Help!!! DS2 just wants to be carried.....

[Maddison]

I'm sure this is a problem many of you have been/are familiar with. My DS2, 7 weeks, just wants to be cuddled all the time and I just can't do it! besides having a constant dead arm, I already have DS1 who is 4 and thankfully so far we haven't had any problems with jealousy etc. and I obviously want it to stay that way.

DS2 does not seem to like a) his boucy chair b) his play gym or c) his play nest. The longest he stays in them is 5 minutes (longer if I let him cry then he falls asleep ). The only places he will settle for longer is his car seat or the couch and I'm not keen on letting him stay in either of those places for long.

So what did you do about this? What tactics did you use? Any hints and tips from you wise ones would be very much appreciated!

[suzyj]

try using a pouch or sling to keep your hands free. this gets you through the worst of the clinging and you can get on with your day. when Ds2 is a bit older and able to really grab for toys, etc, then play gym will keep him happy for longer, i'm sure. i think there are a few threads on this so have a run through the archive or do a search and see what other tips you come up with.

Very wearying on you, i know. Say to yourself, 'it's just a phase...'

[saadia]

where does he sleep m?

[spidermama]

That's uncanny. My sister phoned me today to say her ds2, also 6/7 weeks, also wants to be carried. He cries as soon as he gets put down. I suggested she carry him but she doesn't want to.

Did he have a tricky birth? If so, Cranial Osteopathy might do wonders. Some Including my HV) reckon it's a good idea whatever the brith was like.

[frannyf]

Oh yes, get a sling. A proper tie / ring one where he can lie down, not the front carrier type where the baby sort of dangles off your chest (I recommend the Huggababy but you need to find one that suits you). It will save your arms and you will be able to get on with your life and have a calm baby who goes everywhere with his Mummy.

It's much easier to just give in to his understandable need to be right next to you, rather than try to train it out of him. He is only tiny and this stage won't last forever.

Good luck!

[Maddison]

I've got one of those carrier things and tbh I find DS2 really heavy in it, can't imagine carrying him in it all day!

During the day he normally sleeps on the couch unless he falls asleep in his bouncy chair after a fair bit of wailing. At night I can put him in his cot and he's asleep normally within minutes - I can't believe I have a baby who actually LIKES going to bed

His birth was a quick one, 2 hours from the start to the finish and was only pushing for about 4 minutes. I think I might give that CO a go. Is your sister having CO on her DS? If so, I'd love to know the outcome.

I've signed up for a baby massage class as I never even heard of this with DS1 - do you think this may help? I suppose if I can get him to relax in his chair or under the gym he may start to enjoy himself a bit more. Thanx for the replies

[starlover]

second CO here! they're FAB FAB FAB

[roosmum]

maddison - my ds was just like this & afraid the only solution IME is to sling him & carry until he grows out of it - which really won't be long i guess. ds hated his bouncy chair....& then one day was fine, used it for naps for a few months (now waaay too big for it), ditto playgym, played for hours on that thing, best £25 we ever spent!

[frannyf]

Hi again, if you have the sort of carrier where he is attached at the front with straps over your shoulders (eg BabyBjorn) then I am sure he does feel uncomfortable to carry around. Those sorts of carriers really pull on your shoulders. There are loads of styles of cloth sling where you wrap or tie the fabric around yourself, and I bet you could find one to suit you. They are much more comfortable for you and the baby (tiny baby should not really be 'sitting upright' for long periods as held in a front carrier: their spines are not meant to be vertical yet).

I would think baby massage would be great for you both as well. Hope you find something that works for you, but you may have to just grin and bear it for a while rather than finding a 'magic button' that will 'cure' him - some babies just like to be held and that's that, in my experience...

[Maddison]

Hi Frannyf, we do have the type of carrier that you mentioned first - it's only got one strap to go over the shoulder and diagonally across the back so that really does put a strain on my shoulder. I'll look out for the cloth ones that you talked about. Thanks for the advice