[cat_astrophe]

Here I am, an AP momma who likes to wear her baby in a sling, and it turns out the kid would rather I left him alone. My 2 month old, when he gets sleepy, as long as he isn't wet or hungry, prefers for me to just lay him down on his tummy and let him get comfy and go to sleep on his own. He'll cry himself to sleep eventually if I hold him, but if I just lay him down when he gets tired, he calms right down, wiggles a bit to get comfy, and goes to sleep in seconds. He'll wake up and, as long as he doesn't actually need anything, he'll either wiggle around a minute and go back to sleep, or play with his hands for a while. He does like to be played with and entertained, but sometimes he just wants me to leave him alone. It is so sad. Why, oh why, does an AP momma like me get the self soother?

 

[USAmma]

I'm sure he still needs his mommy for reassurance when he's scared and frustrated, and of course you can have good times with him when he's awake.

You know, I guess after having my high-needs spirited child I'm hoping for one like yours next time. lol! I have her in her own bed now but when she comes to us in the morning she still has to plaster her body right up against mine and rub her legs on me (hard! it almost hurts!) to get back to sleep. If I have to turn over (and being pg I do that a lot) I have to sit fully up, pull her away from me, then lie back down and then she plasters herself to me again and more leg rubbing.

I'm getting a cosleeper because we have a waterbed and hoping our wee one takes to it right away. Let's see . .
I may be taking to a futon on the floor.

Darshani

 

[Quirky]

Oh, throw me in that briar patch! I'm typing with my 13 month old sleeping on my lap; he loves to sleep on me and often can't get to sleep - or STAY asleep - any other way. In fact, it's a huge bone of contention between me and my dh, who feels like I have trained ds to be completely dependent on physical contact for sleep. Most of the time, I don't mind, but it can be really limiting and make it difficult to get things done.

As long as your baby is snuggly during the day, count your blessings! Besides, now that you've posted about it, he's likely to become a velcro baby whom you can never put down! :LOL

 

[Gemini]

My dd as an infant was the same way, she sucked her thumb, so she self pacified that way. Always very content! Well, at about 7 or 8 months she got sick and things have never been the same since! I would be able to put her down to sleep even if she was still awake a little and she'd be okay, but not anymore! I had her in her crib and now she sleeps with us (which I like better anyway!)

Soooo, your tides may turn soon enough, but I understand your frustrations and being sad abut not having a cuddler.

It's so nice to cuddle them when they are still so small!

 

[sohj]

Look at it this way, you might just have a very independent little spirit with you. AND the fact that you DO carry your pixie around in the sling and cuddle him when he's awake gives him the security to just snooze on his own. Even independent people need to know they're loved and then they can go off and conquer the world in their spare time.

Just an idea.

 

[kama'aina mama]

:LOL Weirdest complaint EVER! :LOL

I'm teasing... It is hard when you have a particular picture of how things will be and it doesn't go that way. As a parent it's a good idea to get used to that. Seriously. A big part of parenting, in my opinion, is giving your child what s/he needs, not simply what you want to give. You are doing that and I think it's great!

 

[cat_astrophe]

I know, it's a silly complaint. My 3 yo was a velcro baby, and I remember wishing he would just let me put him down long enough to pee in private. It's really amazing how much personality each baby has at this early stage. I never noticed it until I had kids of my own. Jarod has been an extroverted attention hog since he was born, but this baby is more mellow and introverted. They are so opposite. Funny, isn't it?

 

[AmyG]

My DS is the same way. I planned on being as AP as they come, but at 3 months, he decided he did NOT want to cosleep any more. He never tolerated the sling, and he sucks his thumb. I do feel bad sometimes when I'm around AP mamas and I start to think that they may think that I'm doing the things I do because they're mainstream things and I never really considered doing otherwise, but really, I know that I'm responding to his needs, so I'm doing the best I can. He's going to grow up knowing that I love him and that I'd bend over backwards to make sure he feels loved and secure, so that's what counts.

 

[Missgrl]

moving this to Life With a Babe