DD is so fussy lately - please help

DD seems to be getting more and more fussy as the days go on. Starting Sunday night, she started "flicking" her right ear. The next morning, she wasn't doing it anymore so I didn't take her to the doctor. That night, she started pulling on the ear. Then Tuesday morning, she didn't do it anymore. That night, more pulling. I decided to take her to the doctor on Wednesday even though she wasn't really pulling on her ear. The doctor looked at both ears and said that they are both clear. Her nose and throat were also fine. The doctor said that she may have just discovered that her ears are there and that's why she is playing with them. But she is still pulling on them and now kind of sticking her fingers in there.

She has also been drooling ALOT in the past few weeks and chewing on her hands alot. I know that she may be teething, but could her ears be clear but still hurting her if she is teething? She is just so miserable!! She only naps for a short time and then wakes up crying. Tonight I had to hold her and rock her for almost 2 hours straight just to keep her semi-comfortable.

I just don't know what to do to help her. She can't hold a teething ring yet or even figure out what to do with it. Could she even be teething yet? Or am I just thinking she is because of the drooling and the gnawing on her hands?

p/s - she is now even crying when we try to feed her.

Re: DD is so fussy lately - please help

Have you checked for coxsackie? I'm asking because that's a big drooling/not eating much/crying kind of disease.

Since she's crying while she's eating, could also be teething. If she has no sores in her mouth to indicate coxsackie, try giving her a lukewarm/cold bottle to see if she'll take it. Will she take pediatlyte?

She may just be teething. She's certainly at the age to start. I would give her Motrin. Put a warm washcloth on her ear & rub behind her lobe in a downward motion. I have brought my kids to the doctor & got the all clear. ONE DAY later, they had a double ear infection. It can come on the quickly.

If you got a silver rattle at her shower, now is the time to break it out & have her chomp on it to soothe her gums.

Re: DD is so fussy lately - please help

most definitely could be related to teething....

if there is inflamation in the jaw a branch of the trigeminal nerve will be triggered.... this nerve has branches: eyes, Ear, jawline......it would make sense.

I know that's not the typical response but it is definitely related and there wouldn't be an infection nor would ears be clogged.

Re: DD is so fussy lately - please help

DS is also 3 months old and started drooling all over the place and sticking his hands in his mouth. He can't seem to find his thumb, but the entire hand. I think this is normal for this age, but have no advice about the ears.

DS also takes extremely short naps, but he always did.

Good luck!

Re: DD is so fussy lately - please help

I read in babycenter.com ear pulling and head banging is to help distract them from he pain of teething.

Re: DD is so fussy lately - please help

DD is a big fuss pot since day 1 but once she hit 3 months got somewhat better. She went through a period like you are describing shoving her fists in her mouth ad drooling like mad. The hand chewing subsided but the drooling remained. And short naps is very common for DD. I think it sounds all normal

Re: DD is so fussy lately - please help

Message edited 2/8/2007 1:38:15 PM.