My 5 week old wants to be held constantly

[Youngharriet]

hi there, I'm new to mumsnet and in need of advice!

I have a 5 week old boy who screams (sometimes to the point of being sick) the minute he's put down. My 19 month old daughter is starting to get a bit put out with the fact that he's getting all the attention and I'm exhausted trying to do everything one handed! There are times when I need to leave him to cry but I hate doing it unless absolutely necessary as I feel he's too little. I would be grateful for any advice or to hear from anyone in similar situations to see how you cope with it. Thank you x

Get sling, you can wear him and get on with your day.

Same advice here, I would definitely buy a good sling (wrap of soft structure carier). I have a cat bird picolo myself and it is fab

Yes get a sling, you will have 2 hands free and a happier baby.

Stretchy wrap sling is good for a newborn.

by no means an expert as came on here to post a question myself... but had similar problem and he settled at about 6 weeks, now much happier being put down and on his own, occasionally settling himself to sleep by himself. I've heard that 6 weeks is the peak of "fussiness" so hang on in there!

If he seems in pain when he's lying down might be worth checking he doesn't have refux?

Yep, most of dd2's early life was spent in a sling wrapped to my chest. I had an Ellaroo wrap and it was fabulous. She was happy, dd1 was happy because I could help her with stuff and I was happy because no one was screaming. With practice I discovered I could go to the loo and even help dd1 on and off the toilet, with dd2 still in the wrap!

My 2.5 week old is the same. Love it, but also need to eat, drink and wee! Got a sleepy wrap sling, but we need more practice as she gets a bit grumpy in it.

She will sleep in her cot (beside bed) and pram carrycot which we use as a moses basket downstairs, but if you leave the room, she knows it and screams as if in agony. The second you pick her up, she relaxes and falls asleep on you.

Thank you all so much for the advice, and roll on week 6 to see if that makes a difference.

Our baby was like this and apart from using a sling, I found that we could gradually get him used to being put down in specific places. It was a bit of a slow process, but we'd start putting him down in a specific place and holding/singing to him, then once we'd managed that a few times, do the same with our hands taken away, then just talking/looking at him etc. and then walking away so he could still see us etc. We had to do this for each new place we want to put him down, but at 3 months I can usually put him down in new places if I pay him attention as I put him down.

Also, I think babies like this can easily become chronically overtired as it's easy once they are out of the newborn sleepy phase for them to miss their naps as you can't just put them down to sleep. I so wish I'd been really diligent at that point abiut DS;s naps.

Plus check the symptoms of silent reflux.

Yeah, get a sling and enjoy the closeness for now. Your DS is still tiny. Mine was the same but is now very independent and happy kicking around wherever i put him when i need to ge on with things.

If things haven't improved in a few weeks that's the time to try being a bit more proactive to encourage more independence.

Yes, get a sling - it's the only way to give your newborn (5 weeks is still new!) the physical closeness they need in order to thrive as well as looking after your other DC. My DS lived on my chest for his first 10 weeks and is now quite happy to be put down. Ignore anyone who tells you you're going to make your DC 'clingy' by holding all the time!