How to survive velcro baby as single mum

[aloepaige123]

I'm a single mother to a wonderful 4mo. He's awesome, but extremely clingy. He sleeps okay at night in his next to me, but if he wakes and I'm not in bed he freaks out. During the day, I can't pee, eat, clean or do anything w out him on me. It's exhausting. I try to relax and enjoy the contact naps etc as I'm aware it doesn't last forever but after multiple hours my back hurts and I just want to shower and sort out the house because if it's messy it's stressing me out. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to fit getting everything done and having 'me time' into the few short hours I have him babysat for every few weeks or so. Any advice?

Aww my baby is quite a velcro baby too and it's hard work. Do you have a sling? I found this helpful to get things done around the house. To shower I'll put baby in a sleeping pod beside the shower with a lot of toys. In the kitchen I'll put baby in a bimbo seat on the counter and sing songs while I put things away and get food cooked.

It's just babys personality and it definitely wont last forever. My first baby was like this and he's now a independent 4 year old who still likes the occasional cuddle

Velcro baby? If yours is a velcro baby mine was a duct tape baby because she wouldn’t even fall asleep unless she was attached to either me or my husband. And since my husband was there working parent it was usually me. No advice. I will shamelessly admit the laundry didn’t get done for six solid months except for the bare bones necessities.

The first six months are the worst. Hang in there.

The things that helped me were:

Acceptance. Like I don't have to like it but I'm going to accept it.

Do the bare minimum re housework. If it stresses you, make a plan to do one room/area/task a day. E.g. I'd put a load of washing on and tidy the living room. That's all I'd do that day. The next day I'll sort the bedroom out etc.

Use the contact naps to actually relax. Watch TV, read a book, disengage from baby for a while IYSWIM

Try a sling

If you need to shower etc, put baby in cot. They'll cry but that's OK. If they are somewhere safe they'll be OK. (However I know this is hard - not exactly a relaxing shower listening to a crying baby - I'd put my DD in a bouncer in thr bathroom while showering so she could see me and she didn't cry so much then lol)

As PP. Do the bare minimum to reduce stress.
Someone told me, babies don't fall of the floor! Meaning that if they are safe they can cry five minutes meanwhile you have a shower/make dinner/go for a wee.
Use a sling to have both hands free!

I have twins both like this, its exhausting. Literally just accept it then that in itself can ease things a bit. It will start to get easier as things change you just have to adapt and embrace! I just keep telling myself one day I'll look back and crave this so badly so just enjoy every moment as painful as it can be.

Mine is the same and a few weeks older than yours.
I found a baby bouncer which helped a few weeks ago... wished I'd bought one sooner! Someone gave me a baby swing which was rubbish so I'd foolishly assumed it would be for all chairs.

Take the bouncer with me to the shower etc but it means I'm hands free and can get stuff done :)
I'd put a timer on and let him cry for a minute before picking up.... I was so surprised that he'd stop crying before the minute time was up!
You've got this :)