[chevyjewel]

I'm dually licensed to do foster care and daycare. This morning around 7 I started two new daycare kiddos, a 5 month old and her 18 month old sister.

5 month old stirs something in my gut. She's been hysterical pretty much the whole time (with the exception of a few minutes here and there when I can get her to rest her head against my shoulder and cover her opposite ear with my hand, that'll buy me a few seconds of quiet). Other than that she's screaming, frantic, jittery...she can't seem to calm herself at all and feeds erratically (like a couple huge gulps and then is back to screaming refusing the bottle, another couple huge gulps twenty minutes later). Mom describes this behavior as typical but I have to say I haven't had even my drug exposed newborns freak out or flail like this. She continually arches her back when held and her movements are super jerky.

I would chalk it up to new environment and new strange caregiver IF mom didn't say this is how she is all the time. Any guesses as to what could be up with this little one???

She's on a sensitive tummy formula and doesn't seem gassy. She's not ill, no known allergies.



I will say her 18 month old sister throws some of the most impressive tantrums I've ever seen so I'm not sure if this erraticness in baby comes from like, simple lack of a schedule and structure (because that's obviously what's up with older sis) or if it's something more serious....I can only speculate of course...I'm seriously hoping someone has some suggestions here!!!

[Larue]

Could it be colic? Here is a link with an article that describes colic, and some home remedies you may be able to try.

Colic - MayoClinic.com

Best wishes!

[parenting-over-40]

Is she drug exposed? Or do you know? If so, she could be sensitive to noise and natural light.

My suggestion would be swaddling her like a newborn. It sounds like she might be sensitive to noise (even if not drug exposed). I had a foster child like that. Turn down the tv or music or any toys that make noise (if possible with the toys).

Do you have a baby swing that she can fit into? If so, try her in the swing in a different room away from the other children with the shades/drapes drawn.

Despite the fact that she might not act gassy, she very well could have gas or colic. Mylicon or Gripe Water are good for both. However, I would talk to Mom first.

Since she is 5 months old, is she on any solid foods at all? Is it one of the foods that is causing her stress?

[fredalina]

It sounds like reflux to me.

[chevyjewel]

I don't believe she's drug exposed. Not that I've out and out asked mom but I don't get that impression at all. Could be some sort of SID though I suppose...hmm...

I did try swaddling her but that just seemed to tick her off more. She'd fight it so hard she'd turn red in the face and her screams would fade to just air escaping her mouth she'd go at it so hard...it was really odd because most babies that upset that I've ever been around have LOVED to be swaddled in those moments to calm them...apparently not her lol!

I did try the swing today but it didn't help at all, neither did the little baby papasan chair I had that vibrates and plays soft music, both are located in the living room so maybe I'll try in one of the bedrooms next week when they come back...


I'm definitely going to talk to mom about mylicon or gripe water. I'm willing and wanting to try anything that might make her happier or more comfortable here.

No solid foods yet, just the formula. Mom said she tried cereal but she didn't take to it and the doc said to give it a rest for awhile.

She didn't spit up at all so I don't believe it's reflux.


At this point I think you're right about it being colic or possibly some sort of sensory issue.

Thanks for the suggestions!

[hermommy]

My niece would do the same thing. My sister tried the sinsitve formula thinking gas. I was babysitting her one evening for my sis and ran out of formula so I made her a bottle of my little girls which is soy based. There was a HUGE difference in her. She feed straight through a feeding, I sent some home with my sister and she kept her on it to see what happend. Within a few days she was resting better, she was not crying as much and was a much happier baby. Her mom may want to try that.

[myForeverkids3]

I think I am as puzzled as you are! But, I did run a home day care for 3 yrs and I would say, don't let up on mom until she finds a solution. I don't think a baby this miserable should be given up on like she's just a difficult baby ya know. Arching her back tells me she is in pain or avoiding stimuli. The trick that I found was to slow down and try one thing at a time and give it time to work. (instead of trying a bunch of new things at once)
oh do I remember the screaming babies! Hang in there.

[fredalina]

i have a reflux baby and she doesn't always spit up. She definitely does - and a LOT - but not every day. At any rate the back arching does indicate pain for sure, and if it's happening with a feeding then it can be deduced that the food is causing it. If not reflux or gas then perhaps, as PP said, trying a soy-based formula. My fd also can't take powdered formula and has to have at least 50% ready-to-feed. Oh, and some babies are really sensitive to the temperature of the bottle, too, and either like it hot or cold or room-temp, so you may check with mom about how she feeds at home. My daycare provider learned FAST that i wasn't just whistling dixie when i said she doesn't like her bottles warmed up and to give them straight from the fridge.

[shavon]

How does she act when mom walks in? could it be seperation anxiety? I had a baby one time in my day care that did that..she would keep it up all day!!! As soon as mom walked in she was fine.

[Upstate_Love]

That's reflux, I'd bet my right hand on it.

[chevyjewel]

Originally Posted by shavon

How does she act when mom walks in? could it be seperation anxiety? I had a baby one time in my day care that did that..she would keep it up all day!!! As soon as mom walked in she was fine.

Mom came for a couple of hours last week just to hang out and see how things ran in my home, baby behaved the exact same way the entire time they were here together. Honestly I thought mom (being young bless her heart, not saying anything bad about that as I was a young mom too...) was rocking and jiggling her too much. Like she seemed nervous and uncomfortable with the crying so I thought that's what was up. I thought once I had baby here alone and slowed her down a bit (as previously suggested) that she'd be calmer but no cigar. I tried rocking her slowly in my arms, moving more fluidly when handling her etc but it didn't seem to change her reactions...

I'm curious of those suggesting reflux where you're getting that from? One of my premie placements was diagnosed with reflux and I see no correlation to that at all...she didn't urp up at all and it's my understanding that's pretty much the definition of reflux in infants...am I missing something? She's not just irritable during feeding but rather all the time.

I'm definitely going to suggest the soy formula to mom and see what she says about trying it....

Thanks again for everyone's thoughts on this! I really appreciate it!

[dachshunds4you]

I'd really encourage her to talk with her dr about. Sometimes young parents (once again nothing neg) just think this is how the child is, and don't think anything of it. But this isn't normal for her to always be like that. Something has to be wrong. Let's hope it's the formula and trying something new may be the key.

I watch a little boy (almost 5 months old) a few days a week. Mom says he always cries with her, never takes longer than a 1 hr nap. The days I watch him, he takes 3-4 hr naps and doesn't cry very often. Difference is, he's starving! He can only hold down 4 ozs of formula at a time without throwing it all up. Mom feeds him 4 ozs every several hrs. It's too long to go without feeding him. I feed him 4 ozs and then wait 20 mins and feed him another 4 ozs, and then right before his nap feed him another 4 ozs. This way he sleeps a good nap. He guzzles the milk down like a starving baby and cries when it's done.

I've been encouraging mom to talk with dr, since this just isn't normal for him to be so small and frail feeling (lack of calories a day). She's a first time mom and young, she hasn't taken care of tons of babies like us. Finally she took him to the dr. Dr was so concerned with his weight he is being sent to a specialist.

Sometimes making some suggestions is helpful and parents really appreciate it.

Glad you posted your concerns and hopefully the suggestions from other PP will help this little one out.

[chevyjewel]

Originally Posted by dachshunds4you

Sometimes making some suggestions is helpful and parents really appreciate it.

Being new at having a daycare I'm so concerned with coming across pushy with my suggestions, and I don't want to offend mom you know, but at the same time like you said we've been around a lot of babies and just know when something is off, that's totally where I'm at! If it were my kiddo I'd of had them in months ago to doc trying to figure this out instead of being satisfied that this is just the way she is!

I feel bad for mom and dad too, I can't imagine living with that unhappy of an infant for so long!!! Must be exhausting! Mom was talking about being desperate to get back to work and I can't hardly blame her if this has been her experience the whole time lol!

[devildogwife]

Originally Posted by chevyjewel

I'm curious of those suggesting reflux where you're getting that from? One of my premie placements was diagnosed with reflux and I see no correlation to that at all...she didn't urp up at all and it's my understanding that's pretty much the definition of reflux in infants...am I missing something? She's not just irritable during feeding but rather all the time.

It does sound like reflux to me too. My son didn't spit up either with his reflux either; not every baby necessarily does. Prevaid was a God-send for him. Yet his was constantly irritable, arched during feedings and didn't eat much.

My limited understanding after speaking with his GI doc is that the acid rises from the stomach into the esophagus. If you leave it untreated it can actually erode the lining of the esophagus. That would definitely lead to a child being extrememly uncomfortable without actually vomitting.

[parenting-over-40]

It could be a lot of things. I had a foster child diagnosed with reflux, a food allergy, soy issues, this . . .that . . .and the other thing. One day we ended up in the Emergency Room for a different problem. While we were there we explained all the other issues (i.e. fussy all of the time, reflux medicine not helping, soy not making a difference, etc). The doctor suspected an impacted colon. They did an x-ray on her belly and the e.r. doctor was definitely right.

My point here is, I would encourage Mom to take her to the doctor. If she says she has, remind her they call it the "practice of medicine". Thus, they don't always get it right. If the current Pediatrician can't figure it out, it is time to try a different doctor.