End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held UPDATE FRI PM

Can anyone offer any advice?

My baby boy is now 11 weeks old. I thought things would be getting better. He pretty much constantly needs to be held (and moving around) all day and evening. He rarely naps, just brief catnaps where he falls asleep in my arms and then wakes and cries when I put him down.

The worst part is the feeling of neglecting my 2 year old DS. He wants me to sit and play, read him books, etc.

I have tried the Bjorn, putting him in a bouncy seat, play mat, works for maybe 5 minutes if I am lucky.

DH works late a lot, the evenings I just feel like I will lose it.

UPDATE: Friday afternoon.

Thanks for the advice and support. I tried swaddling with the miracle blanket today when I put him down for a nap. Well- I got a 2 hour nap this morning and a 2 hour nap this afternoon Could be just a great day- but you know what- I'll take it!!! Thanks again.

Message edited 7/9/2010 4:28:55 PM.

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

ugh, I can't even imagine doing that with a 2 year old. My only suggestion was the Bjorn.

Do you swaddle him? That should help with naps.

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

bump-

anyone else?

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

Just wanted to offer that must be so hard. My DS always wanted to be held AND moving as well (still does) but luckily for me he really likes being in the Bjorn. Is your DS too big for the sling? Maybe he'd like that better?

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

Do you think maybe something is bothering him ?

Tummy issues or reflux and he wants to be upright ?

He is probably getting more sturdy now, how is his neck control ? Do you think if you propped him a bit with towels he would sit up in an exersaucer ? Or maybe the Bumbo soon ? Does he like the swing ?

So hard with another LO to tend to

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

just hugs.

#1 was that way. nothing ever worked, he grew out of it at 8 mos old. Every nap was in my arms.

#2 isn't like that at all. I can't imagine going through what you are currently with a 2 year old.

I am sorry, don't beat yourself up. I was able to catch 15 min here and there with the jumperoo! and bumbo. There is nothing you can do about it

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

Posted by Bops

Do you think maybe something is bothering him ?

Tummy issues or reflux and he wants to be upright ?

He is probably getting more sturdy now, how is his neck control ? Do you think if you propped him a bit with towels he would sit up in an exersaucer ? Or maybe the Bumbo soon ? Does he like the swing ?

So hard with another LO to tend to

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

Posted by Janice

just hugs.

#1 was that way. nothing ever worked, he grew out of it at 8 mos old. Every nap was in my arms.

#2 isn't like that at all. I can't imagine going through what you are currently with a 2 year old.

I am sorry, don't beat yourself up. I was able to catch 15 min here and there with the jumperoo! and bumbo. There is nothing you can do about it

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

Hang in there---having a 2nd is hard enough to begin with! Have you tried a sling? I used a ring sling in the beginning with my son in the 'cuddle hold' and his feet tucked in, I think it made him feel very secure. It will get better!

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

My sun loved his Little Lamb cradle swing -- He would sleep/ sit in it for hours. Most of the time I wouldn't even turn it on. He might also have a little indigestion. Are you FF? We had the babyon Similac and once he got to be a couple of weeks old it was too heavy on his stomach. he was grunting and wouln't sleep well. We switched to Gentlease and he was a new baby.

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

there is swaddle... and then there is
Happiest Baby on the Block!

Swaddle
Side
Swing
Shush
Suck (a paci)

some real person on youtube doing it

DS screamed and screamed until I did 4/5 of the above, and even then took 3-5 min for him to calm down.

I used an infant swing a lot! DS hated it at first, but I would swaddle him, do all the above and dump him in the swing, he was in heaven.


DS is 3 days to turning 4 months exactly and I had to do this to him today, it still works, he loves being swaddled now.

Message edited 7/8/2010 7:43:14 PM.

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

my DD hated swaddling at first too, but she needed it and eventually accepted it so you may want to keep trying it, or a sling. other than that, all i've got is

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

I KNOW it feels like it will last forever and I KNOW how hard it is because I had a DC like that, but it will get better. Have you tried a sling? I'm such a huge proponent of them now because of how well it worked with my DD and now my DS. On days when DS won't let me put him down, I slap him in the sling and he naps all day in there while I do chores, type on the computer, play board games with my DD, etc. It really is the best thing and you can cradle carry them so they can nap. It's much more comfy for them than the bjorn in my opinion. I have a slinglings sling. Love it.

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

My DS wants to be held most of the time, but I can put him down for naps when he is in a deep sleep. When I can't get him down I put him in the sling. I have the Maya Wrap which is a ring sling and can be used from newborn up until toddler years (max 35lbs).

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

My second daughter was/is like that, and my first daughter was only 13 months when she was born, so I do understand what you are going through. Nothing really worked except time, and learning to play with DD1 while holding DD2. And whenever anybody offered to hold DD2, I jumped at the opportunity to give DD1 my full attention. DD1 actually adores her little sis and adjusted really well. Things got a lot easier around 3.5 months because DD2 could be put in the exersaucer or jumperoo for 15-20 minutes at a time, and she also liked laying on the floor next to us and we would all sort of play together. Now my daughter at 6 months still likes to be held a lot, but will sleep for naps in her crib during the day. (She's a very light sleeper, though, so playing with my other daughter near her room wakes her up instantly.) I still also do a lot of co-sleeping at night. As hard as it is, I am certain that I will miss the times I got to hold her so much, so I do my best to cherish those moments.

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

Thanks everyone

I thought about getting a sling- just worried that it would not work, since the Bjorn doesn't.

I will try swaddling for naps. I have 2 miracle blankets that worked like a charm for my older DS.

I have been very overwhelmed/emotional lately so I have had a harder time handling this. I really want to try and enjoy my baby more.

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held

I have no advice.... Just

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held UPDATE FRI PM

BUMP_ update on top

Re: End of my rope-baby constantly needs to be held UPDATE FRI PM

glad he slept better for you today!! I know what that's like, dd did not sleep at the beginning at all. Turned out she had tummy issues. If the miracle blanket works, tho, that's great.
How much are you feeding? Whenever DD stops sleeping well, it's usually time to up her ozs per feeding. Just a suggestion.