My baby wants me to hold him ALL DAY!

hi there my child did the same at the nursery he went - wanted the assistant to pick him all day. his teachers developed a strategy where they would go down at his level and give him hugs but not pick him up. i hope this works for you.

Ahh, reading this makes me want another baby! We're done, but I sure miss those early months and years. I agree re slinging or carrying. Between the 2, we must have had 5 diff types of slings, as they had diff preferences. My daughter liked the wrap then ergo a lot, my son the traditional sling. Ergo was most comfy for us, and my DH used it, too. I'm thinking your baby would react better to your DH if he used the Ergo, as well? Also, are you swaddling? That does a lot to calm a baby. And I cannot recommend the book, The Baby Whisperer, by Tracy Hogg, I think, enough. A great balance between attachment parenting and a bit of a schedule. It literally changed our lives with our son. Re crying, we never let ours cry it out, but I did let them go for 5 min at that age. I would either have my DS out in the garden where he could listen to nature, or play a soothing cd, or mobile, etc. If I knew he was fed, burped, nappy changed, etc, then I wouldn't stress about 5 min. I also would put him down initially where he could hear me get on with what I was doing. Somehow, between about 3 hours of sling/wearing a day & a bit of experimenting, we got through it. A glass of wine sure helps with the stress of it all, too! Congrats on your new baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

The other thing you could do, if he is ok with just being near you, is setting up the pram and wheeling it around so its easy to keep him nearby. Give up the idea of going to the toilet without an audience ever again. My son is nearly two and I'm still looking forward to the day I don't have to leave the toilet door open.

ps you might want to give this a read http://www.parentingscience.com/infant-crying.html, and while you are at it, bookmark and read the entire website. It is hands down THE best source of evidenced based, well referenced non emotive information on all things baby/child related that I have ever seen.

Some babies are like this, its not because of anything you are doing/have done. They are either just higher needs (loads of theories on this from "4th trimester" to an a premature sleep center in the brain that simply needs a little more time to adapt to life outside the womb, to gastric immaturity etc etc) or often they have something underlying like silent or not so silent reflux that makes it uncomfortable/painful to lay down flat. Your baby will not be "damaged" if you don't hold him all day, thats quite true, however on the flip-side nor will he be damaged if you do. If he cries and you want to comfort him by picking him up then do so, don't feel you are being "weak" or "spoiling him" this is absolute nonsense and I get annoyed every time I hear it. You will hear parents say things like "I never held my baby too much and he was really happy" and you know what, they didn't hold their baby a lot BECAUSE their baby was just as happy not being held, not the other way around. I picked my baby up the second he even whimpered, luckily for me that was not that often, he was a very very chilled out baby and was quite happy to just lay on a blanket beside me and coo and smile at me all day, but you know what, I don't credit myself as having had some magic parenting skill or technique to make him that way, its just how he was (am really hoping for another baby the same though, I won't lie) don't let people imply that your baby is unsettled because you have cuddled him too much or been too responsive. Consider babywearing to make it easier on you, consider a motorized swing/bouncer if movement helps. There is absolutely nothing wrong with comforting a distressed baby and yes, he will grow out of it. If he follows the average pattern for unsettled babies then he will have been at his least happy at around 6-8 weeks and will be much better by around 4 months. This is not mean he is grumpy or ill tempered person, he is just finding it harder to cope than some babies do. That makes life harder for you for sure, and you will need more support than some mums do, don't feel bad about that.

My DS was like this too. He was born grizzling LOL! I could have carried him about all the time if I'd been prepared to do so. He got plenty of love and cuddles from myself and DH but he was happier with me. I put him in a bouncy cradle while I was doing things and let him grizzle. I spoke to him and sang silly songs while I ironed or cooked etc. Yes, the early weeks are important but don't let anyone tell you that your baby will be "damaged" if you don't carry him about 24/7. Both of my grizzlers grew up just fine, full of confidence and happily adjusted to adult life. DD is married and is a district nurse while DS is on his way to Dubai on his on for a 2 year contract as a senior architect. Your bub will be fine and you need to take care of yourself too.

I totally understand CG, mine was like this.......nothing worked, swing chair, mobile, leaving her to cry.....it wasn't a case of giving in, the crying simply did not stop until she was being held.....there was also the 6 O'clock unexplained crying everyday, no matter what.......but she did grow out of it, hopefully your DS will too. <em>edited by Sugarbeach on 08/06/2012</em>

Of course you'll baby will want to be cuddled all the time if mummy gives in and does everytime he cries. Put him down but make sure he can see you. If he moans just go up to the play pen and comfort him, but do not pick him up. Have U got lots of mobiles music or even a swing chair to comfort him, so u can get on with things? All my children were like that at first. Its easier to do it now then wait till his a yr old, as then they get really clever lol My 7 month old comforts himself, is fine if I walk out the room etc but I know some parents who struggle and struggle as they carrying them all the time...one of my friends had a baby who would only sleep for 20 min max...as he wanted to be with her all the time. Be strong. <em>edited by fairycakeyumm on 08/06/2012</em>

What? Where are you moving?! Both my DSs were like this and I found baby wearing the only way to get things done. DD is so much easier, thank god! Please fill me in on where you are going, coffee maybe??

Hello CoffeeGal Would you consider baby wearing as a possible solution? You and your baby would be satisfied in the same time...