anyone else with a high needs/spirited baby? - Page 2

[kaismamma]

my 4 month old is also high needs. he screams nonstop unless he is being held while dancing around the room. the second I stop dancing or if I sit down he starts screaming again. this has created a major issue with my two year old who, aside from being a typical two year old, requires a little extra care because she had a liver transplant as a baby. hubby works long hours and I'm having a terrible time trying to care for both of them and be the happy, calm, nurturing mommy they need. I'm exhausted! when does this end??

[sugarpop]

Well I don't know when it will end...but after visiting my friend, I feel blessed to have such a demanding active babe.

My friend had twins, she is very mainstream, and decided to be induced at 37 weeks, no health reason, just wanted to make sure her OB delivered her and before the new year, for tax reasons...yeah I know how awful this is and sounds, but the Dr. supported it and she really TRUSTS Dr.s.

Anyhow, I saw the twins this last week and for a moment I was jealous...they were so quiet and subdued, mellow, almost too much...ok there is no almost about it, they were way too quiet! Maybe they will be fine but I remind myself as I am running around with only one and trying to keep her happy that someday she will be happy and those two would worry me on the other end of the spectrum!

[maptome]

I just wanted to say that I've embraced my high needs baby, but I recently had a freakout. I went to a mom's group and there was one point when all of the babies, except mine, were calmly NIP. I started crying. It is so hard for me to leave the house because DD can't eat or sleep unless she's in her double-layer-blackout-curtained room with white noise, and it's still ALWAYS a struggle. Every time she needs to eat or sleep. Every time.

And all of these moms were friends and it seemed so easy for them. It was really hard to see. I like to think that there are many moms like us out there, but we only see the easy babies whenever we go out. Those are the moms who make it out.

Also, it's hard to hear people who don't have high needs babies talk about how they just do (fill in the blank) and then their baby eats/sleeps/calms/etc.

Sorry to sound negative. I just needed to vent.

[sugarpop]

If you can't vent here...then where can you. I like the thought that we only see easy babes because those are the ones that go out.

[karika]

suggestions for all. go gluten/ casein/ soy/ corn free. If you are strict about it, it will help. It does take time to get all of it out of your system though. sometimes a small baby crying is them trying to communicate their need to eliminate, and then they get really upset that we aren't listening. see if it happens that baby is very upset, then pees and relaxes (use a thin cloth with no wrap or go naked). make sure both of your diets are free of all GMO (if it isnt labeled organic and is in a box or bag (ie not a veg or fruit or pure food like pecans) chances are it has GMO ingredients) food colors, MSG, preservatives etc. also if the babies have received vaccines, there is so much going on inside of them at a cellular level, it can generate a lot of crying, even weeks after.

[BlueWolf]

Originally Posted by sugarpop

Well I don't know when it will end...but after visiting my friend, I feel blessed to have such a demanding active babe.

My friend had twins, she is very mainstream, and decided to be induced at 37 weeks, no health reason, just wanted to make sure her OB delivered her and before the new year, for tax reasons...yeah I know how awful this is and sounds, but the Dr. supported it and she really TRUSTS Dr.s.

Anyhow, I saw the twins this last week and for a moment I was jealous...they were so quiet and subdued, mellow, almost too much...ok there is no almost about it, they were way too quiet! Maybe they will be fine but I remind myself as I am running around with only one and trying to keep her happy that someday she will be happy and those two would worry me on the other end of the spectrum!

My DD is high needs. Her cousin who is 9 weeks younger is not, and she's one of those calm babies. But guess who has the easier time with the hard days? We do... because we fight the fight every day, we know how to roll with the punches. We have an arsenal of tricks up our selves that help calm our child or entertain them. My days are hard, but when SIL is having a hard day with her calm baby she has no clue what to do and her world falls apart.

Things might be really really difficult for all of us... but we can handle "difficult" on a lot bigger scale than mamas of easy babies. Go us!

[jacobsmom813]

This is my first time visiting this forum and I was relieved to find this thread...my little guy is definitely high needs and definitely fits many of your descriptions. He has been alert and active since birth (now seven months) and whenever we go out, everyone comments on how cheerful and smiley he is. But he is the screaming-est, screeching-est, moody-est, little baby I have ever known! We adore him and feel so lucky to have a healthy baby but it has been HARD! Struggled with colic and GERD and breastfeeding difficulties from day one but the reflux is almost behind us and the breastfeeding got a lot better. No more endless hours of crying inconsolably but now it is just needing constant attention (lasts about 60 seconds alone if I'm lucky and is quickly bored with toys and any kind of jumper, bouncer, etc.)

Being out helps and routine helps and doing whatever i can to keep him rested helps. But he is so moody that he'll be happy in the carrier one day and screaming to get out the next-resulting in a loooong walk home carrying a 20 lb baby in my arms. I've definitely been the mom of the fussing, crying, screeching, squirming baby in every group I've been too. So, as much as I don't have any advice to give, it is nice to find other mom's out there going through the same thing...