My newborn isn't sleeping

For 2 weeks I had the best baby in the world -- he would only cry when he was hungry or had a dirty diaper. Starting about 3 nights ago, he has had uncontrollable, unstoppable bouts of screaming for a few hours each night. We try to feed him, he won't take it. We try to rock him, he won't stop crying. We walk with him, he stops crying, but then as soon as we stop, he starts again.

He mimes that he wants food, but he's so full of gas, he won't take it. We were using playtex drop ins, but he was having trouble latching (only at night). He has no problem drinking out of the similac 2oz bottles at night, so we got Playtex VentAire bottles because they use the same nipple. He has no trouble latching onto them, but he can't get enough food out of it and winds up taking in only air.

So, I guess I have a few questions --

1. What type of bottles do you use to reduce gas?
2. Any other remedies I can use to reduce gas?
3. What do I do to make him sleep?

Any advice/stories would be welcome. I've been googling like crazy as I'm rocking him while he's screaming.

Re: My newborn isn't sleeping

we use dr browns for gas and they seem to help.
have you tried gas drops or gripe water? that might help too.
maybe you might need a more sensitive formula as well.
DD had and still has horrible gas issues....sorry for what you are going through, i understand and know its hell!

Re: My newborn isn't sleeping

also regarding the sleeping--swaddling helped as well as white noise.

My newborn isn't sleeping

Try some gripe water, it helps an upset belly and colic

Re: My newborn isn't sleeping

Also swaddling helps tremendously when they are that little

Re: My newborn isn't sleeping

I had similiar with my DS2. First off, I know how hard it can be. Make sure you get a break for yourself. We used Dr. Brown bottles and Similac Sensitive and Efamil Gentlease. Can't say that any of those things made a huge difference. We did have him tested for a milk allergy which you could ask your pediatrician about. My DS2 also had reflux - he didn't spit up much in the beginning but he never seemed comfortable to me - always squirming. I thought he had a cold so I brought him to the ped and sure enough it wasn't mucus up his nose, it was formula. He was put on Zantac twice a day. Worth inquiring about.

Holding like a football with your hand putting pressure on the baby's stomach can sometimes be comforting. Also pedaling the legs. If he'll take a pacifier that's good too - will prevent from swallowing more air which makes the gas worse. We also tried chamomile tea and fennel water. Fennel water actually helped DS1. If you are nursing, you can drink those teas.

Hope you find some things that work! Best of luck!

Re: My newborn isn't sleeping

dr browns bottles seemed to help a lot with my ds. He would scream every night for 4 hours straight.

The more they cry/scream, the more gas they have.

no signs of reflux right?

My newborn isn't sleeping

We use Dr Browns bottles, and when she seems to be a little more gassy than usual, we either give her Colic Calm or Little Tummy's gas drops. They both help

My newborn isn't sleeping

Dd was the same. I found out I had a very forceful let down and it would cause her gas. We used the vent air bottle and they worked for us.
YouTube colic massages and if you can borrow happiest baby on the block DVD from the library it's very useful, for us dd grew out of it and it was one month of no sleep for us. I hope you find a solution!

Re: My newborn isn't sleeping

Sounds a lot like mt dd. changed to Dr. Browns. Not much of a difference. Did gas drops, minimal difference. After several formula changes, she was dx with a milk protein allergy by a pediatric GI doctor.on neocate which jas made a big difference. Good luck with everything

Re: My newborn isn't sleeping

We are currently trying to figure this out ourselves with our 3 week old.

She's sleeping but having really bad gas...especially at night. The Ped told us it was 3 month colic and normal...but still trying to remedy the gas somehow because I do feel it is really bad when she is screaming.

We were using Dr. Browns bottles because they were supposed to be the best. But she was gulping and drinking so fast with the slowest nipple and we thought that was not helping with the gas. So yesterday I just bought the Playtex Drop-Ins due to recommendations and I notice she has to work harder to drink from this nipple. Since it's only been a day can't say it's been working

We also have been using the Little Tummy's gas drops with every feeding and gripe water here and there. I can't say they are really helping a ton. The only thing I have noticed is that she seems to be releasing the gas more...but it's still painful and she still cries doing so at night.

So I know I am not much help...but I can say I understand since I am trying to get through the same thing as well.

Hoping she just grows out of it by 3 months or sooner.

Re: My newborn isn't sleeping

aw maybe ask your ped if he can be tested for a milk protein allergy... my nephew was the same way, he turned out to have a milk protein allergy (went to a pediatric GI) and is now on elecare.

My DS also had some gas issues (although not as bad as my nephew), he had to be switched to similac alimentum.

good luck!