Forum : Mums

Hi Nickie,

I know this may sound like an obvious question, but is he teething? My little girl is nearly 1 and she gets very clingy when she is teething or when she is ill. However, she can be like that when she is just plain bored and wants my attention.

Can I ask, how long do you leave it till you pick him up? When Abi is playing up like this, sometimes I try and distract/entertain her, or give her a colouring book, or if I am really desperate, I put the TV on for her.

However when I really do need to get things done, I have to say, I leave her to cry and after about 10mins, she usually realises that I am not going to pick her up or play with her, so she stops. But that is only if I have tried everything else and I never leave it any longer than 10 mins.

I am not sure if any of this helps, I really feel for you as I know how upsetting it can be. I hope it is just a phase.

Kelly x

Hi Kelly,

Thanks for your advice, in relpy to your questions....

He has cut a few teeth and it feels like there may be one coming through at the back, its just really unusual for him to be like this, even when he cut his first teeth the just seemed to appear with no problems at all, he doesnt have a temperature it just seems as though he wants to be close all of the time.

I usually start off by checking he is ok, not hungry, thirsty, clean nappy etc and if i sit with him on my knee he usually settles until i put him down and then it starts all over again, i've left him up to about 10 mins before going back to him and picking him up, as soon as i do he is quiet again, sometimes when ive been preparing tea ive just had to leave him to cry and he doesn't calm down at all, he just gets more and more hysterical and really screams.

Its just so frustrating, im not used to this behaviour at all, i sometimes even feel a bit worried about picking him up because i dont want him to get too used to getting his own way and to amke the situation worse..

I really do hope its just a phase (and one that ends quickly lol) its just so stressful hearing him like that all of the time.

Nickie :) x

hey my son is only 8 months old, but he is exacty the same. he got his first 2 teeth when he was 5 months old, and he got a cold and a cough then but nothin else really, but this time, i can see a tooth trying to cut through his gum, and i really do thnik that is what i causing this. he screams if i put him down, god forbid i leave the room, and night times have become a nightmare. he stopped having a bottle in the night months ago and started sleeping through, but now there is no chance. he wakes up various times in the night screaming, and nothing will comfort him. i never know weather to pick him up either in the daytime. coz like you nickie i dont want him to get used to it, but i also just want him to stop crying. if i leave him to cry, he doesnt stop. he gets worse. im 17 weeks pregnant again, and exhausted. until now my son was such a happy baby, i could sit him down and leave him to play for hours. so im not used to it either. i find myself rushing around the house getting things done while hes asleep, which isnt very often. i dont im not much help, but sometimes its just nice to know ur not the only one going through it. i hope it is just their teeth, at least then we know it wont last forever. i hope things look up for u 2. and if any of ya want to chat give me a message. sarah x x x x

Bless both of you, I know how hard it is. Btw, if thier back teeth are coming through, they say that these are the most painful and even if babies have not had any prior problems with other teeth coming through, they can often have problems with pain with the back ones.

All I can say is I think that it is a case of perserving and hope it is a phase. But I know what you mean about not wanting them to get too used to being picked up and held, cos they are intelligent little things and will soon catch on that they can get around you like this.

If it carries on much longer, maybe speak to your health visitors and see if they have any ideas x