in January 2025 Babies 🇺🇸

High Needs Baby?

My boy is 4 months old and needs constant stimulation. I mean if I so much as set him down he starts crying/fussing. We are constantly rotating him from one station to the next—bouncer, to play mat, to tummy time, to swing, to whatever else we can think of for the remainder of his awake time. He lets us wear him sometimes but not always. It’s like he gets bored of stuff quickly. My husband was reading that he may be what’s considered a high needs baby? 1. Any suggestions? 2. Please tell me this phase ends at some point?

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How long does he cry for if you just sit him down

My 13 year old has autism and you never stop crying

Following. Same situation here.

I’m in a similar situation, but I found some toys that my daughter really likes, some that rattle, or light up. I also noticed she hates being in a position where she can’t see the world. At four months, she doesn’t want to be in the stroller already! Can’t believe it. I have to hold her so she can look around. She’s just too curious! When I cook, she needs to watch, thankful for silicone cookware that she can hold safely while my hubby holds her up on the kitchen island to watch (from a safe distance). I believe my daughter has baby FOMO

@Bri until I pick him up again. I haven’t tested how long he’ll actually go because I can’t bring myself to do CIO, it absolutely shatters me, but the longer it goes the worse it gets. I think the longest he’s gone has maybe been 5 minutes?

@Jessica we’ll find toys he likes but he quickly gets bored with them after a few days. He definitely has FOMO but even if he can see me if I’m not actively engaging with him then he loses his mind

Hang in there! It’s all trial and error- I hope someone has a similar babe with some good advice for you! Just know you’re doing great!! Good luck!

Maybe try high contrast baby videos on YouTube. I like the dancing fruit for a few minutes.

I have the same question! My little guy is the same so I totally understand what you’re going through. Won’t let me set him down, gets bored, the whole thing!My arms are going to be so strong by his first birthday 😂 the things we do find helpful are things that set him up so he can observe better. He already has nicely developing core strength so when I have to set him down for things (like cooking, folding laundry, etc.) we have been using a floor seat and a jolly jumper. He loves the jumper.

Same here. I am able to get a few minutes here and there if I have him in the bouncer and ill bring it in the kitchen or bathroom while I get stuff done or propped up on pillows in the bedroom etc but we are constantly moving. He even gets upset if the stroller or car stops moving. Was your LO a colic baby? Mine was and also has GERD and the pediatrician said colic babies love/need to move around constantly and do well with white noise so the house is never quiet and we just bounce around. He doesn’t like to be in the carrier but I think thats GERD related. I hope that changes when he can face outward- it would be nice to wear him and have my hands back

Same. She’s 3 months tho and I can’t do anything. I have to sit in the backseat bc otherwise she SCREAMS the entire drive. I tried CIO but 30 minutes later she was still going and I couldn’t do it anymore

This sounds like my 2 girls. What happens if you put him in a baby gym or with a toy with you sitting right there? At first he might be okay for 30 seconds, then 1 minute, then 90 seconds. And eventually when he gets fussy you can simply hand him a new toy to get another 30 seconds, 1 minute, 90 seconds. Like this, you train him to do smal chunks of independent play. He will get longer chunks with time. With my 15 month old, I still usually have to be sitting on the floor with her, but I can fold laundry for a few mins at a time in between tending to her and can get things done that way. With my 3 year old I can get a lot done, she likes to follow me and play in whatever room I’m in

I have the exact same thing going on with my 4 month old! Some days he will stay in one “station” for like 2-3 mins by himself but almost never more than that. Even when he’s held he gets fussy unless we’re walking around

Might sound a little crazy… but maybe he’s getting too much stimulation. Try toys and objects that are not battery powered.., so nothing that lights up or moves on its own. And take him to see NEW things. Show him things he hasn’t seen before or heard before. For example take a trip to the park, an aquarium, or let him look inside your pantry. They’re curious little things, and too much of the same thing can make them bored. At the same time, it’s okay to let him be a little bored. You don’t need to CONSTANTLY stimulate him. It might feel like it but I notice with my girl she’s just tired sometimes! Like she’s played for a good long while and just fusses. So I’ll dim the lights and hold her close to nurse and play some music. She falls right asleep usually. Trust your gut, experiment, your his mom and you’ve got this 👌