My Baby Won't Stop Crying

It sounds like he has an ear infection. You should take him to the doctor. My kids never pulled on their ear when teething. They only pulled on their ear when they had an ear infection. Good luck:)

Pulling on the ear is also an indication of ear infections. My children had a lot of them, and the medicine and sometimes ear drops really did help.

I am sorry, crying babies are not fun. I would say that you should call the Dr., it sounds like maybe he has an ear infection (which are common around teething time). I always have noticed my kids pulling on or playing with their ears when they have ear infections. That is my best bet!

Hi L.,

If he's cranky and pulling at his ear(s) he might have an ear infection. have it checked.

T..

You might want to take him to the doctor. My children ulled on ther ear when they had a ear infection. And they would get them sometime when they were teething. Also he may have something in his ear.

Hi L.,

Crying babies are tough since you can't really pinpoint the problem and you feel for them. Four months may be a little early for teething, though not impossible. However, the crying and pulling on ear may indicate an ear infection. If I were you, I would call the pediatrician.

Good luck.

L.

If you ever have to ask yourself "should I call the doctor" than the answer is probably yes.

Let's face it, doctors get paid an exorbitant amount of money and (dang it) health insurance companies make even more. So...if you have insurance, and you have a Pediatrician that takes calls (or has their nurse take the calls) than why the heck WOULDN'T you call for anything that concerns you? They are working for YOU after all.

Don't ever hesitate or worry about sounding stupid. You're a mommy now and your little man needs you to worry more about him than anyone else. If your gut is telling you that something is wrong, pick up the phone and call. They will be very understanding and helpful. And if they aren't, get yourself a new pediatrician.

Hi L.,

One thing I couldn't tell from your request is how long the 2 hour crying sessions have been going on. Is this a recent development or has this been going on for a few weeks with teething?

The reason I ask, is because if it is recent and sudden, I agree with the other posters that it could be an ear infection and you should see your doc. However, if it has been a little more long term then there could be some other causes (over tired, acid reflux, gas, sensitive baby that needs cuddle time).

My second daughter cries a whole lot more than my first. She will sometimes get into crying fits that last for a long time. This started at about 3 1/2 months old and she is now 5 months old. I have figured out that for her it is because she is over-tired. I have to catch her before she reaches this state and get her down for a nap otherwise she is extremely hard to sooth. Whereas with my first I could put her down after she started crying because that was her sign that she was ready for a nap. I feel like she sleeps a ton and I am always putting her down for a nap. However, I find the days that I get her sleeping before getting upset she is happy and she doesn't have the crying episodes.

I hope you find a different take on this helpful.

If he's tugging at his ear, it may be an ear infection.

If he keeps pulling on his ear, it could be he has an ear infection. My daughter many years ago used to do the same thing and screamed for hours. Took her to a pediatrician and all they did was give her antibiotics, but they didn't help. I then had to take her to an ear, nose and throat specialist and he said she had too much fluid in her ear. She was 11 months at the time when my neighbor who watched her told me she knew someone that had that problem and they ended up with a hearing problem and speech problem because they let it go too long. My daughter had to have tubes put in her ears and after she had it done it was like a whole new baby because she woke up and was laughing and playing and even started walking. I don't know if your son has the same problem, but if nothing else works I would definitely have a doctor take a look at his ears. Good luck and God Bless.

C. Cruz

Daddy needs to learn a few things, too about babies...I take it you're the one that's done all the reading? Teething starts before even the gums turn red. Those sharp little buggers are cutting through the gums deeply, causing deeper pain, and yes, can affect the ears. First thing is to do mention it to the Dr., to rule out a bigger cause, such as an ear infection. Hylands teething tablets are GREAT for short-term solutions. I would give my little ones the Hylands tabs (they melt so quickly, there's no cause for concern about choking, plus they are tiny), and they work until the Tylenol or Ibuprofen click in. I prefer Ibuprofen, because it's for inflammation and is longer lasting (6-8 hrs., vs 4 for Tylenol), but I think baby needs to be 6 months old before it's used - check with your Dr. again there, as things change.

Anbesol for babies helps, but you have to be careful to only use a little, as too much can numb the back of the throat, and some babies have trouble swallowing. All this worked for my daughter, but for my son, who is extra sensitive to everything, it wasn't enough, and we had to use a prescription strength numbing gel. 20%. You can get that OTC in adult meds, but I went by what the Dr. wanted to use.

And if daddy wants to carry baby all the time, fine. Let him do it!! But seriously, those things are inside the gum and things will be so much better when they finally break through...until the next one starts. You can also freeze a wet wash cloth in a ziploc bag and let him chew on it.

Good luck w/your new love! They keep us on our toes, that's for sure!

you tried everything but could your baby have colic also?
try massaging his gums with your finger.
does anything provide relief at least while you are actually doing it?

also are you sure it is not an ear infection?

again I am adding to my post after reading the other responses. I would get your baby checked for an ear infection. just because he is drooling it really does not mean he is teething.
rule out an ear infection if anything and if it him teething the dr will give you advice on how to relieve his pain.

both mommy and daddy needs to relax! you 2 can't be "fighting" over this little thing just wait til he is teenager there is many more important things to "fight" about LOL (the last paragraph was intended to make you laugh)

Go ahead and call your baby's doctor, it won't hurt, and it sounds like he might actually have an ear infection! Screaming in pain is the only way he knows how to react. A screaming, crying baby, even though it breaks your heart, can also make you fall apart - it's OK to seek some help, if only from a dr.
Good Luck!

Have you taken his temp? It definitely could be an ear infection. The rubbing ears could be from teething but with him being THAT upset, it might be infection and the drooling could be a coincidence (my son drooled for FOUR MONTHS before his first tooth!) I would definitely call the doc. Good luck!

I would call the doctor right away because it sounds like he has an ear infection! When my son has an ear infection he is very hard to relax and he has had ear infections at the same time as teething so I thought that was the problem as well. My son didn't have a fever with his ear infections, just uncontrollable crying and when you lay them down the pressure in their ears causes mor pain. Ask the doc to give you ear drops in addition to the Amoxacillan (sp) because they help ease the pain. Good luck!

I agree with the other poster. Please call the doctor. It does sound like an ear infection and you should have him evaluated.

But, to answer your question, yes, sometimes teething can be like this for some. I lucked out and had two children that had no problems whatsoever. My son got four molars in at the same time and I didn't even know that they were there until he laughed really big and I saw them! Every child is different and I have seen children in my care react this way to teething. But, please, call the doctor and rule out an infection first.

Oh, that is hard to hear and see your little one in pain.

My first thought is ear infection. You have several options. Go to your pediatrician...he'll prescribe anti-biotics if it's a bad one. If it's not too severe, he might suggest ways of helping him with the pain and let the infection ride out. You can research ways of comforting babies with ear infections and - ride it out for a day or so. How long has he been doing this? Couldn't tell from your post. But, many times an ear infection will go away by itself. Depends on severity. There are several great natural ways to treat ear infections. I am not a Naturapath or Homeopathic Dr. so I can't recommend anything...but I have heard, read, and seen some amazing natural products that are every bit as good and even better for us than antibiotics. (just too much antib's dipress our immune system from doing what it can and should do anyway). You need to look into all options and go with the best solution for your son. But I would check out ear infection first....he could be teething, it's no picnic for them, but usually doesn't end up with baby screaming for 2 hours and pulling at his ears.

And as a side note:
As far as your husband "saying all the wrong things" :)
He's just as bamboozled about this as you are and doesn't know how to speak our language (woman's language), he can't fix it (most men want to fix the problem yes?), he doesn't want to see your son in pain any more than you do either. I know it's so hard to not get defensive or hurt when our hubby doesn't seem compassionate to us. And when our child - especially our first little baby- is hurt and neither parent knows what to do - it's stressful to say the least. So, I invite you to just take a breath. Then take another deeper breath. Then take another softer deeper breath, feel your mind and body connect with more clarity....then you can better deal with your situation with calmness and love. Even if you don't know what to do at this moment...when you are calm and coming from a place of love....what will you do now?

Much good energy to you and healing to your beautiful baby.

In peace,
A.
mom of 4, Birth and Parenting Mentor
www.birthingfromwithin.com

L. since the baby is pulling at his ear it is more likely he has a ear infection. You should take him to the Doctor to rule this out. Ear infection are very painful for infants for anyone as far as that goes. The Doctor can also tell you if he is teething etc. If he is teething there is medicine that you can rub on the Baby's gums and the Doctor will tell you which is the best. Most are over the counter. If the Doctor rules out everything and Baby stops crying as long as he is picked up then yes he could be as they say spoiled and wanting attention. Please seek the Doctor first. I am a Grandmother in my 70"s .

How long has his been going on? Have you travelled at all or maybe gotten some water in his ear during bathtime? I ask only because my baby had an ear infection at around the same age. It's early for teeth but that doesn't mean much. I would call the doctor's office ad ask them what they think. They will probably want to see the child, but I feel sanity and peace of mind are worth every penny of a doctor's visit. Good luck!

Definitely check for an ear infection... if you don't like the idea of antibiotics (some people don't), try some natural ear drops from your doc or a health food store. If the oil is a little warm it feels even better. It does a lot to relieve pain even if you do decide to do the antibiotics.
If that doesn't work, it may be a that he's not getting enough sleep. Do you have him on a regular routine schedule? If not, consider it. Lack of sleep causes so many problems in little ones. My kids required a lot of sleep (like me!), and when their sleep schedule was interrupted, it was tough going for everyone!
I hope he feels better soon.
toni

I agree with the other ladies that you should call the doctor as he might have an ear infection. I think when in doubt you should always call your doctor. I hope you son feels better soon.

Often pulling at the ears indicates an inner ear infection, especially when coupled with crying.

Sounds just what I went through 4 years ago with my son, I did take him in to the dr & they had to do emergency surgery @ childrens hospital as he had bi-lateral hernia's which is VERY common in boys. I am not trying to scare you, I am just telling you what happened with my son. Does he draw his legs up during the crying?? Also..... he will feed off of your stress, so he will get more upset if you are.

HTH

Something you may want to consider is something my daugher's pediatrician told me. DO NOT USE TEETHING TABLETS, AMBESOL, OR HOMEOPATHIC PRODUCTS ON A BABY!!!! The teething tablets and Ambesol INCREASE HEART RATE and the homeopathic stuff is not regulated or consistant with the products they use. Good luck with the teething...all you can do is provide as much comfort as possible. A wet washcloth in the freezer worked well for my daughter and it stayed cold the longest.

He's a bit young to be teething.... although it's not unheard of. If you're giving him formula maybe he is allergic and has a tummy ache? Sometimes it takes a while to find the right formula. One of my girls wanted to be held all the time- and so I held her. For whatever reason, she needed the constant reassurance of being held, and now she's the most independent kid ever. And don't let anyone tell you you'll spoil him by holding him all the time....that's hog wash. Babies are only babies for a blink of an eye and some of them need lots of cuddling. :) Good luck!

If he is crying that bad and pulling on his ear I would take him to the doc just to make sure it isn't an ear infection!

If he is pulling on his ear-take him to the doctor, he could have an infection. Getting teeth at 4 months is early.