8mo rejecting pushchair + extreme separation anxiety- HELP

[zinaida]

He's lways protested going in the pushchair , sometimes really howling, but if he's tired it sends him to sleep almost onstantly so we thought it can't be a comfort issue, just boredom/ wanting to be held. He's recently got very clingy and yesterday I could not get him in the pushchair -he's big for his age and really strong, and try as I might (on several occasions) he just wouldn't go in. I had to carry him 1.5 miles home and he weighs 12kg! It killed my back. And I cried in Starbucks.

I got him a new toy arch to entertain him and we found today that if we use a blanket instead of snowsuit it's easier to manouver him in, but he absolutely howled the whole 30 mins into town. We're turning him rear facing tomoRrow to see if that helps. Is there a sling for babies this big that would go on my back? Stretchy wrap sling just hurts over any distance. Any suggestions?

Also, he's teething, he's snotty, and although in general he's a happy friendly baby at the moment he only wants to be held by me and will howl if daddy holds him, which is sad for both of us - I'm knackered!

We bf and cosleep so it's not as if he doesn't get lots of contact with me. He's our first and gets lots of attention. Any advice gratefully received!

I've got an Ergo baby carrier which is pretty good, I don't think stretchy ones are very good once they get heavy.

Also I can recommend holding them in place with your knee in order to do the straps up with your hands if you need to force him into the pushchair. I could still do that with my 2yo at 12kg.

It might help to use a sling/carrier in the house if he's especially clingy, i.e. carry him while you're making dinner or cleaning. Sometimes just 30 minutes can help them to feel a bit calmer (or go to sleep) and then you can put him down again. I used the Ergo quite a lot at this age for DD2, she had quite bad separation anxiety but it had pretty much disappeared by 18 months.

Thanks a lot for the recommendation!

I carry my 19 month on my back, and friends who carry their 3 year olds on their back. (DD was also a pram/buggy refuser hence the slings)

I use a woven wrap (not a stretchy - very unsafe for back carries) but DP uses a buckle carrier called a wompat. Other friends gave patapums, rose and rebellium, ergo, manduca. There are more that might suit but that;s all I can thik of!

Go on www.slingmeet.co.uk and find a local group where you can try a few different slings - the lady who runs mine still carries her nearly-5 year old regularly and there's slings that are amazingly comfortable! Not everything suits everyone though which is why it's ideal to try before you buy :)

I feel your pain my DS did this literally every time he went in his pushchair until he was 9mo I had a sling but he's 99th centile and it wasn't always practical.

One day he just didn't fight and didn't cry or need to be rescued and carried around anymore I don't know what changed to this day

Thanks for the posts everyone. We went and got one of those rucksack type baby carriers today- howled all the way to the shop, laughed all the way home (2 miles!) in the carrier. Ironically, it's like a burden has been lifted from my shoulders!

Only downside is that he uses my hair as reins!