6 month old

[LBNM19]

My son is 6 months old and he just does not stop be crys constantly and won't stop unless I pick him up etc, he's just never happy on he's own playing etc. He won't sleep in he's own bed and has now stopped sleeping at night.

I don't no what to do I'm literally at my wits end, I also gave a 3 year old who is severley dosabiled so finding it really difficult.

Any advice?

Hi, I don't want to read and run. It's hard going, and even harder when you have more than one, then add in the disability.
It's hard to offer advice when I don't know why your lo is unhappy but I guess you need (perhaps) to step back and see if you can tell why he is. How is his sleep pattern? Does he get tired easily? Is his sleep interrupted as you have another child to take places etc? Is he teething? Has he always been like this? How is he with food, maybe he has a little reflux?
Now I am a bit harsh on the sleeping in own bed here, even when I was 9m pg with dd and SPD, if ds would wake I would insist he go back to his own bed (he's now nearly 10 and would be in with me at any opportunity!) because I'm just against it. You say he won't sleep in his own bed- but he will have to if you don't put him in yours!!! He didn't know your bed existed until you showed him!! you have possibly let him fall asleep on you once too often and maybe he now just doesn't know how to get himself off to sleep? If you have introduced him sleeping in your bed then you also have to introduce him in to sleeping in his own bed. Where does he take his naps? How well does he settle? He must sleep at night, babies need an incredible amount of sleep. If he is constantly waking, you must find a way of teaching him to go back to sleep alone, don't encourage him to need you, or the warmth of your bed, etc, you need to focus on what you want and make a decision to enforce it. This sounds harsh, but you really don't want this in a months, 6 months, 2 years time.....you need your sanity.

HTH

I have a very similar 6 month old, he will only sleep on me, next to me is too far away, it has to be on me.

Recently he has learnt to sit and that has helped him to be able to entertain himself for a few minutes, now he can sit he is also happier in the pushchair, until around 5 months I had to carry him everywhere in a sling as he hated the pushchair. He also hates the car seat. It's only in the last couple of weeks that he has sat and played with toys at dinner time, I have had to have him in my arms whilst I eat dinner previously.

I also have a 2 year old who is very "busy" so lots of my attention goes on him, I think the baby knows he needs to be like a little limpet otherwise he might not get his fair share of attention.

I'm trying to view it as a positive thing, he's our last baby so it's nice he wants to be so close :)

Yes pretty much always been like it, he's just not happy unless he's on me. He can't sit up yet so I'm hoping when he can that will be a bit more independent and entertain him self. The one and only reason I put him in my bed is that I'm that exsusted I would rather get some sleep than no sleep, we get 8 hours of nursing cover a night for my other son and I have to be up every morning at 6am, so it starts from the minute I wake up giving my elder son meds nebuliser turning him etc he can't do nothing by himself then mt younger one just screams while I'm doing any of it I used go bring him in the room with me but now he rolls ever where and pulls things it's not safe for my other son. Just suppose I wanted some reassurance that he's not the only baby like this I'm always told how good everyone's babies are ha x

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate! I fully understand your need for sleep and that you go to any lengths to get.

Have you got a sling? A good sling where you can do back carries could help you, we have a woven wrap which is basically just a big bit of fabric, I never thought I'd go in for that sort of thing but it really really helps, the baby just stays calm and he doesn't feel that heavy despite being a chunk! It sounds like front carries wouldn't be ideal with the care you need to give your older child.

He's certainly not the only baby like it, often people like to chat about the good things but a desire to be close to you is completely natural and normal :)

It sounds like you've got it tough. Well done for being a great mother and giving your DS what he seems to want. With regards to not wanting to go in a cot - my DD and my newborn DS were / are the same. Have you tried warming the cot up with a hot water bottle before you put him in it? Obviously take it out before you put the baby in. It just makes the transfer from lovely warm mum to empty cot less dramatic. Worked for both of mine at night. Be careful of overheating though. I have no answers for the need to be held during the day other than investing in a good sling!

I have a sling I will start using it, that's a really good idea with the hot water bottle will try it.

Thanks everyone just finding it really hard and needed some support :) x