a couple of questions, PLEASE help!

[neonalee]

1. How much does/did your 6 month old eat?  DCP said he might need more milk.  I already provide/pump 17 oz a day...  Sometimes more but not consistently.  Today he was there only 8 - 3:15 and he ate it all!  I nurse him within a half hour or so of drop off every morning and he's nursed on demand while at home.  I trust her not to comfort feed him.

2.  This is the PLEASE help! part.  I picked him up early today because of the blizzard in Chicago.  He was cranky within 5 minutes of walking in the door.  He seemed bored.  Since I wasn't done with work this was a big problem.  I might have to keep him home tomorrow, at least until the snow ends & streets are cleared.  My boss expects me to be working.  What do I do?  And the real problem - I just want him to shut up.  That sounds harsh but it's exactly how I feel.  I'm not in danger of hurting him, and I know if I ever feel like I'm going to lose it to walk away and let him cry until I'm under control.  But I feel so awful when I wish he wasn't here

Maybe he was tired.  He didn't want the playmat or exersaucer thing.  The pack n play with a few toys distracted him only a few minutes.  He didn't want to be held.  I finally gave up and laid him in my lap & gave him the boob.  He was out in a few minutes (as is often the case).  Why didn't I do this before?  Cuz I can't work like this very well.  Why can DCP put him down to sleep most of the time without issue?

I don't even know what kind of advice I'm looking for   I would have rather have been trying to get home in the blizzard than deal with my needy son these last few hours and that makes me really sad.

[mommariffic]

Wyatt just turned 7 months old, and he eats a ton. I also have started feeding him solids, and he especially loves that net-feeder thing which I stuff with banana or sweet potato. Could he drink 17oz from 8-3? Heck yes he could! 

I think babes are used to routine so maybe that's why he got grumpy? His routine was messed up, and he could sense tension (no fault of you, I am NOT a baby person and I get tense all the time when my DS is fussy..) from you. Does he nap? Can you try to work during his nap times tomorrow? I see you have a 12 year old could they help out if they don't have school in exchange for something (like maybe allowance type thing, or something they've been coveting?) 

When DS is acting up, I remind myself that the baby stage is just that..and soon he'll be yapping like my DD and things will be easier. In the moment it's really hard for me, but it does go fast. 

[neonalee]

Thanks mama.  Not a baby person describes me well.  The 12 year old is my SD & is only here on weekends.  DP is traveling until Sunday night!  DS just woke up crying and my first response wasn't "what's wrong" it was "WHAT?!"  Sigh.  My boss is not a mom.  Working during his nap time would not be enough & would jeapordize future work from home options.  She believes people aren't productive when they aren't in the office.  I might be best off burning a half vacation day.  He's nursing again.  Hopefully he'll wake happy soon so i can get off the couch!

[mommariffic]

Welcome.

I know some woman LOVE babies, and I'm not one of them. I like what happens AFTER babes  - the doing crafts, reading, going on adventures. Babies to me are sort of like really needy pieces of luggage. That said I love both my kids to death but I totally get the "WHAT" reaction. When DS woke up several times last night I was like "again, SERIOUSLY, AHH" in my head 

[chattyprincess]

Just some support. I have a 6.5 mth old dd (our 2nd) and she is at this crazy fussy not knowing what to do with herself phase as well. Dd is loving her carrier. Is it possible you could put him on you to get work done? Its so hard being a work at home mom! It must just be nuts trying to accomplish something and then being interrupted constantly. That would literally drive me nuts and you are more women then I am on a good day!

I have a lot of friends who work at home and they really have to push the work around the child. Get up in the am, get self fed, baby fed/changed/dressed. Then nap and then work work work. The moment they are up fed/changed and then playtime and then yes baby can sit/lay/jump in saucer alone while mommy does another 30 min of work. then change/nurse/sleep. rinse repeat...you get the picture.

good luck! (and yes I am looking forward to that same blizzard as you. Stay home and enjoy your day and don't stress about the missed work I promise work will always be around but a lovely day spent layin around in your comfy clothes and drinking tea and laughing at your crazy baby won't happen again soon. Enjoy the good moments they help carry us thourgh the nutty ones.)

[neonalee]

Originally Posted by chattyprincess 
 Stay home and enjoy your day and don't stress about the missed work I promise work will always be around but a lovely day spent layin around in your comfy clothes and drinking tea and laughing at your crazy baby won't happen again soon. Enjoy the good moments they help carry us thourgh the nutty ones.)

Oh I'm usually a WOH mom.  I will try this.  There are so many mornings when I nurse him before going to daycare when I think 'I wish we could lie in bed like this all day'.  Of course the reality i s he wouldn't be content to do so all day, but maybe a half day?  I admire WAH & SAH moms.  As hard as it is getting up at 4:45 am and getting ready for/going to work, it's loads harder having DS all day.  At least at this age.  I can't wait for the talking!

Oh, if he's in the carrier we have to be walking!  I can't even do dishes!

[Terrilein]

And there's no chance of hiring a neighboring baby sitter to watch your baby for you in your home? It might be something to look into anyways if your ds or DCP gets sick. Your boss might not be happier knowing you've got a backup so that you can be productive at home.

[expat-mama]

Hey Neona- many hugs from over here!

For what it's worth my boy has been eating a TON for the past couple of weeks- he's a couple of weeks younger than yours. We started him on solids (soft foods, mashed, and purees) and he has been chowing down on those twice a day. He's up to about 2 cups (I don't really measure what he's eating) of solids and still nurses even more than before. Growth spurt? Maybe. Who knows? I've been pumping a bit too since I've been away for a few hours in the afternoon and evenings this week. Usually I leave for 3-4 hours and while I'm gone he'll eat about 1 cup of food I've prepared as well as 5-7 oz of pumped milk. Then I'll come home and he'll nurse 4 or 5 more times before the morning. It's craziness. So I feel you on that. Have you started soilds? That might help if you're open to trying them. I was hesistant but my LO loves it, it seems to satisfy him a lot and still loves the mama milk. I really think because he's so much more active these days (rolling around, sitting up, trying to crawl and napping a bit less) he is needing some extra calories.

I don't have much advice for the WAH/WOH situation, just hugs. Do you have one or more special toys that you reserve for his bored/fussy times? Sounds like he might be fussing because he's tired too. Much of my "free" time during the day (like now) is when DS is nurse-napping. Sometimes he just won't stay down for the longer naps he needs unless he's got my boob. So I just nurse while he naps and I can read, use the computer etc. I know, it's not perfect but it's something.

Anyway...good luck, I hope things get better. Just remember, everything is temporary. In a couple of weeks you'll have resolved this issue...and be struggling with something brand new, but hopefully easier.

[LittleBirdy]

Oh I hear you Mama!!

1) DS is at daycare from 8-5 and he typically drinks 18 ounces, but yesterday he had 24!  We supplement with formula as my daily pumping record is 10 ounces (usually it's more like 8 or 9 - I just don't respond as well to the pump, though this is a vast improvement over when I first went back and I could only pump 4 ounces a day!)  Definitely not comfort feeding either...

2) Whenever I have picked DS up early from daycare he is pretty fussy, I think it is because it screws up their routine.  He is home with me today and I am working from home due to the snow.  I lucked out and he has been asleep for 2 hours!  But before he went down, I put his jumperoo in front of the sliding glass door and he entertained himself for quite sometime watching the snow fall & blow around.  It seems a lot of babies go through a real fussy time at around 6 months where nothing makes them happy - I think they clue in and realize, hey!  I want to move!  But how the eff do I do it????  And don't feel bad that it drives you crazy, it has been driving me crazy too.  Same thing with the carrier, he's only happy if it's moving so I can't wear him & work.  Just wanted to let you know you are totally not alone.  I have seen some of your other posts and it seems like our baby boys are quite similar!

[neonalee]

Originally Posted by LittleBirdy 
I think they clue in and realize, hey!  I want to move!  But how the eff do I do it????

That may be a big part of it (and growing, and teeth, who am I kidding?  It could be anything!)  But I do notice he's been moving around a ton.  Maybe we'll give solids a try.  He's already had hummus.

I finally gave up any thought of getting work done when he woke up again.  Since then we've had some fun and some frustration.    Sometimes my internal reaction makes me feel like a bad mom.  We spent about a half hour outside a little bit ago.  I put him in the carrier then zipped DPs coat around us.  We stood in the garage and watched our neighbor clear the alley behind our garage with the snow blower.  The neighbor on the other side did the front sidewalks and around the street parked cars.  DS was fascinated.  I told him this was what I expected when he gets older ;)  Some HS boys also stopped by and I paid them to dig the walk on the side of my house to the garage.  So I'm not snowed into my house anymore, but the rest of the alley and the neighborhood streets are still impassable.  What if I have to spend another day home?!

I actually have started looking for a sitter, but haven't found one yet.  He's nurse-napping (I like that term) now after having a fit because I had to put him down for 2 minutes. There were big fat tears in his eyes!  It's so hard for me to understand what he needs and why he's crying!  I haven't showered since Monday morning and I find myself super worried about how I'm going to manage it.  I was planning to do so while he was at daycare.

If you have good toy recommendations, let me know.  He doesn't have a ton and my mom gave me some $ to get him something.  We already have most necessities.

[Beltane]

neonalee -

Check out this thread from the breastfeeding forum about daycare overfeeding breastmilk. http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1284168/daycare-suggesting-i-give-five-4oz-bottles-of-breastmilk-for-10-hours  I had problems with my daycare overfeeding, and it seems to be a common problem.  The thread lists some great links on KellyMom.  There is also a milk calculator that will help you calculate how much milk your LO is drinking per day.  (Pretty neat!)  My ds is almost 6 months and she drinks three 3oz bottles (9oz total) in seven hours and I think that's a bit high.

Hope this helps!

[neonalee]

Thanks for the link Beltane.  I did have trouble with my first DCP, but this one has read kelly mom and is very willing to work with me & the other BF mom at her place.  I do think I will ask her what she thinks his hunger cues are & why she thinks he is still hungry after 17 oz.

[neonalee]

Well, we made it through another "snow day" without me losing my mind.  I guess like most things, scarier and more worrisome ahead of time, when it happens you just go with it.  I got in my car this morning and discovered that the street at one end of the alley wasn't plowed.  And the other end of the alley, well, I couldn't get to it because there were about 4 or 5 houses that hadn't cleared their section of the alley!  It was 7 am so I'm hoping they cleared them during the day.  I mean, not everyone can drive trucks or park on the street, right???  There has to be someone else besides me that needs to get out!  If they didn't I really think I'll bundle us up and put him in the ergo and take the bus to daycare.

Today I kinda followed the timing of feeding/naps from the daycare sheets.  Also spent some time giving him a bath, used the ergo a couple times, and napped with him during his 2 main daytime naps (that was fun).  I even managed a shower by putting him in the bouncer in the bathroom.  He's completely conked out on my lap right now, which kinda sucks cuz I want to go to bed!  Not saying I didn't have moments where "just shut up!" went through my mind, but they were mostly short.  I just kept telling myself something was making him unhappy and this was his only way of telling me.  I also think he needs to sleep more during the day, but that's probably difficult at daycare.

Thanks for the support mamas!

[zenmumajen]

I totally understand that "WHAT" moments. I usually will just have them when I'm in the middle of something, and it is so frustrating because sometimes I feel like nobody is helping me.

Anyway- when my son gets like that I just comfort nurse him. Yes, it's an easy fix but he likes it, and it helps calm him down so I do it. When I think he is tired, I come into the bedroom and nurse him to sleep. I wait until he falls into a deep sleep and then get done what I need to get done. If its just work on the computer- then I stay in the room with him because he usually sleeps better when I'm still in here. He senses me. 

Like you said, he could not be getting enough sleep at day care and is just overstimulated but I agree and think that you should start solids, it might curb is appetite more and you will not have to worry while you are at work if he has enough! Good luck! 

[neonalee]

Originally Posted by zenmumajen 

I usually will just have them when I'm in the middle of something, and it is so frustrating because sometimes I feel like nobody is helping me.

Oh my gosh! I knew this, but I feel like I just had a lightbulb moment.  I'm going to keep this in mind and evaluate next time if what I'm doing can wait.  Hopefully just fully realizing it's a trigger will help.