Mr Sunshine has had a few cloudy days
Jakob is usually cheery, smiley, and generally happy, so it is always a rude awakening when he is anything but. And, unfortunately for me (and him, too, I suppose) he has been awfully cranky since getting his 4-month shots last Friday. He wakes up crying, he cries if I'm out of sight, he won't nap in his crib (me being out of sight and all), he fusses at night and while nursing. Because he's been fussy at night and not napping during the day, he's overtired. He's plain grumpy. Yesterday I was ready to mail him to his grandmother, it was so bad,
At today's mom/baby drop-in, I asked the nurse about this. She said the fussiness usually lasts up to about 72 hours after the shot, which means he should have been in a better mood by now. He did start off today better than the last few, but that deteriorated too quickly. When I got home about 4:50, he woke up as soon as we got in the house, and he screamed and screamed and screamed. I changed him, thinking that could be a problem. The diaper was only wet, and he screamed (blood-curdling, neighbours-might-call-children's-aid type screeches) all the way through. Only when I got him nursing did he stop screaming, and even then I think it was only because his mouth was full. After a while, he popped off, screamed some more, then nursed himself to sleep. I sat, paralysed, in the chair for hours until Werner came home and relieved me.
While I was trapped, I began to wonder about teething. He doesn't have any teeth cutting through (yet), but the one baby book that was within reach said that by now the process could have begun. The book also said that this part of teething is probably the most painful, as the teeth push up through bone and gum. When I wash his gums, he really chomps down on my fingers, and seems to really enjoy gnawing on the washcloth. Maybe that's it? Maybe his first teeth have begun their journey?
At today's mom/baby drop-in, I asked the nurse about this. She said the fussiness usually lasts up to about 72 hours after the shot, which means he should have been in a better mood by now. He did start off today better than the last few, but that deteriorated too quickly. When I got home about 4:50, he woke up as soon as we got in the house, and he screamed and screamed and screamed. I changed him, thinking that could be a problem. The diaper was only wet, and he screamed (blood-curdling, neighbours-might-call-children's-aid type screeches) all the way through. Only when I got him nursing did he stop screaming, and even then I think it was only because his mouth was full. After a while, he popped off, screamed some more, then nursed himself to sleep. I sat, paralysed, in the chair for hours until Werner came home and relieved me.
While I was trapped, I began to wonder about teething. He doesn't have any teeth cutting through (yet), but the one baby book that was within reach said that by now the process could have begun. The book also said that this part of teething is probably the most painful, as the teeth push up through bone and gum. When I wash his gums, he really chomps down on my fingers, and seems to really enjoy gnawing on the washcloth. Maybe that's it? Maybe his first teeth have begun their journey?
posted by Melanie A at 8:06 p.m.
1 Comments:
Hi Melanie. We've met a couple of times through our mutual friend Jacquie Moon. In fact she's the one who gave me your site address. I have a seven month old at home, and totally relate to what you are going through.
I was just reading your blog about the possibility of teething. We are going through that joyful process here. What I can tell you is that when Sophia started, she chomped on everything, her cheeks went red and she was a little fussier than usual. That lasted weeks. Her teeth broke through about two and a half weeks ago (two on the bottom) and she's still struggling. it gets bad at night time. Our once good sleeper is up two to four times a night.
Here's my recommendation: baby tylenol. Use it just before Jakob goes to bed and it might get him through the night. That's the worst time because there is nothing to distract him from the pain. During the day we like frozen and refrigerated teething rings, and frozen damp washcloths. And lots and lots of things to chew on. Hopefully, though, not you!
Every baby is different, but I hope some of this helps! Good luck!
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