in November 2024 Babies 🇺🇸

Extra needy baby, is it just me?? I feel like I can’t do anything all day

Want to start by saying I love my baby so much, no low mood on any given day will ever make me feel anything short of love and care for him! That being said some days are so difficult mentally and I feel alone, like I’m the only one with such a needy baby. I occasionally see moms on social media seem to be able to do it all—work, clean home, content babies, food cooked, dinner set, time to exercise etc. I feel lucky if I get 2 of those in one day. My baby refuses to be put down for more than a few minutes (like 2-3, *maybe* 5 mins). I baby wear, but he’ll protest that because he prefers certain positions. Also babywearing is not the solution for everything — I don’t like to baby wear if I’m cleaning and spraying chemicals, or cooking and things can splatter. It just feels like I barely have time for anything, least of all myself, even sometimes I don’t get the chance to floss and brush my teeth until much later. Forget exercising! I can’t even imagine putting him in daycare, because if it’s a couple kids to one caretaker, Is it just me?? I feel so swamped and overwhelmed. I don’t understand how other people do this, especially if they go to work. I’ve also always wanted multiple kids, ideally a big family, now I’m not so sure.. how do people do this?? I feel like I’m terrible at something that other women seem to handle. Mother’s Day just passed and I received lots of compliments for being strong and this and that and I don’t feel like I deserve any of those because I feel like I’m failing becoming a mother….

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Oh dear!!! I want to start off by saying you are a wonderful mother and even an emotionally healthy person for acknowledging this struggle. And I say this hard not to compare yourself with others but remember social media is for entertainment purposes only these people make money off those 60 seconds of what they portray as a perfect family lifestyle. And you are right it’s hard when you want to get up in the morning and have a long bath and brush your teeth. If your hair and make a warm breakfast from scratch, but baby wakes up crying in need for you. So you drop your own self care routine. Guess what by the time you get them settled it’s afternoon. You are not alone. I am here along with you in love with my little one and sometimes it’s hard I could pull my hair out. Sometimes it’s so easy I run out of things to do with my free time. Advice: when you get that free time do only what brings you the most joy. So take that long bath! Cook if you love in the kitchen. Get a Starbucks!!

Oh honey, don't do that to yourself. Just because you didn't accomplish things that other mom's get done in a day, does NOT mean a thing. Those people could have other people helping and just not telling us. Not everything is as it seems. What I gained from this post is that you have a baby that loves you soooo much and is bonded to you. He loves mommy's presence. That alone tells me what kind of mother you are. A loving one. A caring one. A TRYING one. You're doing just fine.

My 6mo is very clingy, might I add. If I'm doing dishes, I'll bring her bouncy seat into the kitchen with me. Usually as long as she can see me she's good. So I tried to incorporate her help (although she's only 6 months old) while I'm doing things. If I'm folding clothes, I will hand her a clothing item. If I'm cleaning, I usually end up wearing her. You are absolutely not alone and if you need someone to talk to please feel free to reach out to me.

1st You’re doing great. His clinginess shows how much he loves you and how much he feels your love for him. My baby is a Velcro baby as well. When you set him down and he’s upset but not hungry or wet try talking or singing to him. That works for my baby sometimes. The teacher at my sons daycare recommended that I try it for 15 minutes and after that if he doesn’t calm down then to go soothe him. I’m working my way up to that because I can’t stand him crying for that long but after about 5 mins sometimes he does soothe himself. Also try distracting him with toys or the dreaded cartoon.

My baby is very clingy as well and about a month ago it was really hard for me to do things as well. I put baby on a set schedule, nap time, independent play time and sometimes they just want to be included you could sit baby in the high chair and play peek a boo so they can learn just because they can’t see you you’re not gone. Things are hard now and your feelings are valid but you and your baby will get through this rough patch