My baby wont let me put her down!!

[Dotty]

Hi,
My daughter Lily was born 6 weeks prem and was small for gestational age. She spent the first 4 weeks of her life in hospital and since coming home has been a very demanding baby. She has to be held ALL day AND night and no matter what we try she just screams when we try to put her down!! I just dont know what else to do, we've tried swaddling, Shhhing, rocking, music, etc and it just doesnt work. Hoping someone has some suggestions???
Many Thanks!

[misty]

Huggs - My DD was like this. As a result I spent much of my time parked on a seat with her in my arms. Have you tried using a sling? It isn't a solution for the problem (sorry I couldn't cpome up with a solution) but it would make it easier to hold bubs and get on with other things.

[LimeSlice]

My suggestion first off is to get a baby carrier like a hug a bub or peanut shell.
This will allow her to be close to you like she craves and give you more freedon to use your hands for other things.

She is still so little and the independence will come with time. Being prem may also be contributing - she needs the safety and security that being in your arms provides.

I know it isnt easy when they wont let you put them down but she should get better with age.
Try the sling carrier and see how much of a difference it can make to your sanity and her comfort

Good luck!

[Dotty]

i forgot to mention that i do use a sling also, but would really LOVE to try and get her sleeping a bit on her own and not always in our arms/sling. I guess i have to just be patient and hope she feels safe and secure soon. Thanks for the replies

[sneakysparkle]

hang in there dotty - she will get there. Enjoy this time as they really do grow up way too fast!
Sounds like youre doing a good job!

[ll80]

my DD is the same, during the day she will only be held by me no one else, in the last few weeks I have been able to get her to sleep on her own, well not really on her own, I feed her to sleep or lay in bed with her. I've totally given up on the cot cause she just will not settle and cries hysterically as soon as she realises I am gone.
So our solution has been to put a single bed next to our bed and she sleeps on it, I feed her to sleep then roll off so I don't have to disturb her.

I have 4 slings which I could not be without.
As she is getting older she is getting better, she is slowly staying on the floor more by herself and will let DH hold her for 10 or so mins sometimes.
So yep it will get better when she is ready and feels safe she will let you go a bit more.
It is so hard though some days I wish she would just go to DH for more than 5 mins but since she has been sleeping so much better on the single bed it doesn't seem to bad during the days.