screaming/squealing 4.5 mth old

Is she squeally when you're holding her walking or something? Or does she calm down if you do something more 'interesting' / something that doesn't involve sitting down? Jacob can be similar, at that age he was happy for half an hour or so by himself, then he's get quite squarky, he still does when he gets a bit bored. He's just the same with visitors etc - when there's new people around or something new to see, he's way more patient.

We've got a bit of a routine to our up times - he's by himself till he gets too loud, then he'll go in his bouncer or jolly jumper (which he's pretty much grown out of now ), then I'll play with him a bit on the floor. After that point, I usually pop him in his manduca, or go for a walk with him (sometimes he can get a bit squeally in the pushchair too, though).

I find he's great when I'm out shopping or doing something - I find myself looking forward to trips out because it's easy to keep him happy for his whole wakeup! In fact, I probably go out more than I otherwise would for that reason. Obviously, I can't spend all my day doing that, though, or I'd never get anything done!!

So I guess in summary, yes, this sounds similar to what Jacob does, with him it just means he's been awake a while and he's getting a bit scratchy but not ready to go back to bed. Doing stuff with him helps - but sometimes I just have to put up with a slightly rowdy baby until he's tired enough for bed.

Oh - and Jacob loves being outside, it stops the squeaking nicely (although a few leaves get ingested in the process). What does Maddie think of some time on the lawn?

ETA that I wish I didn't have my old dinosaur computer at the moment - Jacob's doing exactly what I'm talking about now, and I'd take a video for you so you could compare But the dinosaur wouldn't cope with that (it's not letting me on FB either at the moment)

Edited by Hopes

My 4-month-old is the same. Like Hopes I think it is boredom (fair enough really, I'd get bored just on the floor all the time!), as like your babies she's happy when we're out, when there are new people around, and she loves a good walk.

So I work with that and for example I might do some vacuuming or do some baking while she is happy under the playgym for 20mins, then take her outside (in her Bumbo or in the frontpack) while I am hanging out the washing, then in the remaining hour we'll take the dog for a walk or go to supermarket, and if there's something I really need to get done she is generally happy in the swing.

It's a 'stage' that they outgrow once they start moving and can discover the world for themselves ... like with DD1 I can't wait for her to start crawling - people say it makes a mum's life harder but I found it actually made mine easier

I havent got much advice but Im glad to read this as my DS is doing it too. He'll lay on his playmat for about 20 mins happily then start screeching, then he'll sit in his bumbo for a bit and play with toys or go in the jolly jumper, or is happy to sit on the floor with me holding him and playing toys etc but after a while he just gets antsy and nothing is good enough, I have been finding it really annoying! And tiring! So Im glad to hear its a stage. Its also coiincided with a bad case of the 45 min sleeps so he's up a lot more than he used to be :P

But yeah in my experience Id say its boredom and frustration and I hope it passes soon!

The Wonder Weeks book available here (with free shipping to NZ, so only $30) has been AMAZINGLY enlightening for me! There are certain weeks in infants development that are known to significantly change their behaviour... There is one at 19 weeks, then another at 26 weeks etc. It is based on the due date, not the birth date. Anyway, it is a great book and really helpful, gives you ways of dealing with the fussy stages and gives you suggestions of games to play at each stage that will compliment what is going on in their heads!
I got this last week as I'd noticed another major fussy stage (after one at 4mths) - 45min sleeps, DS not wanting to sleep, being clingy, and cranky...turns out he's just entered the 26 week one.
Really worth a look if you're interested in learning more about their behaviour and gives you reasons why they do certain things...

frankie wrote: Mealz that is so interesting - our girl was 19 weeks when I wrote this post and was soooo clingy and bored easily, although it had been building for a few weeks. But she turned 20 weeks yesterday and has been a perfect wee angel the last 2 days, its like having a different baby! Have requested that book from the library, it sounds like an interesting read.

You'll be quite amazed...it's the manual you should get when you have a baby!