First off, find a new pediatrician! OMG. You don't let a 6 week old learn to soothe herself. It is was too young. You can't spoil a newborn! If she wants to be picked up, pick her up. 6 weeks is a big milestone. I remember my son being super fussy. One thing that worked for him was to hold him near running water. It would calm him right down. Not sure if you've read happiest baby on the block but swaddling, swaying, and shushing really helped my son.

We tried letting our first son "cry it out." It didn't work. He would cry for hours, pass out, wake back up, and take up where he left off. Turns out he had severe acid reflux. (All my babies have had it.) Now, I do what feels right. My daughter will cry for a few minutes and then go to sleep. But my first son...never. Klimawife has something with the water. White noise might work, too. So might swaddling. If he continues to be cranky, though, and nothing is helping then ask about reflux. I was told for a year that it was "colic." It wasn't. After a year we finally got someone to listen and they gave him Zantac. One dose and he was a different kid.

The reason you can't spoil a newborn is because they don't just cry for no reason. They are either hungry, need to be changed, cold/hot, in pain, gassy etc. My 8 week old looks to have reflux as well, but her appointment isn't until monday. We give her gas drops and she calms right down. She's gassy too, but our nurse said the gas drops will help temporarily with the reflux. I guess colic still exists but after being the mom of 3, each with their own medical "issues" from allergies to reflux, I wonder if it's a cop out diagnosis by doctors who don't want to explore every possibility or think they already have. I've had 2 babies now go from fussy babies to total angels once we figured it out.

One thing that helped us too what gripe water. My son did end up having horrible reflux. But 6 is a magic number for fussy time. 6 weeks, 6 mos, seems that there a big milestones there. But please do not try to let her cry it out this young. I'm not against CIO, we used the FIO (fuss it out) when my son was much older. But at 6 weeks it is way too early.

I would check with another doctor first, because it might be something. My son had HORRIBLE gas and we just gave him gas drops and it helped right away and we haven't had a problem since. I do believe you can spoil to a point though. We picked up our son every time he started to cry and at two months old, it got to the point where he would cry every time I wasn't holding him. I couldn't put him down for five minutes unless someone else was there to hold him. He is finally starting to get better now at almost 8 months old, but he still cries if he is left in a room alone or I am not on the floor playing with him. Its taken so long to break his habbit of wanting to be held that I recommend to anyone to watch how much you hold your baby because your not going to enjoy the implications of it when they are 6 months old, 20 pounds, and you have to carry them everywhere with you!

I really do appreciate all the advice. I'll try the water thing and I think she may have reflux. I do feel bad about letting her cry it out. Her next appointment isn't until the end of the month. That's when she'll get her first shots. I'll swaddle her more and see if that helps. She just wants to be held and I know if I keep picking her up when she cries, it's going to be harder to put her down when she is older.

My daughter was the same way but it only lasted for like 2 weeks and then she relaxed more. I started getting headaches and that's when we gave in and gave her the pacifier. She LOVES her pacifier. Maybe your daughter would too. Also we learned very early that she likes to be held a certain way. Upright over the shoulder like she's going to be burped. She likes to look and be able to see what's going on. If we cradled her in our arms, she would be unhappy. Also do you have a swing. Those things are magic! Really does the trick for lots of little ones.

I don't like your pediatrician. She's only 6 weeks old so still learning about life on the outside and getting to know you. You don't want her to think that no one will be there for her, so keep trying hard to soothe her and don't ditch her.

i have a six week old daughter and i can not just let her cry. she is good most of the time but gets fussy in the evenings. thats usually when i use the carrier thing. so she can be upright and close by me without me having to hold her so i can make dinner and stuff. but whenever she gets real fussy i just hold her close to my chest to she can listen to my heartbeat and she usually settles. i wouldnt worry about when shes older bc right now this is all they have for comfort. when their older they will understand more but at six weeks if their crying the usually need something.