How early is too early?!!!!

[TROLLYDOLLY77]

My ds2 is 4 weeks, and I am findig him so demanding compared to ds1, I know all babies are different, but is there something else I can do to help the situation?
He hardy sleeps in the day even after a feed, but isn't content to lay on his mat or in his bouncer, he will stay on either of these for a max of 5 mins before he starts crying. As soon as he is picked up he stops crying and the only way he will go to sleep is if he is being cuddled.
It's so hard to constantly cuddle him when I have a 2 and a hald year old as well!!!
Any advice would be greatfully received! Should I leave him to cry? am I pciking him up too soon? Help!!!!

[FlamingoBingo]

Get a sling, then he can live in it while you get on with mothering your toddler.

[fishie]

4 weeks cuddle snuggle and comfort. a small amount of crying is inevitable but don't leave him on purpose. a sling could help.

[TROLLYDOLLY77]

I have tried a two different kinds of slings and he screams in both!!!! I too thought that would be a great solution!!!
Do you think that by doing this or cuddling him all the time when he wants it, that I am making a rod for my own back and he will always be clingy?!!! Or am I overthinking the situation?!

[WoTmania]

What type of sling have you tried? I found a wrap ssling invaluable with my children.
Some NCTs do sling libraries where you can borrow them for a small cost to see if you get on with them.
Also, 4 wees is very little and he's probably still just settling into the world. It will get better.

[WoTmania]

that should have been 4 weeks not wees

[DeathbyDora]

Try not to worry about making a rod for your back by carrying around too much. I could hardly bare to put my DS down for some reason (much to the amusement of my mum) and also had DD aged 2. It's really hard trying to get a good balance between the two but 4 weeks is still very teeny! It didn't cause any long term clinginess, he just still llikes his cuddles 2 yrs later!

It will get better, I got a swing chair with music & lights which my DS seemed to like. Also I if I did pop him into a chair or on a mat I tried to make sure he was close to whatever I was doing so he could see/hear me.

I found I was constantly rearranging how I did things to find the best solutions for each situation, but it did get better!

[fishie]

ooh yes, vibrating bouncy chair was lifesaver.

[juuule]

Won't he go to sleep if you tight swaddle him and feed, then when he's nodded off put him down to sleep(I put mine in a moses basket at this age).

Definitely don't worry about cuddling and holding him making a rod for your own back. You won't and it will do him a lot of good.

[Reallytired]

The first 12 weeks is hard for everyone. Your lo is having to adapt to being outside the womb. There are lots of strange sensations that scare him like pooing for the first few times, feeling hungry, lights etc.

Sometimes mums cry during the postnatal period because they don't feel happy and blooming and maybe babies are the same.

I think 4 weeks is to young to leave to cry. I found that skin to skin contact with my daughter helped her at that age. She felt warm and could hear my heartbeat just like being in the womb.

It will get better. I have an older child and I agree its hard. My seven year old made us all laugh by telling my husband and I that IF we TRY to make MORE babies he will seperate us!

[nappyaddict]

My friends have got the Fisher Price Baby Studio swing and the Fisher Price Soothing Motions Glider and say both are great for soothing the baby when they need to get on and do stuff.

Also one has the Cosatto Goo Goo which I think vibrates.

[risingstar]

my youngest was bought a fisher price safari swing by my mum when she was exactly 4 weeks old for christmas- i could not beleive how much she loved it- she is still heaving herself into it at 21 months! i needed to be able to put her down as i had tennis elbow in both arms, this swing gave me some valuable moments and comforted her when i just couldnt carry her around- wrap not for me due to bad back and large bust ( the perils of having a baby over 40)

[pippel]

my first dd loved her swing and it was the only way to get anything done

dd2 seems to be scared by it

[nappyaddict]

risingstar would any facing you sling be a problem for you because of your boobs? Both the wrap sling and mei tai can be used on your back though if that is the case.

[peppapighastakenovermylife]

Sling is fab.

I used a bouncy chair and used to bounce it madly with my foot whilst mumsnetting sorting DS out. She seemed to like it the harder I did it