How do you survive the screaming phase? 😭

Night 4 of boots and bar and I'm a broken human. Baby screams for 2+ hours every time we put them on. Everyone says "they get used to it" but right now that feels impossible.

My neighbours must think we're terrible parents. My partner wants to take the brace off "just for one night" and I had to physically stop him.

Please tell me it gets better. When did your baby stop screaming? 😭💙

Night 4. I remember night 4. Worst night of my entire parenting life.

It got better at around night 10. Not perfect, but manageable. By 3 weeks she barely fussed. By month 2 she actually held her feet up for the boots because she associated them with bedtime 😂

10 nights. Give it 10 nights. And please don't take the brace off. Relapse treatment is SO much worse 💙💙

What helped us:
- Put brace on while baby is drowsy/asleep
- White noise machine on LOUD
- Darkened room
- Consistent routine: bath, massage legs, pyjamas, bottle, brace on, sleeping bag, cot
- Accept first 30 mins will be noisy and walk away (baby is safe in cot)

My son screamed for 8 days then just... stopped. Like a switch 💙

Just came out the other side. 12 nights of hell then it clicked. She now sleeps BETTER in the brace than without 😂

DO NOT take the brace off. Tell the neighbours - drop them a note explaining. Everyone we told was sympathetic.

You've got this. It's temporary 💙🦶

The adjustment period typically reduces within 1-2 weeks. Consistency is key - intermittent use prolongs the adjustment.

Non-compliance is the leading cause of relapse. Re-casting and possible repeat tenotomy is far more distressing. If screaming hasn't improved after 2 weeks, contact your team as there may be a fit issue.

Sending strength 💙

solidarity. night 6 here. 3am. baby is screaming. i am also screaming (internally). my partner is sleeping through it somehow????

reading these replies and holding on. one night at a time.

thanks for posting OP. knowing were not alone helps

I remember feeling exactly like this. Now my son is 2 and he puts his arms up for boots and bar at bedtime 😭 he actually ASKS for them (well, points and grunts lol).

The bad nights feel like they'll never end but they do. Promise 💙