To ask for your tips on coping with my baby

[Zinni]

I feel like I have no time for myself.

Baby is 4months. I've got him into a nap routine but he'll only nap on me. Soon as I transfer him to cot he wakes and cries hysterically.

When awake he wants to be carried all the time (doesn't have to be me, he'll happily let strangers hold him). If I put him in cot/bouncer/Bumbo with toys he lasts approx 5-10mins before screaming sometimes won't tolerate it at all

I'm so envious of my NCT group. Their babies are happy sitting in bouncers, Bumbos etc whereas mine wants constant cuddles and attention.

DH takes him for a couple of hours in eve so I can shower and catch up on housework. I put him in sling a lot but he's heavy now.

How do you cope? Is it normal for a 4-month-old to be like this? I feel like I'm getting depressed.

Ladies who use the Ergo do you find it fiddly to clip and unclip? My friend has one says that this is a problem. I'm thinking of getting the Bjorn One carrier as it has good reviews, has anyone tried this?
Nearest sling library is a 2-hour bus journey away.
He naps in his wrap-sling but only if I keep moving. And I get pain in hips after few hours. Also find it hard to do anything that needs bending like laundry, cooking, dishwasher so feels restrictive.

He hates the pushchair (too big for pram now). He cries after 5mins so I end up carrying him on shoulder or in sling.

Fuzzy sorry you're struggling too! I tried him in my friends swing but he just cried. He used to wake every 3hours in night but recently started sleeping 5-6 without a feed, I didn't do anything differently it just happened.

Oh just saw your post about Baby Bjorn! I was looking at the One Carrier is this the one you've got?

I've got the Babybjorn We which is the cheaper version of the Babybjorn One. It's a similar design but doesn't face forward. It also has a big buckle that digs in the baby's back. It's just awful. I actually rang Babybjorn and asked wtf this buckle was all about, I asked about the Babybjorn One and she told me that has two buckles one either side. All she could say was that they're extensively tested etc and that they had good feedback from their product testers.

Sorry! That's only my view though they do have good reviews so people obviously do like them.

The babasling is fantastic. So lightweight and versatile.

DD was like this. For her first few months DH and I sat up half the night each to let her sleep on us. Then I spent all day on the sofa with her glued to me. Nothing got done for a few months expect cuddles. And I made sure DH didn't expect anything else. I didn't even get to eat lunch most days because I couldn't put her down for long enough to make something. She had reflux and threw up as soon as I put her down.

Things will be normal again soon, don't worry. DD slept in her bed and played on the floor by the time she was 4 moths, I think. Then we had some regressions when she started teething, but... Everything is a phase!

From what I've heard you can't over feed a breastfed baby.

I've got the ergo 360 and I don't find the buckles to be problematic, I guess it's down to the individual. Is there anyway you could try out your friend's ergo?

Another vote for the jumperoo!

Have a look at the High needs baby support thread in Sleep.

Sometimes it's not "normal" baby behaviour and you need a bit of extra support if you have a baby like these.

another vote for the ergo 360. I had a hana wrap sling for when DD was younger, then got a Bjorn which I hated, all the weight was on my shoulders and my back would hurt very quickly. Also, I am short and DD is quite long so I found my knees were knocking into her legs all the time.

so I got an ergo 360, not cheap but well worth it. i can carry her for much longer periods. I sometimes bring her to work with me (she's now 17 months) and I have her in a front carry for ages. I haven't found the buckles to be a problem at all, the only difficulty I have is getting her into a back carry without help, hence usually putting her on the front.

It sounds as though the Gaviscon isn't effective. How long as he been on it? Go back to GP asap and ask for Ranitidine which is the next treatment they would suggest. If that doesn't work, omeprazole is the next thing the doctor should try. We drifted for ages with DS1 on ineffective reflux treatment and it caused no end of problems, especially with weaning. Also if poos are green and mucousy you should ask Doctor about cow's milk protein intolerance. Also, you can't over feed a breastfed baby but "over feeding" is a symptom of reflux as baby instinctively wants the milk as it is a natural antacid.