Do babies 'change' around 5 months? I'm finding it hard:-(

[Pinkflipflop]

Of course I know they are constantly changing but my ds is hard work at the moment!

When he was a tiny baby he was very chilled out and content but he really seems to be developing now.

He fights sleep, I know he needs a nap but will scream the place down before he actually falls asleep.

He wants to be constantly held and cuddled and entertained, fine, I'm on ML and can do this but I don't expect him to get this level of attention at the childminders when he goes!

Dh and I think he may be at a funny stage as he feels frustrated, he isn't a little tiny baby anymore but at the same time he can't move around where he wants.

He's crying lots, basically any time I put him down.

Any advice?

Just to add, when I pick baby up he will laugh and giggle and is very happy. In case anyone thinks I'm being a horrible mum and there is something really wrong with him!

I'm sure it is around this stage that they start to fear being seperated from you. My son failed to go to anyone else in the room for more than a few minutes and hated when I left him to go and have shower. It passes. DS was also a very mellow baby and is still a mellow toddler for the time being. Stay strong.

perfectly normal at this age, he knows now that you are separate things and he likes being with you. it will pass

Definitely, my babies all "found their personality" around this age. Up until then they were placid, easy going etc. Then before 6 months, very stubborn, want this (NOT THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO GIVE ME), arching backs, throwing baby tantrums when they can't have what they see (phone, keys, other toys, knives whatever!). Also clingy and not easy to put down, can't leave the room etc.

It passes, but it really exhausting. But it passes (at about 2yrs old)...

My dd2 is the same! She seems really frustrated that she can't just 'do' what she wants, cries when put on baby gym so i can get on with other things, fights all day time naps etc. But as you say is happy as anything when played with.

Fwiw she is my 4th and they all seemed to suddenly 'grow up' at this point and become harder (except ds1 who sat and crawled early so was much less frustrated)

All i can suggest is keep doing what you are doing. Play with him maybe try and get out as much as poss. Do you have q junperoo? This seems to help with others. Or swimming?! Thats good as they can't help but sleep after!

Sorry am not much help but just wanted you to know its normal and will be easier when they can sit and crawl and entertain themselves x

Glad to know its normal! Yes to the back arching! Ds loves to do this and his whole body will go rigid to stop me putting him down!

We are constantly out and about, walks, meeting other babies, parks, playing with him, 'reading', bouncing on knee, cuddles, kisses, everything I can think to make him happy. It's not really working though.

I'll keep plodding on.

And the real watery tears because I have dared to leave him to Hoover the floor!

There is a great book called The Wonder Weeks. It goes through the ten developmental 'magical leaps forward' that all babies go through between 0-20 months at specific ages, explaining why your baby might become more demanding and grizzly for a spell before gaining a new set of skills/understanding. Sounds like your little one is having one of these spurts! The book is worth a read- it doesn't tell you what to do, just makes it all make sense and helps you see it won't last forever! You can also find loads of info about the 'wonder weeks' online if you don't want to buy the book.

It has certainly helped me, in fact I may dig it out today as ds (7 months) suddenly won't nap or let me out of his sight!

Oh God yes! DS was awful for a couple of weeks around this time but at six months he suddenly settled into being a dream baby (with the odd exception for teeth). It is a phase, albeit a horrid one, and it WILL end!

Thank goodness to hear it may just be a phase. Today was awful, not helped by spending an afternoon with a 'perfect' baby who is the same age as ds but waaaay more advanced.

pink I think that okthen is spot on, I have the wonder weeks app on my phone and there is a leap between 22.5 and 26.5 weeks ( they calculate the weeks from their due date - not their date of birth)
It says this:

Summary: the leap of Relationships

In, On, Behind, and For How Long?
After this leap, your baby will start to perceive the relationships, including distance. Suddenly, his world is a very, very big place and he is a very small part. It also includes simple things like the distance or the juxtaposition between things and the placement of things in relation to each other: something can be inside, outside, on top of, next to, underneath or in between something else, and your baby will play with these notions. Maybe your baby suddenly cries if you go a little further from him. This is very normal. Your baby now understands that the distance between you and him increases!

I think the app was free, it is really useful, a very brief summary of the book with tips on how on help your baby through each leap. I definitely recommend getting it.
Good luck!

Pink I had the same problem with my ds suddenly getting very clingy and fussing over the slightest thing. Since he has started crawling some of this has died down. What worked for me was giving him the illusion of being mobile so he had control sometimes of how he move. For example the door bouncer helped as did the baby walker though I do know there are different opinions on it it worked for me. The walker was particularly amusing as he spent the whole time following me around literally! This enabled me to get stuff done whilst he was in there.