My son is 7 weeks old, I started back to work last Monday and my mother and mother in law watch him during the day. For about a week after we pick him up and get him home he gets very whiney and fussy with us . . . I am not sure why and do not know what to do to get it to stop! He will whine until he goes to bed for the night. He will act hungry and we try to feed him but he will push the bottle away. Help!!!
My daughter was always fussy right around 5 at night, inexplicably, whether I was home all day or had been at work. I found the Happiest Baby on the Block method helped. http://www.babyslumber.com/happiestbaby.html
He's a tiny new born baby. Kids get fussy at night. They are tired but don't want to go to sleep. He knows that you are mommy and he knows he wants to spend time with you and he hasn't seen you all day. Give yourself and the house a break - eat on paper/plastic, forget the laundry or vacuuming. Sit down and spend some time enjoying that baby, It is tough to go back to work so soon after having this wonderful little bundle of love.
Babies also have a sucking instinct - they want to suck alot of the time even when they are not hungry. Do you use a pacifier? I was against them until I realized it helped calm / quiet my babies. Try that.
Try to slow down and enjoy this time. It is tough - I worked full time when my kids were born and it was tough coming home tired in the evening. So give your self a break. I still tell my mother - "something has to give and it's not going to be me". So it might as well be the house / kitchen floor / bathroom / laundry, etc.
Hi K. - this is SO common. We called it the "witching hour". By this time, hey've had a lot of stimulation through out the day. Dim the lights, turn off the TV - maybe swaddle him and stroll around the house.
Pick up a copy of Tracy Hoggs book "The Baby Whisperer". Full of practical advice, how to's and how to read your baby's body language and understand their cries and verbal signals. Harvey Karp - Happiest Baby on the Block in another great resource.
Terrific book for a new momma.
Adults have happy hour from 5-8, well babies have fussy hour at about the same times, except I think they unite and plan a coup to overthrow their parents!
Anyway, this is totally normal. He might just want to be held because he misses you, or play for a bit with you.
Even though my daughter is almost eight months old and I've been back at work, too, she still fusses at those hours. It's not always about the food but about the bonding, and of course the bewitching hours, as noted here.
I also find that a mellow activity, whether a stroller walk (weather-permitting) or even running an errand with her helps. The distraction during the fuss hours seems to help her, particularly the outdoors.
Hope this helps.
But I think you're plenty assured by the number of posts that this is normal and "this too shall pass."
So does that mean he is not feeding at all... after you pick him up? Since he is pushing the bottle away?
How is he... on weekends, when you are home with him all day? Still like that or not?
He he getting sleep/naps while he is being cared for???
Sometimes, over-tired babies/kids will not eat...
I would also... make sure you know what your Mom/Mom-in Law are doing with baby all day? Do you know?
They should be going by your preferences... you are the Mom.
Maybe they are out all day showing off the baby?? If so, then he will be too tired, maybe not feeding enough, and not getting a regular nap.
For example.
You need to, specify with them, about his feedings (which SHOULD be on-demand & not by a schedule)) and about his naps...
Babies also do get more whiny in the evening... it is called the "witching hour" because they sense that night time is coming up... and it is a 'transition' change.... my daughter was like that. BUT she would feed.... and fed well at night.
I would... find out why your son is NOT feeding once you have him and in the evening... because, he is only 7 weeks old... and they do need to feed on-demand. He is very young.
all the best,
Susan
I think this is very normal. Kids sense our anxiety to get things going as soon as we rush in the door, or just the normal rush at suppertime with SAHM's. Ask the moms to schedule his feedings so he will be hungry shortly after you get home, then reward yourself and him with a sit-down when you get home. Your hubby can start dinner, or whatever, to give you both that time together, or you can take turns. If they need to feed him before you pick him up, take the cuddle time anyway. Give both of you the luxury of some downtime before you start your evening routine. The older kids get, the more important this time is. Then they can enjoy the evening, too, and let you get things done.
Our youngest was that way. She was guaranteed fussy from around 5-6 pm every night. This went on for about a month (nothing soothed her, so it was a long month!) and then suddenly went away. No clue what started it, no clue what stopped it. It was just a phase.
It's really normal for that stage, he's going through changes with life just like you are. He gets to complain and whine at you and smell you and then settle into life after that's done. Its kind of like a little decompressing for those little ones. Just hold him close, wear him if you can and talk to him sing to him, love him through it and know that it will pass :)
I went through the same exact thing with my daughter. I also recommend the happiest baby on the block book as Sara B. suggested. I put my daughter in a baby Bjorn and it seemed to help. It sounds a but insensitive, but this too shall pass!
I think it's a stage. My daughter went through it. And nothing would relieve her - not a bottle, paci, swaddle - only walking around with her seemed to help. This happened from when she was about 4 to 8 weeks, she would cry every night from about 6-8pm. Just in time to be happy for when daddy got home from work (and wonder why I was in such a state). But it passed. And now I think back to it as just another phase.
Good luck!!
Perfectly normal. Wonder week, super fussy period peaks at 8 weeks. By 10 weeks, he should be calm.
Dear K.-
Hold in there. This is totally normal. My MIL calls it the "witching hour". Ours typically runs from about 6:30/7pm till 8pm. With our first, my daughter who is now 3YO, would just scream uncontrollably. I would put her in the swing and sit on the floor in front of her and generally cry myself. I can laugh about it now, but it was so overwhelming then. I would try everything - food, nursing, talking sweetly, holding, bouncing - you name it and nothing worked! When my son showed up, I knew not to take it personnally. I was being a good Mom and it seems like that this "witching hour" was just normal, so I chalked it up to that and tried to cope as best I could.
The one difference that had a huge impact on the second time around was that Daddy was now home on the week nights. When I went back to work that was huge for me and helped me cope better with all the fussing and crying in the evening.
It will get better. Feel free to message me if you need more support or have any other questions.
~C.
7 weeks is the peak for crying and fussiness.
Also , what is his schedule when the grandma's watch him? Is he overtired? They may be keeping him up to play with him or so that he is not sleeping when you get home, but if he's not rested, he may be cranky.
