am I a crap mum?

[meggymoon]

I have a 6 month old and I love her to death, but i’m starting to feel touched out. I kinda have to rock her to sleep, which isn’t necessarily the problem, it’s that she wants to squeeze my side boob, pull my lips, pinch my neck, pull the neck my top etc while being rocked.

By the evening time sometimes I feel so irritated and overwhelmed when she does it but I feel bad. It’s obviously a comfort sort of thing, but at times it’s just too much for me.

Has anyone else experienced similar?

Can you get her a little blanket or small teddy to squeeze on?

I'd transition to putting her in her cot and shushing and patting from there. Giving her something to hold might also help.

You are absolutely not a crap mum. This is exactly how I feel when my little one does this, if I am in a bad mood I can get super ragey about it- I’ve done my best to ignore and distract myself so baba can soothe themselves, but I do redirect hands if it get particularly pinchy. Your tolerance will improve as little one gets bigger, apparently iron rich foods and or supplements can also help.

DD is 8m and I just move her hands when she does it now. Currently got a visible scratch on my top lip though so obviously not quickly enough all the time 🙃 wear a necklace or something for her to hold? I have a little one I always wear anyway that catches her attention a lot of the time. As pp said though, do try & pat her in the crib if you can!

Second the comforter idea. My eldest was awful for this so I pretty much forced a blanket comforter on him. He still has it now at 2yo 🥰

You are not a crap mum, the fact you are asking the question demonstrates you are not, totally normal to feel touched out, you are human not an endless font, try out the suggestions of previous posters and if you have support try and get some time for yourself, good luck it will get better soon

We sleep trained around 5.5 months for this reason. Contact naps are lovely until about 4 months and then it was just a massive struggle. My back and my patience were giving in. No regrets, sleep training at that age was quick and actually very few tears involved. I went back to work at 7.5 months and those last 2 months of mat leave were bliss.

He's 11 months now and we have to sleep train again after a constant string of illnesses and teething and I can’t bring myself to do it yet. He can really cry and hurt himself at this age so for now I am a human dummy every 2 hours (and then go to work in the morning and work full time fml). Might have to try this weekend.

Thank you all so much! I will definitely dig out her comforter to give that a try! I am going to try and start getting her to sleep in the next-to-me as well, perhaps starting with the daytime naps? Thanks again!

Morning nap is the easiest one. Lunch was hit and miss for us at that age, I'd say a 70% success rate. Afternoon nap was contact/pram/car.

Get a chunky necklace for her to fiddle with

No. Babies can be tough at this age. It’ll get better eventually.

No you're definitely definitely not a crap mum!!

Those first few years are so overwhelming and tiring. They're wonderful too of course ! But you can't underestimate the exhaustion. I think you're also very vulnerable as a new mum and put yourself under a lot of pressure to do everything right.

My DD had a soft toy she fell in love with from day 1 (still has him now in bed 9years later ) ! And he was her comfort at bed time. Can you get a jelly cat bunny or similar? We used dummies too. I know they're controversial nowadays, but they really helped with soothing to sleep. They had no problems giving them up to be honest.

Pick your battles and if something you're doing is getting too much, try something else (even if it's not 'perfect parenting ' I e a dummy )

Good luck