3 week old wants to be held all the time

[WinterBabyx]

First time mum here and about the first week/week and a half of babies life they slept in the Moses basket great you could pop them down and they’d nap for an hour or so

As the weeks have gone on it’s like they notice I’m not there and wake near enough as soon as I pop them down and want me to hold them/rock them to sleep or to sleep on my chest.

I don’t mind this I know these moments won’t come back! And I love my baby unconditionally and our cuddles. My only worry is , is this normal? I have nothing to compare this to and some people have said baby is clingy so it’s made me worry it’s abnormal?

They’ll sleep in the bed side cot for longer! It’s just in the day they won’t sleep unless someone has them or if we’ve been on a long walk they’ll be flat out then for a little period of time

Yep - comments came from in laws and both of mine and DH’s grandparents so we’re older generation

Shame you didn't talk to the women before you gave birth about their experiences after giving birth. Depending on their age it would be a lot different from now e.g. longer hospital stay, no maternity leave/very short maternity leave.

Ah so relieved by this. Baby is 3 weeks today and I am experiencing exactly the same!

Yes very normal- in my experience (I have a 14 week old) there are times over the coming weeks where they will be extra clingy- through developmental leaps and cluster feeding (think this is only breast feeding babies)
It wasn’t until around 10 weeks that my baby started sleeping in her crib for naps.

@Sharrowgirl

3 weeks? Completely normal.

Who said he was clingy? I’m gonna guess it was someone of the older generation?

I don't know how much older you would have to be to say that. Of course a 3 week old wants to be cuddled and carried about.

My baby is 17 weeks and still likes to be held whenever he is awake but I still wouldn’t describe him as clingy, he is just cuddly! I love it - do what you want as it’s your baby and don’t listen to odd comments about clingyness. They are probably just jealous cos they want a cuddle!

Perfectly normal, enjoy your cuddles and ignore the silly comments from your in laws.

I find it helps to think about evolution! A three week old baby happy to be put down, and a mum happy to put it down, the baby would have been eaten or frozen within minutes.

You're just perfectly evolved the two of you!

I can tell you that it certainly isn’t typical advice from the ‘older generation’.

Older generation here.
Plenty of us held our babies and didn't leave them to cry.
It's not always age. In 30 years some of your peers will be spouting the same rubbish.

OP, FWIW I started thinking crikey, this is clingy when he was about 3.5 months old and that's because it felt like contact napping and bfing, including cluster feeding, would never end and he was getting heavier, house was a mess and what not. But I really didn't think this way when he was tiny. Remember that for the first 3 months they think you and them are one, it's only after that they gradually realise that you two are separate human beings. More independence will come soon. My DS still likes a cuddle but all of a sudden he's so interested in sitting down and playing that it's me who initiates the cuddles now! And I miss those newborn ones already! So cuddle away. You know what to do best. You're his mum ❤ xx

I'm constantly worrying if I'm doing everything right and if they're okay

You'll probably feel like that for the next 50+ years! Which is perfectly normal and the sign of a loving mum.

Congratulations, enjoy your lovely cuddles, you've earned them 💐

Older mum here. Smile and do as you like. You are doing a great job. Slings all the way x

Ignore the comments OP, you do what you feel is best.

I always used to look at mine as newborns and think - It must be scary for them really, to come from a womb being all warm and snug to the outside world and just be expected to accept being put down and left.
While they learn to accept that, it can take a while so you absolutely can not and will not spoil your baby so enjoy.
Mine were mostly in a sling or if I had to leave the room for a few minutes for the loo etc... I'd swaddle them before popping them in the crib or basket, that normally bought me enough time to complete what I was doing solo.

Just to adding to the chorus of "normal"!! No such thing as a clingy 3 week old!

If I could change one thing about having my first baby it would be that I'd just let myself enjoy him wanting to be with me all the time and not fretted about whether he'd ever stop or whether I'd get that load of laundry done.

Go with it OP, you're doing great - and congratulations on your baby!!