My child is never happy...

[modernfairytale8709]

Unless she's being held. I seriously can't put her down while she's awake, or she screams her little head off. I fed her, changed her, and put her in her swing and went outside for 30 minutes today because I just couldn't deal. I checked on her every ten minutes, and she just screamed and screamed. No tears, just lots of wailing.
I feel like a horrible mother, but I'm at my wit's end. What do you do with a baby who isn't satisfied unless she's clinging to something with a pulse?
I do babywear, but it just isn't feasible to have her on me every single minute.

[misshart00]

I'm sorry it's been so rough. I have no advice except similar to what you already did. When you can't handle it anymore, go take a shower. That's what I did when my first was little and it saved my sanity.

[cougarette]

Hugs!

You did the right thing by setting her down in a safe place and walking away for a few minutes. Do not feel bad about that! You're a great mom for knowing your limits.

I was going to suggest baby wearing, but you mentioned that already. Do you think maybe wrapping her in the shirt you're wearing may help? Maybe that plus the motion of the swing will calm her down?

[seamonster]

Is this new behaviour? It might just be a clingy phase. LO went through one for about two weeks around turning 3 months old. If you lay down next to her and play with her, will she calm down? I had to play with him on his mat, get him distracted by his activity gym and then I could walk away for five minutes, come back and touch him to show that I was still there. Walks in the stroller had to involve a lot of interaction. And a lot of holding.

It was really rough. You're doing the right thing bsbywearing and putting LO in a safe place so you can walk away. Hopefully it's just a temporary phase.

[abseptember]

All I can offer is deep breathing, hugs and the promise that it will get better. My first was like this.... actually she pretty much screamed all the time for the first 3 months whethere i held her or not. It is exhausting. Keep baby wearing and do what you gotta do to keep sane. I would say thing started to improve b/t 4-5 mths for us.

[natsgirl]

Have you tried any white noise to see if it helps? There's this MP3 called Baby's got colic that helps my friend's baby. I play it for mine if she's fussy. Definitely worth a try. Hope she settles down for you soon!

[modernfairytale8709]

Thanks ladies.

I've tried everything. White noise. Blue noise. Music. Chimes. Car rides. Walks in the stroller. As long as I'm constantly interacting with her, she'll tolerate her playmate, but I can't walk away to go to the bathroom for five minutes without wailing.
The behavior isn't new, but has been worse lately. Besides being exhausting for me, I'm worried it's going to burn my grandma out, as she is LOs primary caregiver while I'm at work.
I just struggled for an hour to get LO back to sleep after waking for a feed. She finally nodded off after I swaddled her super tight. How long can I continue to swaddle before it becomes an issue?

[PikoPiko]

No advice, just want to offer my support. Keep reminding yourself that you are a great mother, thats why your LO wants to be with you.

Sorry it's been so rough. I hope for your sanity that she grows out of her funk soon. After 4 months, babies learn about object permanence and hopefully that helps your LO become less clingy.

[lilyelayne]

Internet hugs! You can swaddle until baby rolls over. You don't want her to roll to her tummy and not have her arms free to roll back to her back or push her face away from the mattress.

[anchovies]

I'm so sorry. It's so stressful when they won't let you do literally anything. I used to just let DS wail when I would shower. The water covered up the cries. I needed a break.
You're a great mom! Don't get down on yourself and don't ever feel bad for needing to take a time out away from her.

[mishka29]

Hugs! This sounds a lot like DD1. She was so fussy and clingy during the day. For her it was being overtired because it was impossible to get her to sleep. Sleep training saved us all!

Hang in their!

[taberbtb]

(((Hugs))) B goes through spells like this and those are tough. I can't even imagine how hard it must be to go through this everyday.

Good for you to be able to recognize when you have reached your limit and walking away when you need to. I agree with PP's sometimes when B screams I just put her somewhere safe and go take a shower. The water drowns out her cries and I feel refreshed and ready to deal when I come back.

[kartish]

No real advice but Hugs. It is so hard when they are screaming and wailing, good for you for stepping back when you need it. I hope things improve and you can find something that will attraction her attention for a bit.

[seamonster]

Three months of screaming is tough. You're a great mom. Hang in there.

It's ok to put her in her swing or bouncy chair or crib while you shower or go to the bathroom. I put LO's mobile on over the crib or put him in his chair while I take a shower or go to the bathroom. I talk to him or sing to him while I'm doing it so he knows I'm around, but I just have to power through the cries to get stuff for me done.

I think @crazycornball mentioned a merlin suit as an alternative to swaddling in another thread. Maybe that would help?

Maybe try baby massage or baby yoga for calming her down? It's hippy stuff, but might help.

[junebugjam]

I'm in a similar boat, so I feel your pain. My baby needs constant interaction. He'll let me put him down to play, but when I read on here about babies who will play alone on their mat for 90 minutes by themselves, I'm dumbfounded.

I have no advice, just sympathy.

[aggiebug]

I just want to come over and take care of your sweet girl for you for a day. I know how overwhelmed and frustrated I have been with DD and you have felt with so much more. You are so strong and such a great mom it is ok to feel overwhelmed and exhausted and totally and utterly frustrated.

Have you talked to your pediatrician about it? I know she is on some meds and if they are perpetuating this issue they may be able to help you adjust meds.