Don't you just love MIL and mum's comments! If only they knew... You sound like you are doing a really great job and going through a rough patch. If DS is screaming when out he is prob overtired. FWIW my DD (now 17 months) won't sleep at anyone else's house, in the car or in the pram when out. Some babies are just like that and she has been all along. Get out when you can after DS has had a sleep and feed and don't stay out too long and I would avoid really stimulating places with lots of people ie shopping centres!
Another great idea is a sling. I got an Ergo carrier when DD was about 4 or 5 months and I still use it every day. She loves it and no matter how tired she is she never cries in it and I can take her every where in it. Babies feel really safe and secure snuggled up next to mum's body.
Your DS probably sleep 3 times a day??? I can't remember the sleep at that age but I do know that 45 minute naps are very common at around 4 months onwards even though bubs needs more and wakes up cranky. Perhaps just stay home for a few days till you find a rhythm that works for you both and that you can manage outing with.
You're doing a great job!! My DS was exactly the same at that age. I ended up putting it down to an age thing! Have you got a carrier/sling?? That would be my suggestion. And I agree that you need to keep getting out of the house, I found staying home just made me worse!
Hope that helps!! It will get better, give him a week or two and things will probably be totally different.
Agree with all the PPs, you are being a great mum! Don't say otherwise
My niece is 11 months and doesn't deal well with being out and about either, she won't sleep in the pram, cries in the car, sounds like like your DS! My sister even said the same thing you've been saying, she's a bad mum and shouldn't even be going out etc etc.
It seems to just be a stage she goes through every now and then. You are right, it could be teething. Be patient.
Firstly you are a good MUM! dont ever thing it is you, he cant communicate with words unfortunately so he is trying to communicate by crying. I went through this with DD1, I called Tresillian and they were good, they came to my house and also I ended up seeing a Lactation consultant as I was BF. We looked at a number of issues, maybe you can run through the list and see if any of these help?
1. Is he getting enough milk, how often does he feed, even with demand feeding which we did, still write it down how much he is getting or how often
2. Has he started solids? if not then maybe this is the time to start? he may need more than milk.
3. Tired signs, sometimes they are easy to miss. DD1 her tired signs were rubbing her eyes thats all, sometimes I missed it, and she was so hard to settle. DD2 her signs are much easier, she rubs eyes, yawns, gets clumsy in her crawling and wont focus on me or look at me when shes tired. I put her to bed when shes happy and gurgling and she is happy to go to bed. If she is yawning and crying then its too late and she crys and needs to be held rocked for 20minsor so.
3. Would you consider sleep school? I havent done it but heard wonders about it.
4. Where does he sleep? in a bassinet or a cot or co-sleeping. Also what does he sleep in? we moved DD1 to a sleeping bag at his age and he settled much better.
The average sleep for a 5month old would be 1 morning sleep, one lunchtime sleep and one afternoon sleep (3 times during the day) and then the night sleep. Only one of those sleeps will be a long sleep.
Hope some of this helps. Remember it isnt you, you are a wonderful mum.
You are doing a great job! DD1 was exactly the same - and I was stressed out about sleep/routine etc. Oh and ignore all those little comments people make - I am sure they mean well (or at least don't mean to make you feel bad). I found it really hard going from work - where I had feedback and could feel I was making head way to being at home. I had to change my way of looking at things! I have found that walking daily helped me feel better too.
Keep doing whatever works for the two of you - and celebrate the little things!
My DS is very much the same- he will not sleep anywhere but in his cot, in his sleeping bag and with his blankie, and he's been like this ever since about 2-3 months old. Like your bub, he will sometimes have a little nap in his pram, but not a long one that does much for him.
We mainly just work around it and go out when he is up and come home when he is tired. For me, its just not worth the fight and upset otherwise. If it means I'm only at mothers group for 1 hour rather than 2, well, so be it. I still went! Recently he's started staying awake longer, so it makes life a bit easier, and I know that will continue. I just go with it for now. Yep, it gets frustrating and cabin fever-ish, but it will change.
One thing we have been meaning to try is to get him to take one nap a day at home in his room, but in his pram. I hope this will get him used to sleeping in his pram and mean we can go out longer.
Oh, also, as far as it seeming like your DS is happier around others than you, I agree with what others say about them just being a novelty. Today my DS was at my mum's for the day and was happy all day, apparently. I walk in to pick him up, he crawls over to me at warp speed and starts to cry! Us mums get all the hard bits!! Ironically, I feel a bit flattered that he will cry in front of me- he obviously feels safe enough to be vulnerable and turn to me for comfort, which is nice.
Thank you for your lovely words lately. Its lovely to know that ds is not the only one out there who is going through this.
Today was a terrible day. DS would not sleep more than half an hour which i know is normal but he was sleeping for 1.5 to 2 hours till a couple days agao so it makes him very grumpy. He was basically crying or sleeping for most of the day which was horrible and i honestly thought i was going to go insane. DH walked in the door and i broke down. It was horrible. I am convinced it must be teeth and have all sorts of gels and the brauers teething relief which didn't seem to do much.
I went to gym and dh said that ds was an angel at bed time so there you go he didn't even see what i was going through all day i think alot of the problem may be me getting so worked up when he cries and is unsettled in my head i know that its not my fault its just what he is going through but my heart tells me otherwise.
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i think alot of the problem may be me getting so worked up when he cries and is unsettled in my head i know that its not my fault its just what he is going through but my heart tells me otherwise. 
for a better day tomorrow...
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