Holly has given you some good suggestions, so I won't repeat them. I do,
however, want to let you know that if you and your family is under stress,
then the baby is going to pick up on that. Holding him as much as you can
and tending to his needs will reassure him that he is loved and that
everything will be okay. As everyone has mentioned, the more you hold him
and tend to his needs immediately, the more he is not going to be clingy
with social problems.
Some things that I have done over the years to help occupy baby while I am
trying to do something are:
Putting a bowl or cup of water on his high chair and let him make a mess,
while you cook dinner. Tupperware bowls and lids, measuring cups, spoons
are
all good things to keep him occupied. I also used a walker (under
supervision, never had a problem) even a play pen for short amounts of
time,
with some favorite toys to play with. Good luck and I hope your family
situation improves. Your baby is too young to Ferberize and I am not
certain
would help under these conditions.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)
I'm Just a Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll World...
<no.email@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:3f96f9cd.7733906@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> I am a new SAH mom and need advice. I finally have a baby after many
> years of miscarriage. This baby is the love of my life. In the eyes
> of my mom and friends, I have 'spoiled' the baby because I never let
> him cry. He just seems like a very happy, calm baby 24/7.
>
> Due to a family crisis - I can no longer lavish my baby with as much
> time and attention as he is accustomed.
>
> He is almost 5 months old and on some occassions, as soon as I put
> him down, and he sees me walk away (still within his vision at all
> times) he crys. If I don't pick him up, the cry turns into the an
> ear-piercing, red-faced, scream that wont stop until I hold him. I
> can be right in front of him touching him and he won't stop crying.
> It's so loud and distressing I wonder what my neighbors must be
> thinking!
>
> Mind you, he does play by himself with his toys and can entertain
> himself for quite some time, but other times he ****fts into
> 'high-needs mode'. I have a baby carrier, but I it isn't always
> practical, especially if I'm cooking.
>
> My friend suggested the Ferber method, but altering it to fit a
> daytime situation. Yeah, that lasted about 5 minutes. Because I am
> not used to seeing/hearing my baby scream-I broke down after a few
> minutes and picked him up. How can I not? As I held him against me,
> I had to hear him take those quivering intakes of air that babies do
> when they've been crying really hard. It broke my heart to hear him
> do that for 20 minutes. He's never done that before.
>
> If I continue to pick my baby up, and not teach him how to 'cry it
> out' & comfort himself during the day - am I setting myself up later
> for a lot of problems, IE: clingy child with social problems? If I
> somehow find it in my heart to let him cry for longer duratons, can
> that make him distrust me? I'm really confused.
>
> Nightime there is no problem as baby sleeps just fine in his crib.
> I'd like to hear any suggestions.
>
> Wimpy Mom
>
>
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