Name: UKGill
Bellingdon, Bucks, UK
Number of kids: 2
Ages of kids: 20 months, 3 months
Problem: My 3 month old son is the most 'needy' baby I have ever met. He sleeps very well at night and then wakes for another feed about 6 and then sleeps again until 10-11am. So far so good but then once he's awake, that's it for the day. He doesn't sleep again (apart from the occasional cat nap) until we go to bed at night - about 10.00pm.
The not sleeping during the day doesn't worry me, my big problem is that once he is awake, he doesn't seem able to amuse himself. He has to be held, rocked, or talked to when he is awake. If he's left on his own to play, he screams. I usually put him in his chair where he can see me but he still gets upset until he's picked up or cooed at.
He's also very good at spotting when I'm not giving him my full attention when I do hold him. He cries until I put BOTH arms around him - which means I can't prepare dinner one handed. My daughter (20 months) is not getting as much attention from me now as the baby needs so much. Any suggestions?
Solution submitted by Kanga-N-Roo from Newark, OH: I know how it feels to have a "clingy" baby. I am a stay-at-home breastfeeding mom of a now 7 month old baby girl. My daughter was and still is to an extent, clingy. It used to be mind frazzling that if i just got up from the chair and turn that she would scream. I learned however that it was ok to let her cry even if it tore my heart to shreds. Now at 7 months she still cries when I disappear for a bit, but she is quickly distracted by something she sees (usually one of our cats). I started to put her in her highchair with toys and if she cried then i just talked to her while making dinner. Not all the time did that calm her though. I have learned though that it teaches her to amuse herself, which now comes in handy when putting her to bed. It will tear your heart out to try to find a way but you will. If it ever becomes too much just put your child in a safe place (i.e. a crib) and close the door then turn up the radio or take a shower. You know that they are in a safe place and it will give you a few minutes break. Good Luck! :)
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