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High maintenance baby! Independence is good!
- It's okay to lie down for a minute on your own, even if you're awake.
- There are other means of transport available to you, other than the baby carrier. You may want to give the car seat or pram another chance...
- A dummy is a perfectly valid alternative to my little finger. No need to scream or panic when confronted with one.
- Daddy doesn't have quite as fabulous a chest, admittedly, but he's really just as good for getting comfort when you're not hungry.
- Lying on your tummy is possible even if you're on a mattress and not on my chest.
- Breastfeeding is for when you're hungry. Not for when you're fed up, tired, bored, upset, ...
- Why do you insist on eating seven or more times a day still?
- Why do you hate your baby carriage so much?
- Why do you hate your car seat when the car is standing still?
- Why do you sleep for two hour stretches only at night while you can do four in the early evening?
- Why do you stay awake for hours every night when I ask you to sleep?
- Why is it impossible for me to leave you crying for more than thirty seconds? I bet it's your gorgeous smile which goes all the way to the top of your eyes and the back of your ears. Or the way you stretch out your toes when you're angry, showing me that ALL of you is angry, fiery red head to little stretched-out toes. Or the way you will start to sneeze and misfire, going ah-ah-ah-big sigh. Not to mention the smell of your downy-haired head, or the soft feel of your round belly when I kiss it, or the way you look completely fulfilled lying across my lap after I feed you. I also know that all the trouble won't last while the loveliness will.
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Don't let him sleep four in the afternoon! He's confusing Day with Night! Wake him up after three, feed him, wiggle him about a bit.
ReplyDeleteHow old is he now? Time has no meaning to me any more.
I found the sleep routine in Tracy Hogg, the Baby Whisperer, really excellent, and it seemed to suit Bodhi to a T.
He's about six weeks old just now. I've just started trying to apply Gina Ford's routine - well, something resembling it because I'm not too good with stuff that is set in stone. And it's impossible with two other children. But I'm trying. As of lunchtime today, so maybe in a week's time we'll be okay. Worked wonders for Marie when we had similar problems.
ReplyDeleteActually, I just went to settle him and broke ALL the rules. Ah well. Maybe I should try your book instead.
ReplyDeleteMy #3 was my high maintenance baby. I was convinced it was a sign to stop having babies. Now I wonder if it was the Universe's way of helping me squeeze every last drop out of that last baby.
ReplyDeleteawwwww a baby isn't high maintenance at 6 weeks, He's just a wee baby!!!!!!!!!!! Give him a break :0) ps I hope mum gets one soon too :0)
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I didn't start trying anything til about 8 weeks. And then it worked v well.
ReplyDeleteDanielle tried to comment but couldn't - said wake him after two hours, and he'll start getting day and night sorted out.
He's disgusted he didn't get in first with that.
Yes, I think Baby Number Three can be treacherous. Just when you think you know babies...along comes the High Maintenance one. But Baby Number Four (in my experience) is just as easy as can be. And yet will want to eat far more than seven times a day. Only seven? Really?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of my Hannah nursing almost constantly, and echoing Ms. Moon-only secen? LUCKY! But you know this bit won't last, which some monents might make it easier to bear, right? RIGHT? :)
ReplyDeleteVery cute. We always used to say "difficult first year, easy next 17, easy first year, difficult next 17." I guess it is best to have a difficult first year.
ReplyDeleteSix weeks to anyone else is a flash in the pan, but when you are in the middle of it and tired etc. six weeks is like forever. I had different little things with #1 & 2, with feeding and sleeping patterns etc. #3 was the best, she was a happy little button, thank goodness, and still is at 20 (the boys are too I might add)
ReplyDeleteKeep up your great mummying.
Sandi xx
I'm guessing he's a boy...I had one of those but he turned into a fabulous man. xx
ReplyDelete@All This Trouble - That's a wonderful thought. I'm going to try to see it that way.
ReplyDelete@Kelloggsville - No, no - we'll both be happier if this stops right now. So will he.
@Jo - Oh, I am waking him in the day. It's just not easy keeping a little baby awake.
I'm starting now, but then he's so big I suppose it's not like a little six week baby.
@Ms. Moon - Number four? We'll see about that.
Only seven - not quite. The clue was in the "or more." I was embarrassed to say it's sometimes ten feeds.
@Kori - Of course I remember that. All the time. Because I can just about see him growing in front of me. I try to enjoy it all.
@Megan - No!!! A difficult first six weeks. I'm sorting this baby OUT!
@Sandi - I was thinking that yesterday - it's already been more than a tenth of a year. It's flying by, so I should just hang in there a little while longer.
@Helena Halme - My first boy was EASY as a baby. No trouble at all.
He's high maintenance and wants all those things because he's madly in love with you and he has a massive inferiority complex ;)
ReplyDeleteOf course he wants you by his side and holding him every second. You are awesome, warm, strong and dispense yummy liquids!!
Can we see him? Please? Then we'll be better able to help, I'm sure. Just think, he is just getting used to things. He needs some perspective and then he'll be more peaceful. I got to hold a 12 week old baby today, and she had settled in nicely, so my experience was delightful. And that smell! The downy head of a breast fed baby! I got some baby envy . . . I'm over it now.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all those comments(trying to avoid duplication)I forgot what the post was about.
ReplyDeleteAh yes! that's a lovely ode to your hihg-maintanance baby.