4mnth old trying to rule my life

[colette]

Well not quite but that's how it feels sometimes. Ds is 4 1/2 mnths old and if I am not feeding him or playing with him or he is not asleep he yells to be picked up!
By the evening when I am trying to put dd to bed (dh is usually at work) I am finding it really irritating(sp?)
I have to leave him giving blood curdling screams while I tell her a story. He is not quite so bad earlier in the day but he wants to be entertained constantly - sitting him in front of the washing machine,or under his baby gym doesn't work anymore . He makes me feel guilty but on the other hand I am getting fed up trying to cook /eat/ go to the loo as quickly as poss . I can't remember dd being like this as often.
He is too heavy to hold for long as my back is starting to protest( I sound really sorry for myself !!)
Any ideas/solutions welcome
He doesn't do this as much for dh

Colette, if you fancy giving a Lindam door bouncer a try, I have one that you can have for £5. My DD was also like your son at that age, and the boucer did entertain her for just long enough for me to cook a meal or clean the kitchen...

Email me if you want details.

Much sympathies Colette. My DD was an extremely clingy baby who needed to be constantly entertained or held. It was so exhausting and I must admit there would be days when I would feel resentful that I couldn't get anything else done, and sometimes hated life as a new Mum. I used to look with such envy at some of my friends and sister's babies who would happily sit there and gurgle away happily to themselves. It did become marginally easier when DD became mobile - although even then she still loved my un-divided attention. Things I found helped me a great deal were the following:-

• Door bouncer
• Baby Eiensten range of videos
• Childrens music tapes and calming classical music
• Help from my Mum and DH to give me a much needed break from time to time
• Cranial oestopathy (one of my BF swore by this)
• Early bedtime (7pm for DD so that at least I could get all my chores done in the evening)
• Ensuring DD got enough sleep during the day - for me having a routine worked well here

DD to this day loves attention - I think it must be her personality. I am ashamed to admit that as she got older she wasn't very good at entertaining herself at all. It was only once I sent her to nursery she actually learnt that skill. However, she is a bright and happy child who is very sociable towards both adults and other children, so there is definately light at teh end of the tunnel.

that is a great post, metrobaby.

thanks for your replies
I should have logged on again before sending dh out to buy one on sunday- but thanks for the offers,
He loved it only for short bursts but it's amazing what you can get done in 15mins.However today he yelled after 5 minutes - I think he was hungry . I really hope he is not getting bored with it.Poor dd fell asleep whilst waiting for me to settle him before she got her bedtime story.
Btw he is not particular about who is entertaining him and will go quite happily to anyone who will give him their undivided attention.He has had enough of watching Rollie Pollie (that I have minimized on the screen whilst typing) and is wriggling on my lap I am off to try and put him in the door bouncer again.I need to get some thing done but heyho I am not getting stressed about it today at least not until later!!

Metrobaby thank for your suggestions .
How did you find a good ostepath and was it expensive? Also can you tell me some more about the videos .

The videos are available from amazon - do a search under their videos for either Baby Bright, Baby Mozart, baby Shakespear, or Baby Einstein. Most have a review as well which maybe useful in deciding one to go for.

As for the cranial osteopath I would try and go to one that is recommended by someone you know. My BF went a year ago to one who charged I think £25 a session and had 4 sessions in total. If you do a search on the talk boards theres also some threads about other mumsnetters who have tried them out too.

thanks metrobaby - am so glad I started this thread as the suggestions posted in response have really helped.