High needs baby - hates being outside

[Katty123]

Hi there

My LO is 10 weeks old and absolutely hates being outside. She will scream in the pram and sling (I've tried different types) until we take her out. I have tried taking small steps such as only 10mins at a time but she will literally scream the place down and it doesn't feel like it is getting any easier. It has been like this since she turned 3 weeks old. I know it probably just a phase but I am desperate to get outside. I feel like we have been trapped indoors for weeks now. She is generally happy at home as long as I am with her. She refuses to settle with anyone else including my husband and will just cry until I take her back. She will also only contact nap in my arms (again screams in the sling) during the day but thankfully does go in her bassinet at night.

I am not sure what advice I'm looking for. Probably just reassurance it will her easier but is there anything else I could try? Or just accept she needs me and not leave the house for the foreseeable?

Does she have a dummy? Mine were both like this usually as small babies so they had a dummy and then they were fine, would usually fall to sleep.

Have you tried carrying her instead of sling or pushchair? Appreciate thatcyou won't be able tocgo as far doing that. One of mine hated being upright in a sling, but was happy in a one shoulder ring sling where he was lying down. Or maybe she wants to look out.

Keep trying different things and do reassure yourself that this is a phase. It seems like forever when you are going through it, but you will get out again.

Is she cold? Is it busy places?

DD1 wasn't fussed on the pram we used to carry her in a forward facing carrier from around 16 weeks when she could hold her head up. She was happy when she could see out.

Also moved to seat part of pram at 3 months as she hated the basket part x

DC1 was like this. Very high needs. Despised being put down in the pram. Wanted to be held by me but hated the sling. Was a nightmare!

Both switching from the bassinet of the pram to the upright seat and being able to world face (as opposed to parent face) in the carrier were game changers. Both occurred around the 5 month mark. I’m sorry that probably feels like a lifetime away right now, but it will get better!

Just thought I would update this thread in case anyone else goes through the same in the future. Thank you to everyone who responded before. My little one is now almost 6 months and we saw changes around the 4.5 to 5 month mark. Still not perfect but over the last few weeks she will now go in the pram (sometimes still cries after 20mins but she never lasted more than 5 minutes before!), loves the carrier/sling forward facing and now even takes a dummy! She would also only ever be bounced to sleep on the yoga ball but we have just started weaning her off it and it is going pretty well! She is still not great with other people but will now stay with her daddy without crying for an hour!

Finally feel like I can get a break and feeling more positive!