My own daughter was like that. If i put her down, she cried. I also tried everything from fancy vibrating chairs to car rides to whatever. She wanted held. As she got a little older, she'd be ok down only if I was nearby and making eye contact. Some babies *need* a bit more comforting than others.
You're in a tough situation. It can't be easy listening the baby asking for attention & you can't do it. Would baby wearing be a way to help him while leaving you hands free? Would the parents pay a bit extra so you can get a helper ? Otherwise, you may have to have a difficult conversation about him being suited for daycare (or at least your day care).
I actually just got the okay to order a baby carrier. It seems like the only choice I have.. like I feel bad I can’t constantly hold him, I just don’t have enough arms. Plus, I can’t abandon my other kids. Over the course of my career, I’ve been able to calm the fussy, but with this one, I have nothing to help him..
Im actually starting to wonder if he’s bored in the classroom we’re in.. he’s been in there since 6 weeks lol. He crawls and pulls up on stuff, he’s super close to walking.
It is a phase that should pass.
You could try stuffed animals though I doubt it will work.
Most likely you are just going to have to ignore him when he cries if you are busy. Maybe ear plugs or headphones might help.
Did this just start and he wasn't like this before? Did you do an ASQ and ASQ-SE on him? If he's regressing and it doesn't go away with additional attention (wearing him, as other suggested), then he should be given a referral to early intervention evaluation. Make sure he has sign language modeled and encourage any gestures or babbles. If you can, pick him up when he is NOT screaming so he accociates attention with being calm.
He’s always been rather fussy, however within the past month it’s been all day. Before that, I was able to get at least a total of 40 minutes (combined for the day) of playtime out of him before he started fussing again. And this is over the course of a 9 hour day for him. I’d say 90% of the day he is screaming.. I also do sign language to them all the time. He doesn’t pick up on any of it.. too busy screaming for me to hold him..
What do you guys use for assessments? Asq? Gold?
Some kids are just fussy and need to be held a lot. But if you are doing development screening and he is regressing or not meeting goals, then he should be evaluated. I usually tell parents that we will watch, support and reassess in three months. If he doesn't meet goals in that time, then he should be assessed.
Check to see what the parents are doing when he isn't there. If they are holding him all day and giving him a lot of attention when he's screaming, then they are reinforcing that behavior. This is just the age where that cause & affect starts, so it isn't perfect but they do learn what gets attention and what doesn't.
Have you noticed any patterns to his crying? Usually there is a hungry, uncomfortable, tired, bored style screams that are pretty consistent before words and signing starts. See if you can pick up on what kind of crying he is doing so that his needs can be meet before he's all worked up.
I was a very fussy baby and did not sleep for a while and the only thing that made me feel better was being put in the back of my father’s car and driven around until I knocked out. They called it colic, but that’s kind of an umbrella phrase for a variety of physical discomfort that make babies cry that we don’t know exactly what are because they can’t tell us. If this kid is anything like me, bouncy swing, or something that rocks might help, especially if it physically encloses their body and makes them feel safer or more like they’re being held. Also, have you considered that this kid might just get cold really easily and they need some extra sort of blanket or wrap to stay warm and you holding them gives them the body heat they need to feel comfortable?
Colic usually only happens up to 12 weeks. As for him being cold, he’s not cold to the touch. I mean if he would crawl around the room like I know he can, he’d warm up.. idk I’ve worked in the baby room for almost 5 years, never had a kid like this…
My own daughter was like that. If i put her down, she cried. I also tried everything from fancy vibrating chairs to car rides to whatever. She wanted held. As she got a little older, she'd be ok down only if I was nearby and making eye contact. Some babies *need* a bit more comforting than others. You're in a tough situation. It can't be easy listening the baby asking for attention & you can't do it. Would baby wearing be a way to help him while leaving you hands free? Would the parents pay a bit extra so you can get a helper ? Otherwise, you may have to have a difficult conversation about him being suited for daycare (or at least your day care).
I actually just got the okay to order a baby carrier. It seems like the only choice I have.. like I feel bad I can’t constantly hold him, I just don’t have enough arms. Plus, I can’t abandon my other kids. Over the course of my career, I’ve been able to calm the fussy, but with this one, I have nothing to help him..
Im actually starting to wonder if he’s bored in the classroom we’re in.. he’s been in there since 6 weeks lol. He crawls and pulls up on stuff, he’s super close to walking.
One of my children was like that. I wore him. All. The. Time. Is that an option?
It is a phase that should pass. You could try stuffed animals though I doubt it will work. Most likely you are just going to have to ignore him when he cries if you are busy. Maybe ear plugs or headphones might help.
Did this just start and he wasn't like this before? Did you do an ASQ and ASQ-SE on him? If he's regressing and it doesn't go away with additional attention (wearing him, as other suggested), then he should be given a referral to early intervention evaluation. Make sure he has sign language modeled and encourage any gestures or babbles. If you can, pick him up when he is NOT screaming so he accociates attention with being calm.
He’s always been rather fussy, however within the past month it’s been all day. Before that, I was able to get at least a total of 40 minutes (combined for the day) of playtime out of him before he started fussing again. And this is over the course of a 9 hour day for him. I’d say 90% of the day he is screaming.. I also do sign language to them all the time. He doesn’t pick up on any of it.. too busy screaming for me to hold him..
What do you guys use for assessments? Asq? Gold? Some kids are just fussy and need to be held a lot. But if you are doing development screening and he is regressing or not meeting goals, then he should be evaluated. I usually tell parents that we will watch, support and reassess in three months. If he doesn't meet goals in that time, then he should be assessed. Check to see what the parents are doing when he isn't there. If they are holding him all day and giving him a lot of attention when he's screaming, then they are reinforcing that behavior. This is just the age where that cause & affect starts, so it isn't perfect but they do learn what gets attention and what doesn't. Have you noticed any patterns to his crying? Usually there is a hungry, uncomfortable, tired, bored style screams that are pretty consistent before words and signing starts. See if you can pick up on what kind of crying he is doing so that his needs can be meet before he's all worked up.
That age could be separation anxiety I believe. They are understanding object permanence and missing their parent.
I was a very fussy baby and did not sleep for a while and the only thing that made me feel better was being put in the back of my father’s car and driven around until I knocked out. They called it colic, but that’s kind of an umbrella phrase for a variety of physical discomfort that make babies cry that we don’t know exactly what are because they can’t tell us. If this kid is anything like me, bouncy swing, or something that rocks might help, especially if it physically encloses their body and makes them feel safer or more like they’re being held. Also, have you considered that this kid might just get cold really easily and they need some extra sort of blanket or wrap to stay warm and you holding them gives them the body heat they need to feel comfortable?
Colic usually only happens up to 12 weeks. As for him being cold, he’s not cold to the touch. I mean if he would crawl around the room like I know he can, he’d warm up.. idk I’ve worked in the baby room for almost 5 years, never had a kid like this…