Soooo fussy in the afternoons..HELP

My twins seem to get more fussy each afternoon. It is starting earlier and earlier each day too. They are starting now around 2 or 3. After they eat, if they are wide awake we will do some type of activity with looking in the mirror or "playing" with a toy. The problem is that will last a few seconds and they are fussing. They rarely want to sit in the bouncy or swing and mainly want to be held. The usually won't get a good nap in and will fuss until bedtime. It is so frustrating because if I am home alone, I cannot hold both up on my shoulders like they want. It isn't that they want to be in my arms or lap but up on my shoulder being patted on the back. I am getting desperate here. I can't take 2 screaming and fussing babies for 6 or more hours every day. DH will be going back to work next week so I want to do something while I have help at home.

To let you know how desperate I am, I went out and bought Baby Wise, Happiest Baby on the Block, and the Baby Whisperer. lol I am desperate (now if I could find time to read them).

 

You are right in the middle of the "fussies", weeks 3-12 or so were not fun! Have you tried cluster feeding them during their fussy time? Feed them and then a 1-2 hours later, feed them again? Mylicon drops? :hug99:

 

Sorry, I don't have any advice just lots of :hug99: Mine still want to be held all the time. The only thing I have found that works (albeit a short period) is to lay them down side by side on the floor and loom over them and make funny sounds and faces.

 

Very normal. What I had to do, was put each on each side of me on the couch, and pat them, making soothing noises... like shh shh shh over and over. It usually always worked.

Hang in there! It will get better.

 

Big :hug99: I really feel for you as my girls did this exact same thing when they were younger. They'd start fussing after the sixth feeding (around 4pm) and they'd be like that until their last feeding (7pm). They, too, started doing it earlier in the day, but luckily that only lasted a week or two. It was so tough because my husband works late and sometimes nights, so I'd be home with them all alone. I would be at my wit's end by the time bath/bedtime rolled around. Eventually, I discovered that if I laid down in bed and put two big pillows on either side of me, I could hold both girls up to my chest. They also had to have their pacifiers at this time as they seemed to have a really strong sucking reflex that time of day. They'd fall asleep and sometimes I'd even doze off, too. I can tell you that there is light at the end of the tunnel, though, because after about 3 months old, they outgrew this. Now, they're still kind of fussy at the end of the day, but I can at least take them for a walk or put them on their activity mat or something to keep them somewhat content. Hang in there!!

 

My babies wentthrough something similar but it only lasted about a week. They still get fussy just not for along period of time. When they do get fussy now though and I can't calm them quickly I turn the vaccum cleaner on and out it in between them. The noise calms them down sooo fast. Its amazing!!

I was given some advice too from another member that I have tried and it works...give them a bath, on their stomach. The warm water calms them along with the sound of the running water. One will have to cry while you do the other but alittle crying is not going to hurt them.

Good luck...I know the crying will drive you insane. Its one of the reasons I came back to work...JK, LOL

 

I was going to make the same suggestion about cluster feeding. When in doubt feed them. It works most of the time.

 

That time seems way too long ago for me, I can't remember exactly when we started that wanting to be held all the time, but I know what saved us ! The craddle swing! OMG those things were God sent for us. Try it!! it shouldn't replace cuddle time, but it helps to soothe babies when they want some motion. Good luck.

 

i think at that age they are going through one of their big growth spurts (6 wks- ish?) so that could be it. whenever mine hit growth spurts, it seemed like they had to eat ALL THE TIME!!!! so mabye feed them a little more freauently and see if that helps. are you BF Or formula? they might be sensitive to something they are eating too (either the formula or something you are eating), so you could look at that. i remember those days and feeling like i was a prisoner of my couch becuase i'd have both babies in both arms and just holding them. we often napped that way, actually! i know it's a scary thought of being alone (with DH return to work!), but you WILL make it. it will be tough for a few more months, but you guys will figure eachotehr out and find your groove. just keep coming here for advice. it will eventually get easier. hand in there!!!!

 

sorry, but your babies are way too young for sleep training. But you're experiencing the lovely fussy nights that all of us went through at the same age. It does end, but takes a few weeks so you gotta hang in there. We instituted a sleep ritual during this time and started using white noise CD's. Swaddle the babies so they feel safe and feed them. It will get better.

good luck

Teri D

 

Oh my gosh, we are going through the exact...same...thing right now.

Just in the past week, they both start fussing in the afternoons, through dinner, then they are fine when they fall asleep for bedtime. David will actually whimper with the binky in his mouth. It seems like all of a sudden, they want to be held all the time. My daughter never went through this phase, so this is all new to me. I'm hoping it's just a phase!!