Colic? Teething? Going insane!

Where do I start?! Andy got really constipated when he started solids 4 weeks ago. We got that sorted by taking him to a Homeopath. Now his sleeping has gone out the window!

Just before Andy started solids he was sleeping up to about 5 hours at a time at night. Usually about 5 hours and then 2 or 3 hours. When he woke he'd have a feed and then go straight to sleep. Now Andy is waking 5+ times a night and just screams and screams. I'll feed him and he'll sleep for a wee while beside me and then he will just start screaming again. (The homeopath thinks it maybe colic as his intestines are having a hard time with the solids. When this sleeping first started he would continually pop off when I picked him up. This doesn't happen as much now.) My husband ends up having to take Andy and walks around with him and is usually up for about 1.5hours. We'll get him back to sleep but as soon as his had touches his mattress he starts crying again. He's been sleeping with me alot at the moment but I can still only get about 1- 1.5 hours out of him. Before all this started Andy would wake each night nearly exactly one hour after being put to bed. I'd pick him up, cuddle him for about 3 minutes and I could put him back to bed no sweat. He is still doing this but I can't get him back into bed. He just cries and cries but doesn't even open his eyes! I've tried patting, singing and rocking
him before I get him up but it doesn't work!

Do you think this sounds like colic? Teething? Both?! I've noticed maybe 3 top teeth getting ready to pop through. With the first two teeth Andy was just generally grumpy and woke often but would go straight to sleep again after a boobie.

I'm going insane! Today we've been unable to get Andy into his bed AT ALL!!. I just NEED ONE minute to myself!! My husband told me today that the above is starting to take a toll on him at work. So now I'm feeling so guilty on top of everything else. Hell he's only been getting up at night for the past 2 weeks. Not SEVEN months!!

Any suggestions?? (I am totally opposed to the crying it out technique.)

Hi.
Pumpkin, apples, carrots, pears. Tried chicken for first time today. When he got consipated I stopped trying new things all the time and have now been giving him a new thing for a week before I add anything. He also has organic whole grain rice cereal in each meal.

I've stopped with the bananas as some people told me they are consipating.

Thanks so much Pepsi. Do you thing I should try ditching the baby rice? Am just worried about the whole lack of iron thing. But then he's only having 4 tablespoons of the rice a day. Hopefully he should be getting enough iron from breastmilk? I've been thinking about not using it but just need someone to say that it's ok!

Thanks Emma. I might try not giving Andy any rice for a few days and see if there is any improvement.

Teehee Kellz - my two fat gremlins still don't eat half a cup each per meal, I swear I have no idea how they manage to grow, wee Isla kicks their butts!

Fingers crossed for you Laura, I'm sorry you are having such a tough time, wish we were closer so we could come and give you a bit of a break

When Isla was eating 2 tins a meal,....mega more than the gremlins (hehe), and way more than the norm, I wondered about my milk supply. In the last week or so I have been giving Isla a top up of formula after bf and now she is eating a much more normal ammount of solids, and is more content.
Isla has silent reflux, so she never throws up like in usual reflux,..but gets the burning of the acid in her throat (she is on 2 lots of meds now). Sucking (on boob or dummy) does help as the sucking action keeps the acid down.

Andy does contract a wee bit and then stiffens up and arches his back out. Has a bit of wind while he does this too. His tummy goes very tight. I try and massage it but it doesn't seem to help.

The silent reflux sounds like something I should look into.

Am thinking that if tonight is bad I might take Andy to the doc tomorrow.

Yep. Am giving him Oragel which Katherine got me from USA. Pretty powerful stuff! As well as Weleda teething powder.

Was thinking about it while giving Andy a bath. Feeling a bit stupid. I just took the Hoemopaths word that it was colic as it made sense. Pretty dumb considering colic doesn't occur this late in age!

I'd also rule out colic and reflux, both of them and even silent reflux would have been obvious before now. Even though they sometimes continue for a full year they are obvious in the first three months.

I think the baby rice might be too hard on his digestive system. Go back to mainly pears (he doesn't need a lot of variety yet) and see what difference that makes. Also, are you bf-ing before offering solids? He still needs mostly milk, not mostly solids at his age.

With teeth, rub your finger over/under his gums and you'll feel teeth bumps if they are about to come through. Otherwise skip the teething powder. Some kids don't get their first tooth until 8, 12, even 16 months of age.