suddenly clingy

[lillacfaerie]

did your baby suddenly get much more clingy at around eight months. I co sleep and am exclusively breastfeeding if that matters. I'm not much of a sling wearer. My dd is huge and every carrier I've tried kills my back. I think this behavior is farly normal, but it sure is hard to get dinner on the table when you can't put baby down for a second! Oh well, at least she loves me!

[icy02]

I notice that also, but I do try to distract DS as much as possible when in the kitchen. He is usually happy if I put him right by my feet and give him a wooden spoon or spatula to play with. When I am in the bathroom trying to get ready I give him a comb or brush to explore. It works for about 10 minutes, so I work fast! It just isn't safe to be cutting veggies with a 8 mo in your arms!!

[terrainthailand]

Originally Posted by icy02

I notice that also, but I do try to distract DS as much as possible when in the kitchen. He is usually happy if I put him right by my feet and give him a wooden spoon or spatula to play with. When I am in the bathroom trying to get ready I give him a comb or brush to explore.

[MadiMamacita]

i feel like i have been posting this a lot- but its so helpful!
right around 28-31 weeks (which i think is about 7-8 mos..no? i get confused on that many weeks!) there is a tranistion period where baby has just figured out that mama can walk away and leave him behind. he's figuring out that mama and baby are two enteties where previously he thought you were one being. he is developing his sense of self which must be super scary!
if you scroll about half way down there is a chart: http://www.livingcontrolsystems.com/...ontent_ww.html

i guess thats not really a suggestion for how to deal with the clingyness, but it should pass shortly!

[LROM]

My DD is 8 months old and we are totally going through this now. It's not that she can't be put down, but she seems to mostly want to be within touching distance of me. And it's coinciding with her being able to say "mama" so when I leave her at daycare and she's playing and then as I'm sneaking out I hear her realize I'm not there, say "Mama" and start to cry... it kills me!!!

[icy02]

Originally Posted by LROM

My DD is 8 months old and we are totally going through this now. It's not that she can't be put down, but she seems to mostly want to be within touching distance of me. And it's coinciding with her being able to say "mama" so when I leave her at daycare and she's playing and then as I'm sneaking out I hear her realize I'm not there, say "Mama" and start to cry... it kills me!!!

This happened to me with my DS when I tried to leave him with my normal Friday night sitter last week. It just kills me when he reaches for me and starts screaming, I just can't leave him that way! I wish I never had to leave him at all Unfortunately have to work 3 nights/week.

[Swandira]

Yes, and it drives me nuts! He's normally so mellow and mild-tempered, but now he just wants to climb me like a tree. I admit to having cooked with him on my back in the Ergo despite my better judgment, but I'm not proud of it.

I left him for six hours one day (I had to have my gallbladder removed), and my MIL watched the kids, and apparently he mourned for me the whole time. He cried and wouldn't take a bottle, even though he normally takes one from his dad when I have an evening meeting or something. It seems she left him to cry in the middle of the floor when she couldn't get him to stop crying. I'm sure he's over it by now, but it made me sad. I hear, though, that my very opinionated three-year-old told her off for not picking up her baby brother when he was crying. Go her!

Nealy
mama to T, 6; L, 3; and O, 12/12/08

[mumofboyz]

When my LO becomes needy, I chalk it up to developmental gains, gs, cognitive development, etc. Breathe and remember that it won't last forever. He needs you. He is assuring his connection with you. That is not a bad thing.

Originally Posted by Swandira

I admit to having cooked with him on my back in the Ergo despite my better judgment, but I'm not proud of it.
Nealy

Nealy, what is wrong with cooking Ergo style? My family wouldn't eat dinner if I couldn't prep food that way. (Although I won't cook with hot oil on stove or open a hot oven with him back there.) Am I missing something?

[haurelia]

I have a 7 month old velcro baby too...the sling is part of my daily wardrobe.
I, too, cook and/or prep food with him on my back just about every day. I don't see anything wrong with that...if I didn't wear him whilst cooking, we'd be getting pizza every night.
I take him into the bathroom with me most of the time, and he loves just hanging out in there, checking out the shower curtain or the comb...I just have to remember to put the garbage up!

[~PurityLake~]

Originally Posted by MadiMamacita

i feel like i have been posting this a lot- but its so helpful!
right around 28-31 weeks (which i think is about 7-8 mos..no? i get confused on that many weeks!) there is a tranistion period where baby has just figured out that mama can walk away and leave him behind. he's figuring out that mama and baby are two enteties where previously he thought you were one being. he is developing his sense of self which must be super scary!
if you scroll about half way down there is a chart: http://www.livingcontrolsystems.com/...ontent_ww.html

i guess thats not really a suggestion for how to deal with the clingyness, but it should pass shortly!

This is something I was going to post. It is true that around 8 months old they discover they are separate from mommy. It's only natural they get clingy and I just gave them what they needed during that time. Eventually they do gain independence and it all becomes a thing of the past that you actually miss a little.

[Swandira]

Originally Posted by mumofboyz

Nealy, what is wrong with cooking Ergo style? My family wouldn't eat dinner if I couldn't prep food that way. (Although I won't cook with hot oil on stove or open a hot oven with him back there.) Am I missing something?

It's the parenthetical activities you mention that worry me. Also, he pulls my hair when he's on my back, and I'm worried he'll get hairs in things.

Nealy

[lillacfaerie]

Well, I wish I liked wearing her more. It hurts my shoulders so much. She's such a chunky little thing, and she always tries to climb out of the carrier. She's my little sweetie though. I'm sure I'll miss this stage.

[ommom]

Originally Posted by mumofboyz

When my LO becomes needy, I chalk it up to developmental gains, gs, cognitive development, etc. Breathe and remember that it won't last forever. He needs you. He is assuring his connection with you. That is not a bad thing.



Nealy, what is wrong with cooking Ergo style? My family wouldn't eat dinner if I couldn't prep food that way. (Although I won't cook with hot oil on stove or open a hot oven with him back there.) Am I missing something?

hi! i'm not nealy but cooking can be potentially dangerous b/c of fire. i'd've never thought it but i once caught myself on fire (robe touched open flame of burner) which was scary & would be pretty bad if baby were attached to me. i do cook sometimes but carefully w/her on my back, not front, and on the back burners. i also don't like her crawling at my feet when using a cleaver. i imagine it potentially falling on her by accident.

[MommyToElla]

my dd is 7.5 months and just started this phase as well... no time alone!