Finding DD difficult

[SausageSmuggler]

I'm finding 18w DD really hard work at the moment. During the day, if i'm not holding her or giving her my undivided attention she whines and screeches, the noise is just horrible. I've also got 21m DS to entertain meaning I can't sit and cuddle her all day, as much as i'd like to. Then it's a battle getting her to nap, she normally gets herself overtired and screams before eventually crashing. At night she goes to bed no problem and settles after her dreamfeed but then moans and stirs a lot. It wasn't too bad at first but it's been gettig earlier and earlier so i've been going back to putting her in our bed which I really don't want to do. Even that didn't work this morning and now i'm up and completely shattered after a broken night. I know it'll get better but finding it tough right now. Any advice/words of comfort greatly appreciated.

Have you tried using a sling with DD? It was (and still sometimes is!) the only way I can get anything done when my DS is having a clingy day!

Regarding her naps, what are you doing differently at bedtime compared to naptime? Is she not tired enough/too tired when you are trying to get her to sleep?

I used a sling when she was tiny - when she was awake she refused to be put down. That was fun when I was trying to pack our stuff to move house She seemed to grow out of it (needing to be held) but now she's doing it again. I thought about getting the sling out again but she's really heavy and any carrier I use just kills my back after a little while.

The only difference between her bedtime and naps is putting her into her pj's although sometimes we're not at home when its nap time but she goes off just fine. I try to look for signs that shes tired then I try getting her off to sleep. She has a bottle every 3 hours and normally has a sleep in between but the actual times vary.

I think part of the difficulty is that toys/jumperoo etc don't entertain her plus I think she's desperate to be on the move so boredom might be a big factor.

*goes off just fine in the car or buggy.

It sounds like you need a different sling? One that you find more comfortable.

What sort of sling are you using? I'm not strong in the slightest and still comfortably carry 16mth DS around in a sling, I know people who regularly lug their 3 year olds in a sling. It definitely sounds like you need a different/better sling!

I could,have written your post Word for word lol. Same issues with my dd same age. She gets so frustrated at not being able to move Its screaming fits. On her tummy most of time or trying to get on tummy! Even at night. She is,just a,very highly strung baby! I will be watching this thread with interest. She will Only be occupied ny herself for short periods and gets over tired in day terribly. Still waking at night for a feed too.

Cazm2 it's always nice to find someone going through the same thing.

I've got a baba sling, a baby bjorn and a connecta carrier. The connecta is the most comfortable out of the 3 but my back still hurts after a while, I have a long history of back trouble though.

I think I forgot to say, so apologies if I'm drip feeding, I also have a DS who's 21m and very full on. Not naughty, just extremely energetic so I wonder if part of DD being grumpy all the time is because she wants some attention when I'm playing with him. Thankfully he's brilliant with her - loves her to bits.

Oh, just read my OP and I did mention DS (on phone)