3 months old-behavior change?

My DD has this new thing that when she is tired and cranky she SCREAMS to top of her lungs like someone is hurting her. It takes me FOREVER to soothe her.

She never did this before and it happened for the 1st time in front of DH yesterday. He was freaked out.
Im like,uh huh...SEE what I deal with!

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

Yes, they do change at 3 months. They are more aware of how they are feeling and they know how to get a response from you, so since they can't speak, they try other things.

Are you missing some other cues? Maybe the screaming is just because she is over tired and is saying "hey mommy, I SAID I'm tired"

Some signs are yawning (of course but not always), rubbing eyes, rubbing head, heavy eyes, rubbing ears. Or, just not showing an interest in anything anymore. Did you ever find yourself saying "she doesn't know what she wants, she won't play, she won't go in the bouncy, she won't go in the swing, etc.," Ususally when she is like that, she is already over tired.

Good luck

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

Message edited 8/1/2007 9:55:27 AM.

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

Yes, I do notice its when she is OVERTIRED. Mom watches her and said she barely napped all day.

Ok, so how do you all deal with it with out losing your patience?

I rock, cradle and do what I can...sometimes it takes a lot longer to work.

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

It's difficult, but the more you loose your patience, the longer it will take. Do you have a routine down? Maybe as soon as you get home, give her a bath and wind down and don't stimulate her.

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

Posted by Smileyd17

Yes, I do notice its when she is OVERTIRED. Mom watches her and said she barely napped all day.

Ok, so how do you all deal with it with out losing your patience?

I rock, cradle and do what I can...sometimes it takes a lot longer to work.

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

Posted by pmpkn087

Yes, they do change at 3 months. They are more aware of how they are feeling and they know how to get a response from you, so since they can't speak, they try other things.

Are you missing some other cues? Maybe the screaming is just because she is over tired and is saying "hey mommy, I SAID I'm tired"

Some signs are yawning (of course but not always), rubbing eyes, rubbing head, heavy eyes, rubbing ears. Or, just not showing an interest in anything anymore. Did you ever find yourself saying "she doesn't know what she wants, she won't play, she won't go in the bouncy, she won't go in the swing, etc.," Ususally when she is like that, she is already over tired.

Good luck

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

Posted by Tah-wee-ZAH

Posted by pmpkn087

Yes, they do change at 3 months. They are more aware of how they are feeling and they know how to get a response from you, so since they can't speak, they try other things.

Are you missing some other cues? Maybe the screaming is just because she is over tired and is saying "hey mommy, I SAID I'm tired"

Some signs are yawning (of course but not always), rubbing eyes, rubbing head, heavy eyes, rubbing ears. Or, just not showing an interest in anything anymore. Did you ever find yourself saying "she doesn't know what she wants, she won't play, she won't go in the bouncy, she won't go in the swing, etc.," Ususally when she is like that, she is already over tired.

Good luck

Yup, that's exactly it.


As their nervous system matures and as they become more social they no longer have the ability to just shut down and go to sleep like many newborns do.

Many experts say 3-5 month olds have a period of wakefulness of only 1-2 hours... that includes feeding, changing, playing (maybe 15 minutes in an hour), and soothing back to sleep. If the window goes on to long they get overtired, stress hormones are released into their systems, they kick it into overdrive and you get the meltdowns. Ten when they do crash their sleep isn't as soothing to them. They are currently studying the long term effects of infant sleep habits on the cognitive development of individuals... they believe there is a possible link to lack of higher order thinking skills in adolescents.

A book that really helped me was "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" which sums up the above and tips on how to manage their sleep cycle.

For example, my kids are now taking 3 naps a day... yeah, they sleep a lot of the day but they must need it and, as long as I pay attention to the signs, they don't get overtired.

HTH

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

Another good book is "The Baby Wisperer" by Tracy Hogg. It is all about reading your baby and the signs of what they want/need and what they are trying to "tell" you. I suggest getting the box set...for newborns/infants and for toddlers.

Re: 3 months old-behavior change?

My DD does the same thing. She is the same age as your DD (actually also born on the same day). She is smiling and having fun and bam all of the sudden starts screaming. I swaddle her and rock her till she calms down and like clockwork she falls asleep.
Its really weird. This has been happening for about 1 month. I don't get it, if your tired just go to sleep. She used to. Hopefully this is just a phase.