She cries all the time....

[MT_ranch_mom]

Ok, DD2 just turned 8 months. I know she's teething. I can see them trying to poke through (4 on top). I know it hurts. She has ALWAYS been a demanding baby. ALWAYS. She's fine if she's being held, but that's it. She won't play on the floor by herself at all. If you even start to put her down, she cries. She's ok in the high chair for maybe 5 mins at a time.
The other day I got so desperate that I brought the umbrella stroller in the house so she could sit in it while I pushed her around and cleaned the house. My arms are tired. If I put her down to cook dinner, she screams. I always cook dinner with a screaming baby. I can't remember the last time I took a shower without her screaming. She hardly naps. Seriously. 10 mins here, 45 mins there. She sleeps fine at night. She still wakes a few times to nurse but goes right back to sleep. She goes to sleep late, wakes up at the crack of dawn even though she has blackout curtains.
She's been this way since day one. I have another DD to take care of. DD1 just tuned 2 and I feel so guilty because if I put DD2 down to play with DD1, DD2 cries. Or everything I'm doing with DD1 has to be done while holding DD2. We used to have a jumparoo and she liked that. We moved 2000 miles though so we got rid of everything. If it couldn't fit into a 6x12 trailer, it didn't make it. So, very few baby items, but we knew she'd grow out of them soon enough. I've considered getting a jumparoo, but she's 8 months, she'll be crawling (eventually, still not even interested in that). I just don't want to waste the money. So, I searched craigslist but all of craigslist in MT goes for the whole state, not cities. I found some, but they are 3-6 hours away. I may as well just buy a new one for that.

The thing is, she's a happy baby as long as she's being held. I really don't feel something 'wrong' if that makes sense. DD1 was never like this. She napped great, played well. I'm just so overwhelmed and I never get anything done. The house is a wreck and I feel like I ignore DD1. Someone tell me this gets better!!!!!

[pixieixiq]

Ugh. I don't know what to tell you. My SILs DD was like this for about 3 months while she was teething. Her DH pretty much quit caring about the baby--once, she came home to find DH and DS playing in one room with DD in another sitting on teh floor crying. He said, "She cries no matter what I do, so why pay attention to her if it doesn't help?" And she was just like that--crying unless held for all the tiem she was teething. Once her teeth broke through and grew in a bit, though, she stopped being nearly so fussy. She's about 9MO now, and really a lot happier. I don't know if the teething is what's got her so worked up recently, but if so, maybe it will get a bit better once they're in.

I try really hard (though I'm totally a hypocrite for typign this now, since I just about cried about MY youngest DD refusing to go down for a nap) to remember that in a year, all these annoying things will become things to laugh about, and in 5 years, they'll all be things I miss because my kids are old. That helps sometimes. But only sometimes. I wish I could help more, but instead, here's a :hugs: . Hope things get better--from the posts I've seen recently, it sounds like you need a well-deserved break...or at least a pair of helping hands for a bit. Wish I had some to give!!!!!

[MT_ranch_mom]

Yeah, her two bottom teeth came in early (I guess). That's when it got really bad, so I'm sure that's where some of it is from. They broke through at about 4 months. DD1 was a toothless wonder until 13 months. Her teeth never bothered her though until just a few weeks ago when she started cutting her eye teeth. That's been a nightmare also, so I guess I'm getting it from both of them. I can see the top 4 on DD2 about to break through. She's grinding them really bad too.
DD2 started biting too. Youch!!! She's laying across my lap fussing now cause she's on her tummy and I won't pick her upright.

I was told recently too, that it could be the altitude change. We lived 500 ft above sea level in TN and now we're 5555 above sea level. I was told the thinner air effects LO's more than it does us adults. They get headaches from it. I've also been told to have the kids drink more water. That's fine for DD1. We put water and barley juice in a sippy for flavor and she's fine, but with little booby baby over here, that's not really going to happen.

I guess the hardest thing is that before we moved DH was laid off. Not that it's been easy, but I've been used to having him around since Thanksgiving. Now that he's working 14+ hours a day, it's been such an adjustment on me and the kids. DD1 is a big time daddy's girl! I miss my DH and I don't know anyone here. :yuck:

I know it will get better. In a few years the girls will play together and I'll get some laundry done. I'll look back and miss the baby phase. I guess laundry can wait. It's just clothes, right? LOL!!! This too will pass! Thanks for letting me vent everyone!

[KaylaJayne]

What about a snugli carrier or something? My DS was this way about the same age and I just popped him into the snugli to do my work around the house! It worked great!

[shelbell]

I was going to suggest wearing the baby too. I think I would go with a wrap or a Mei Tai and you can do a back carry when you're cooking/cleaning. DD was/is a very high needs child, even at 21 months. We held her and wore her a lot and she is getting more and more independent all the time. If you meet her needs (and it sounds like you are) she will feel that her needs are fulfilled and gain confidence. It takes a long time for some kids and not others but it will pass and believe it or not, you'll miss it a little!

[KristieW]

I second/third/whatever the wear-the-baby thing. If it weren't for our Beco, I'd never get anything done around the house. It took DD (who's 12 days younger than your DD) awhile to get used to a back carry, but now I can do pretty much everything I need to (except nap... alas) while wearing her. Some days it's the only way I get anything done. I call DD my Velcro baby--she just wants to be stuck to someone, and since I'm the only someone around most of the time... :giggle:

[MT_ranch_mom]

I second/third/whatever the wear-the-baby thing. If it weren't for our Beco, I'd never get anything done around the house. It took DD (who's 12 days younger than your DD) awhile to get used to a back carry, but now I can do pretty much everything I need to (except nap... alas) while wearing her. Some days it's the only way I get anything done. I call DD my Velcro baby--she just wants to be stuck to someone, and since I'm the only someone around most of the time... :giggle:

Velcro baby!!! LOL!!!!:roflmbo:
I think I'll adopt that phrase.

It's just frustrating cause DD1 was/is/always has been a great self entertainer/independent kid. I guess I was just spoiled with her.

Think I'll try a carrier. I have fabric and a pattern so I may whip up a mei tie this afternoon.
I've tried a hotsling and a ring sling but I don't like either.

[kannondicarpo]

My little ones are about the same age as yours and while Kate is a very happy baby she has been needy lately as she teethes and wants to...ready for this...WALK.

I have been wearing her on my back in the Ergo since she was about 4.5 months old though and so whenever I need to get something done (dinner, laundry, vacuuming) I just pop her on my back and away we go.

Good luck mama. I got all choked up thinking about my babies growing up.

[Jenn27]

Mama to a high needs baby here with 5 teeth coming in at once. TOTALLY feel your pain. You must get a carrier! I have a few different kinds b/c she gets tired of them but without them I would have to walk around holding her all day (b/c she would not dare let me sit down!) and she's 20 pounds!! I just keep thinking that it can only get better.

[Liddle1]

:hugs: my 8 month old is doing the same thing.

it can't last forever, it will get better!

[Redaoife]

My three month old is like that. It's hard. I definitely recommend "The Fussy Baby Book" By Dr. Sears. It's all about "high need" babies - which your DD definitely is!! Even if the tips in there don't necessarily help you, I promise that just reading it will help you realize that you're not alone and may help you understand your DD better. Sigh....

[palestrina]

yes--wear her! All the time-as much as you can! IMo that is your only solution. DD1 was exactly like this and I just stopped trying to put her down--I wore her and waited until she got older. Keep searching for a carrier until you find something you can wear for long periods of time. A soft structured carrier like an Ergo or Beco works great or I love wraps.

[Jenn27]

"I definitely recommend "The Fussy Baby Book" By Dr. Sears. It's all about "high need" babies - which your DD definitely is!!"
Yes! Get this book, it's great.
And I second the wraps, they are the most comfortable for me.... though I REALLY want an Ergo so I can't say anything about them!

[konayossie]

Just wanted to say :hugs: . You have described my 3-mo-old exactly, except for the teeth (always fussy, no daytime sleep, must be held). I love him to death, but it's so hard to have to hold him ALL THE TIME. And no one I talk to really believes me when I say he doesn't sleep at all during the day (until they try to keep him, heh, heh...). I can't imagine having another DD to care for as well! I use a homemade Moby wrap, although he doesn't like for me to just sit with him in it, which doesn't help if you have sit-down work to do. You said you don't think there's anything wrong with your DD, but just in case.......my LO has reflux, and now he's taking Axid (for the burning) and Reglan to help move things thru his gut faster, and these two together are making a HUGE difference. He's actually taken 3 naps the last 3 days in a row, and just this morning he laid in the floor for about 20 minutes happily playing on an activity mat. It sounds so small, but it's huge for me to be able to get myself breakfast and start the laundry, etc.

BTW, I just ordered a diaper from you last week--small virtual world!

[Roserob73]

Man mama :hugs: sounds too much like my 9 month old since he was 6 mos. and got sick with who knows what ( I mean profuse vommitting), he's just been real clingy like that. He is getting better slowly though and thats from just letting him cry-honestly its the hardest thing to do but I know theres nothing wrong with him, like wet dipe, not hungry, that sorta thing. I'm not saying do that cuz I realize some people don't believe in CIO but for me when things started getting neglected I had no choice. Even sticking him in my ring sling to do stuff was just so ridiculous.
I have older ones too so now that schools out its better yet because they keep him occupied or hold him for me and trading off when he gets tired of any one in particular :giggle:
I also keep in mind since my 9 month old is my last that its not gonna be much longer that he's gonna want to be in my arms 24/7.
I also have an activity saucer thing, a walker, a swing and the ring sling of course and he's not always ok with anyone of them EXCEPT of course the ring sling. Oh and I also brought in the stroller and keep him in that when I cook so he knows I'm right there and just give him stuff to keep him occupied.
Your lo will eventually grow out of it when she finds she can do more things by herself. Hugs for you though cuz I was sooooo there and still am when he's not having an independant day kwim. :hugs:

[Liddle1]

you mamas that suggest wearing an 8 month old either must have backs of steel or light babies :giggle:

my baby is 19 pounds and wearing him KILLS my back! He won't go in the sling (he figured out how to put his feet on my stomach and push backwards and nearly flips himself out of it so it's not safe anymore) and the bjorn or the other carrier I have cause back spasms :(

[Terra]

I :wub: the Ergo!

You'll be amazed at what you can get done once you start putting her on your back.