Getting an 8 month old to like other people besides me

[Masel]

Baby is 8 months old today. She's been EBF except for a little food to play with over the last month or so. When I started going to the gym when she was 3 months old she was great. By March she hated it when I left her with the child watch. The lovely ladies would have to come get me.

A month ago I hurt my knee and had ended up having surgery. She was awful for anyone who watched her during my recovery. Now I really need to do physical therapy and I feel terrible that she cries for the enitre two hour sessions. I tried bringing her to one but that didn't work. Besides, I want the PT to see me as a potential athlete not as a fat housewife.

I always leave pumped milk for her. She's not hungry she just wants me.

I've always been a geeky bookish sort so I'm kind of new to exercise. It has really helped with PPD and as an older mom I'm concerned about my long term help. I guess I'm trying to illustrate how necessary and not self-indulgent this is for me.

Is there anything else I could try to keep her happy when I'm not there?

[brinalicious]

I'm sorry you are having this problem too. My almost-8-month-old is going through the same thing and it is very hard on me. I, too, joined a gym to try to improve my health, but every time I take her they have to come get me. It is very frustrating. At church she won't even go to someone who is standing right next to me the whole time they are holding her. Arg!!!

As for getting exercise, though. You can definitely still get some workout time in if you have a decent stroller to use. Walking is one of the best exercises there is and you can do it with a baby. I try to take my walks after my baby has woken up for a nap so that I don't lose time walking while she is sleeping when I could be doing other things around the house IYKWIM?

I hope someone else has some help for the both of us.

[firewoman]

Unfortunately, this is a stage that I have never had luck changing. She wants you and likely will for many months to come. When my 3 year old daughter was 13 months I took her to the gym with me often and she did pretty well so it shouldn't last too long but for now it is an issue you will just have to deal with. I think you still need to get out and do what you need to do. The trouble is having someone willing to stay and watch her.

I agree that walking is good, but I think getting some time away without the baby is important, too. How is she with your husband? Can he watch her while you go to the gym? On days when you are both off together, you could wait and go to the gym while she naps and he could stay with her. How many days a week are you wanting to get to the gym? Another thing I have done in the past to get back in shape after baby is to get up REALLY early to go to the gym. At the time my son was nursing and he woke up at 4:00 AM like clockwork. I would nurse him back to sleep, have some tea and get into my gym clothes to be there when it opened at 5:00AM. I was home by 6:30 when my husband was in the shower. It worked great then, but required me to be in bed early the nights before I went. If you could do two or three early days during the week and then the weekend days you would have 4-5 days done without her crying and without having to worry about whoever is watching her pull their hair out. Good luck!

[Masel]

The problem now is physical therapy. Their hours are pretty much the same as my DH's. My knee still hurts some so I'm not keen on long walks quite yet. I made it to the gym today and the recumbent bike was great. It was about 20 minutes before they came to get me. I cuddled her and then got another 15 minutes or so. She apparently liked playing with the bottle. Not drinking it mind you just playing with it. I wonder if a picture would help. I have some printable fabric and thought about making her a doll based on a picture of me but I guess unless it has her favorite squishy pillows she won't go for it.

[Masel]

Friday she did okay at the gym. Her big sister was there to entertain her which helped. However, that evening DH and I went on a much needed date and baby cried and cried for my inlaws. Sigh.

Tomorrow I going to spend some time with my older daughter and DH will have baby. Of all the not-me people in the world she does like DH best but generally when I get home he has that 1000 mile stare.