got to cry to get the emotions out...

Hope it passes soon for you!

Oh! And I second the teething necklace - they rock!!

[NikW]

Oh my god. I posted exactly the same thing as you two days ago. Our girls are exactly the same age and my dd is doing exactly the same thing! I can see teeth up top too but her bottom ones came thru no probs too. I don't have any answers but just a big hug to let you know that possibly it's the age seeing as both our girls are in the same boat and that hopefully it wil pass x nik

[shazdee]

Thanks guys, there are some really helpful ideas there. I think maybe I needed to hear that it will pass, as I'm feeling a little more positive now! DD has just got another tooth through on the bottom and #6 is on the way already! I imagine it's quite painful getting teeth in such quick succession-it seems like as soon as one pops up another quickly follows.

Originally Posted by NikW

Oh my god. I posted exactly the same thing as you two days ago. Our girls are exactly the same age and my dd is doing exactly the same thing! I can see teeth up top too but her bottom ones came thru no probs too. I don't have any answers but just a big hug to let you know that possibly it's the age seeing as both our girls are in the same boat and that hopefully it wil pass x nik

I'm sorry that you're having the same troubles, but it is quite a relief to know that I am not alone! I guess we just have to remember that we will have our happy little girls back before too long! Though hopefully sooner rather than later!