My 3 month old cries constantly, is this normal and if not, what could it be?

Question

Beginning at about 3 months, she started crying throughout the day and the only thing that will calm her down is walking around with her in her car seat, which is really heavy, or driving her in the car. She also will calm down a little bit when I hold her but that does not always work. She eats well and she goes to the bathroom normally, She sleeps well through the night but during the day she has recently become very difficult. She hates her swing, her pacifer, or any other thing that we have for her. When she cries, we put her in her car seat and walk her around which calms her down. Is it possible we are spoiling her at three months? Meaning, could she be crying at this age because she has learned that when she cries she goes in the car seat? If not, what could it be?

Answer 1

Around that age, they start cutting teeth and it's painful. They may also may have some gas trapped and need to get some additional burping, or use those gas drops. Is she breastfed, or formula-bottle fed. If she is still breastfed, it may be something you're eating that causes her to get gas. I had that problem. If she drinks formula, maybe she needs a different type, some babies have sensitive stomachs. They may be lactose intolerant, if baby orajel and a cool teething ring doesn't seem to ease her discomfort, try patting her on her back while laying her(on her belly) on your lap, and help to relieve any pressure from gas. If that doesn't help, give your pediatrician a call to see if they can figure out if there is a problem. It may be nothing, but if she has an allergy to her formula, it can make her miserable.

Answer 2

you probably held her too much as a newborn, she seems spoiled, but not that there is anything wrong with her otherwise.

Answer 3

Teething or some other pain problem?? A bit early for teething, usually starts around six months or so.

Answer 4

I think she wants the car seat.  Good description there, BTW.

So you have a mildly spoiled child on your hands and need to break the cycle gently, without doing harm or trauma to the child.

Do you have a stroller?  I suggest you sit her in it, or push her back and forth a bit for short periods, and disregard a certain amount of the crying, not rewarding half of it;  hold her normally instead, hug and talk to her.  Gradually break the habit, or see a pediatrician/psychologist.

Answer 5

First..you cant spoil her...she's a baby who needs you, thus the crying.

Second...if you have talked to your doctor...and doctor sees nothing wrong with her, then you can try a few things.

Swaddle...yes, just like they did when she was a newborn. I had the same crying baby at 3 months...wouldnt nap and was exhausted all the time.

I swaddled her and she napped for 2.5 hours the first time...I was so relieved. Whenever she had a crying jag, she got swaddled, hold her on her side and shush her loudly....i mean LOUDLY. Walk her around if that works....but keep her on her side, swaddled and shush her. Go into a dark area...no TV or other input.

It really works...or it did for my daughter. REad The Happiest Baby on the Block...I wish I had read it 3 months earlier.

Good luck....I so feel your pain.

My daughter is now 8 months old and is happy as a lark...so dont worry...it wont last forever.

Answer 6

it's normal for some infants.

Answer 7

she could be teething. is she drooling at all? sucking on her hands? my daughter just turned 3 months and she's been teething for a month now. she cried like that all the time. wouldn't sleep well during the day. the first time i put some baby orajel on her gums she slept for 5 hours. lol.

and the idiot up there that said teething doesn't start until 6 months doesn't know what they're talking about. at 6 months my son already had 4 teeth. every baby teaths at different times. some babies have even been born with teeth

Answer 8

Starting at around a month and a half my daughter was the same way. Everything we did, nothing worked for her. We rocked, fed, changed, gave pacifier, EVERYTHING, and nothing worked.

It felt like h**l.

Well, we took her to the doctor and the only advice she gave us was, she could be having symptoms of colic, and I said well isn't it a little late, she said no, sometimes they just have a phase where they "cry."

You could try mylicon for gas and Orajel for teething. Also, try to swaddle her, after you swaddle her place her on her tummy(still swaddled) and cradle her tummy down in your arms, while rocking. I did it with my daughter and she loved it and fell right to sleep. If none of this works, don't worry, it's most likely a phase and it'll be hard, but she'll eventually come out of it. My daughter is now almost 5 months and since about 3 1/2 months she's getting easier and easier to manage. Good Luck

Answer 9

It could be colic, it could be teething, it could be an ear infection, it could be anything.  

Answer 10

try to find out why shes crying, what just happened before she started crying?if you find out whats wrong try to keep that situation from happening again.

Answer 11

I personally don't beleive that you could be spoiling her right now.  Our son cries all evening everyday.  He's screaming for my husband right now actually.  Our doc said you do what you need to to get through this stage so don't feel badly.  You have to survive it too right?  So if the carrier calms her then go for it.  But don't stop trying other things.  She will soon be noticing a lot more and maybe more activity on her part will calm her.  I know what you are going through.  Hang in there.  It all gets better:)

Answer 12

I use to do that and my parents hated it. But it was because I had a connection with ghosts, and they think it's also autism. The options are:

1). Your child is afraid of something, ( especially if she is crying even more all alone in a dark room).

2). She often has an upset stomach.

3). She does like going in the car seat, and she's learned very early how to get what she wants.

Those are just a few, but I suggest talking to a doctor. They will have more answers than me. Good luck :-)

Answer 13

It is impossible to spoil a baby.  Have you switched formulas or is it possible your baby is lactose intolerant?  She may be in pain.  Schedule an immediate appointment with her pediatrician.  I don't think a baby gets colicky past 3 months.  I hope everything is okay.

Answer 14

My niece did that and she had gas so they gave her baby gas x and it helped her.

Answer 15

She could be teething and in a lot of pain?

Answer 16

Two - Three months is the peak of the crying age.  Lots of babies just seem to freak out all day during this period and nothing seems to comfort them.  Then, after a few weeks, it tapers off and it all gets easier again.

A warning about the car seat: if she spends too much time in her car seat, the back of her head can actually flatten out a little and become misshapen.  It's not permanent and generally it's not dangerous, but it will weird you out and it's not recommended.

At three months, a baby cannot be spoiled.  However, even at three months a baby does start to figure out how to self-soothe or how to be soothed by external sources.  This is a good age to start letting her cry it out a little.

Start by letting her be for five minutes, then picking her up and calming her down.  Put her back down, let her cry for ten minutes before picking her back up.  Increase by five minutes increments until she stops crying.  Generally, after doing this a few times, the baby learns to self-soothe and the crying doesn't last nearly as long.

Of course, make sure that there's no tummy aches and she's not in need of a diaper change first.

Answer 17

could be colic. I have never used this but I have heard good things about gripe water helping with colic. It's found in most stores. But you should ask the doctor first.

EDIT: oh boy. somebody's trigger happy with the thumbs down icon. This is just a suggestion, people.

Answer 18

Possibly Colic. Which is pretty normal

Answer 19

my son is doin this too.. he has up and down times, somtimes i think hes for sure colic ( as we were told) and other times hes AMAZING.  hes almost 4 months now...

what has helped us:  

BABY EINSTEIN DVD'S!!!  it sounds like your little one is like mine and just needs STIMULATION!!!  he doesnt use a pacifier either - except when hes about to be sleeping or is in bed - he hates his swing too because hes contained and he wants to move and kick and stand and look around and learn and OBSERVE.

baby einstein has been our life savior!!! i feel sometimes like i'm neglecting him because ill put him in his bouncer or on his boppy pillow and set him in front of one of the dvd's.... and he'll be sooo content, squealing happy, etc.  no matter what i try to do, even if its things he normally enjoys, he will no doubt relax when i show him his dvd.  

she may know now that crying indicates - car seat - but what does the car seat do for her?  it allows her to look around, to move, to engage in her environment.  its not just movement that shes looking for either because than her swing would comfort her....

you also have to look at colic.  it could be just screaming.. which is 3 hours or more for 3 or more days a week.. of inconsolable screaming... but i honestly have ruled that out for dylan.  and they say to let him 'cry himself to sleep'.. i dont believe that either.  i brought him into this world, and i will make sure he is happy and comfortable before i let him scream for however long until he cries himself to sleep..

shes too little to be 'spoiled.'  she has needs and its her only way to communicate them to you is crying.  and think about the car too... she can look outside, constantly seeing different views, lights, etc.  

get baby einstein dvd's...  you will be amazed!!  :)  good luck

(oh, and through it all.. what ive always remembered... is... babies cry.  dont get frustrated, because they feel that and they feel stress and will react to it.  if you are calm and happy and its a quiet environment, they will be little angels compared to an overstimulating environment :)

EDIT:  sorry for the novel, but one more thing.... dylan has reflux (if your little girl doesnt spit up a lot, it coule be silent reflux) .. but either way, when NOTHING else works, gas drops (mylicon) and a binky RIGHT after, works everytime.. even at night when he keeps waking up fussing.  gas drops and binky is the miracle cure :)