6 month old mindee

[chickenmama]

I've just taken on a 6 month old baby. She comes to me 3 full days a week and has been here for 4 days so far. She's a very sweet happy baby, full of smiles and cooing away. That is if I'm holding her.

As soon as I put her down at all, anywhere, she starts crying. Even if I'm still in the same room as her, she screams and won't stop until I pick her up. Taking the other children to the toilet or trying to do meals has become quite stressful. I hate to see her cry but I have to put her down sometimes.

Has anyone experienced this kind of thing with a baby? How long does it take for a little one this age to settle in? I'm hoping as she gets more settled things will improve but it would be good if anyone has any advice on how to help the situation.

Am going through exactly the same thing with my 8mo mindee, he is fine when i am on the floor with him or holding him but absolutely screams the place down if not. No advice to give at all but just wanted to say i know how you feel.

x

Prob never put down at home! Find out what home routine is; you might need a sling etc. so you can get on with other things. Mine will lie, sit etc and coo v happily as long as she can see what is happening but she grew up like this. You may need support at home for consistent techniques for one so young. Good luck; hope it gets better soon.

I've thought about getting a sling, mentioned it to the parents last week in fact. Mum has said that baby has been held a lot but does lie on the floor quite happily. She's going to think about bringing familiar objects (like her playmat from home) but I have a feeling this won't make much difference. It seems to me that baby is already worried/stressed about being left by its parents (though she is very happy with me) and won't let me out of her sight (or touch!) in case I don't come back. That's my theory anyway.

What do you mean by 'support at home for consistent techniques'? Might be something I could look into...

I have also this problem for 18 month old mindee. He has been on and off like it since about 6 months old. I used to put him in a back carrier while I prepared dinner etc, but then he got too heavy. Now I just try to talk to him all of the time. I have tried leaving him to cry but I feel so terribly mean and guilty doing that, I think he is like it at home too. I really understand the stress you are going through, if he wasn't so lovely the rest of the time ( when I'm with him!) then I would have to give him notice as its just too much. I can't even put him in his car seat and walk around the car without him thinking I'm deserting him!

Oh dear coleslaw, I was hoping to hear everything would be fine in a couple of weeks. Don't know how you've carried on for a year like it! I put her in the buggy in the kitchen while I was making dinner tonight and spoke to her, sang songs, made silly noises. Nothing worked. In the end I got so stressed out I had to put her in the other room with the kids while I finished up, and then they got upset as she was screaming even louder

Sorry, I didn't mean to depress you! It sounds like you have had more support from the parents already than I have had in the last year! It does go in phases though and I just try to reassure as much as I can. He is going to be a late talker, which is not going to help!! Mostly I just worry because I think other people must think 'what ana awful childminder!!). Good luck. I'm sure it will pass!

Also 4 days is no time at all. She will settle. It takes 3-6 weeks for them to really settle IMO

Well, I've put an ad on freecycle and been offered a sling already so I'll see how that goes! Hopefully she'll start to feel a lot more secure and eventually let me put her down. Thanks for the tips and I hope things get better wth your little one too soon

Start by leaving her down with you in the same room, for short time, keep talking and singing.

Then as she gets comfortable with this start leaving the room for a bit. I found that most babies love the window. Can you place her in a high chair by the front window? I used to do this with my dd at 8.30am when many children were passing on their way to school. She loved watching them and they waved and smiled and her. They also love watching the rain, the trees on a windy day, the cars..

You could also try those door swings?

I am not CM, I am just a mum but my DS used to be like that when he was younger. I started taking him to CM from 8 months and he would scream in not hold by CM. Exactly as you say. Then my DH was made redundant, we stopped taking to CM and came back to CM when DS was 12 months. He was absolutely different child. Not even a single scream during days!
So I would hope it will change as they grow...

Laquitar mentioned door swing, I agree it is a very very good thing. Helped me at home a lot.

By consistent I mean the parents need to support you to do the same things i.e. if you are leaving them on the floor for 20 mins while you do something; they need to do the same. Babies of this age need a consistent approach imo. Good luck!