My daughter is very sensitive (emotionally and physically), and so it doesn't take a lot to dysregulate her. Since she started crawling, as you can imagine she takes several little knocks throughout the day as she's learning to maneuver - result in crying. Wind in the night? Crying. You get the picture.
When I try to comfort her though (pick her up/hug her/any physical touch/sing to her/etc), unless it's offering the boob (which isn't a 100% success rate but it's usually close), she will physically push away from me and get more upset if I persist, but then if I stop she'll just stare at me crying as if to say "why aren't you doing anything?".
I'm aware that my feelings about this are very much a 'me' issue. I used to receive the silent treatment a lot when I was a child and needed comfort. I really have done my best to be a (what some people would call overly) responsive parent and let her know she is safe because I've not wanted to make her feel like I used to, but the situation she puts me in is making me feel both anxious and resentful. We co-sleep, I cuddle her for naps, I'm affectionate when we're playing, but especially in the last maybe 4-6 weeks, the way she responds to me when she appears to most need me has ground me down.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do when she's being like this? I'm sure the fact I'm getting stressed about it isn't helping but I'm in a vicious cycle with it. (And I'm more talking about the days when I'm at home alone with her and my partner is at work).
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Parenting
8 month old pushes me away
10 replies
pzyck · 24/01/2023 05:50
OP posts:
ConnorG23 ·
08/03/2024 19:24
sittingingold · 08/03/2024 19:18
@ConnorG23 has it always been this way?
If not I'd say it was a phase and try and enjoy being 'the favoured one' as it often changes.
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