Comments on: Singing the Baby Blues https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/ Mom Smarter! Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:21:46 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 By: Carol https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-151891 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-151891 In reply to Molly.

This was my son. It was 1998, a time when doctors were not well-versed in autism. I sensed something was not right, especially since my first daughter did not exhibit similar behaviors. We made numerous trips to the doctor, where we were often told he might be colicky or allergic to cow’s milk, among other possibilities. After months of dealing with this, I was completely overwhelmed. There was one particular moment when he cried for an extended period, and I collapsed to my knees in tears, feeling defeated. In hindsight, after learning about sensory issues, everything began to make sense.

]]> By: Mommy Evolution https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-123364 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-123364 In reply to Jodi.

The sooner you’re able to start understanding any sensory needs your son might have, the more you can help you learn how to cope as he gets older. It appears sensory issues definitely do run in families.

]]> By: Jodi https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-123344 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-123344 My eldest has SPD, she wasn’t like this but I look back & certainly see lots of different sensory issues that we didn’t recognise then or that were called other things (colic, silent reflux, dairy intolerance). My youngest turns 1 this month, he screams so much if we aren’t out & about or if he’s not right on me. Some days it feels like his screams are killing me (& his sisters, especially the eldest who is so sensitive to noise & emotion). Plus he doesn’t sleep well so I’m tired ? I see lots of things that concern me about his sensory processing already.

]]> By: Tiffany https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-113134 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-113134 thank you for sharing this. I can relate on so many levels as my daughter cried and cried as a baby and it was so hard. She has sensory processing disorder (combo of seeking behaviours and some avoidance behaviours). She hated to be wrapped- had to have arms and legs free or she would scream the place down- some was silent reflux but most I know now was SPD- even the constant comfort sucking and trying to wean her from 12 months to 16 months when Dr basically told me he could see how frazzled I was and perhaps cold turkey was the best weaning approach with this child- I cannot tell you the relief that gave me – permission to wean and not feel guilty about it. Having early childhood nurses try to tell me how I must be doing everything wrong until I said ok show me and they saw with their own eyes what I had been trying to get them to understand. Sleep specialists and Drs who at 2 told me it may be behavioural but too early to tell. Sleep is still such a huge struggle- causes meltdowns, will not brush teeth, hates clothes, food aversions, making a huge mess with sensory seeking always water everywhere and compulsive noise (scatting etc). It is so good not to feel totally alone and know others understand. Thank you

]]> By: The Jenny Evolution https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-108176 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-108176 In reply to MJs Mom.

Hi, MJs Mom. Thanks for sharing your story! I think our story is a lot more common than we know or would believe. Because SPD is not officially in the DSM, a lot of doctors just aren’t educated about sensory issues. And while you had to muddle your way to figuring things out (just like we all do), you’re doing what you can now … and that’s what really matters. Your daughter is very lucky to have you as her advocate and as her mom.

]]> By: MJs Mom https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-108172 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-108172 My daughter was the baby in the hospital nursery that screamed at the top of her lungs. She would not breastfeed. In the first two days of her life, she was losing weight due to me not being able to get her to eat. I gave in and gave her formula. That seemed to help some. She also had to always be moving. She practically lived in the infant swing. It was the only thing that would help soothe her. As she got older she did not like to be held. I would try to read to her at night (like all the websites said to raise a good reader). She squirmed and when she was old enough would roam around the room. She also did not crawl even though I tried to do the tummy time the pediatrician recommended.

I mentioned all these things to the pediatrician. She patted me on the head and I was assured that all babies develop at different rates. I had heard of autism but not SPD. At 3 she was diagnosed with intermittent esotropia (one eye turned inward) so it seemed she was taking in the information around her primarily on one side.

She had terrible meltdowns. Again I mentioned it to the pediatrician (a new one this time). She was given a referral to see a pediatric ophthalmologist but I was again patted on the head and told that I just need to be more firm with her. Seriously? She would just scream during time outs and airplane rides were torture because she would refuse a bottle and could not chew gum without swallowing it. After three years of patching and wearing classes from the age of three her eye was medically “fixed” but now she just had a vision problem.

Finally at the age of 8, she was diagnosed with ADHD, dyspraxia, and sensory issues. All this time I had felt like the world’s most inept mother because I couldn’t seem to soothe her and her energy level never seemed to decrease. I was lucky in the fact that she did nap until about the age of 3. Then she just stopped and it was a fight to get her to take one, so I decided get sleep at night was more important than napping during the day.

At the age of 8, she still could not tie her shoes, she would get (and still at times) frustrated very easily, she also could not swing herself on the swing, and would constantly spin around in circles (it seemed like a coping mechanism), she also would go through these very long intense phases with certain characters/objects (i.e. Tinkerbell, rocks). The Tinkerbell phase lasted for 3 years (from about 6-9). After a year of OT, she finally was able to swing herself on the swing and make it across the monkey bars on her own. She still loves rocks and wants to be a geologist when she grows up.

We have found that deep pressure seems to calm her. She has not been officially diagnosed with Aspergers (I know that is an old term) but the doctors/SLP/OT have been treating her for it since she seems to display so many symptoms. We do not have a developmental pediatrician locally, but her caregivers seem to think she displays many of the symptoms.

We live in a rural community and homeschool as I do have a degree in teaching and the schools here don’t seem to offer much in the special education services. We homeschool for other reasons, as well.

Your site has been very helpful as we continue on our journey.

I have learned more about SPD/Aspergers/ADHD in the last 3 years than I ever knew possible…

She now takes medication for ADHD, insomnia, and is on a sensory diet. If I had known when she was younger I could have been helpi9ng her much sooner.
She is 11 now and will spin and spin and spin.

]]> By: The Jenny Evolution https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-106000 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-106000 In reply to Dawn.

Boy… getting through to where everything doesn’t feel like a crisis is such a turning point! Bravo for keeping with it to figure out what was going on with your son.

]]> By: Dawn https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-105987 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-105987 I love your posts. This is my baby story as well. It took me 6 years, numerous doctors, horrible medication trials and years of family stress before I finally found the right OT/parent coach. What a difference she has made. I finally understand my son, know how do soothe him, feel like I am a good mom and not just managing a crisis.

]]> By: The Jenny Evolution https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-104418 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-104418 In reply to Sue Lively.

Don’t discount your own experience! Remember… it’s happening to YOU. And definitely don’t blame yourself. That’s an easy and slippery slope, I know!

]]> By: Sue Lively https://mommyevolution.com/singing-the-baby-blues/#comment-104408 https://jennyevolution.wordpress.com/?p=140#comment-104408 Loved this Jenny. My son cried and did not sleep for the first 3 days of his life and as a result I didn’t sleep either for 3 days and nearly lost my mind. It wasn’t exactly the start I had imagined! Although my son does not have SPD, he is extremely sensitive in a number of areas (diagnosed by an OT) and I had always had this feeling too that something was not quite right, but blamed myself (I always used to say I wasn’t a baby person.) Now that he’s 4 1/2, I still have to catch myself and try not feel guilty when I can’t seem to help soothe him when he’s upset. I know you had a much tougher go than me, but I just wanted you to know that I heard your story and it impacted me. Thank you!

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