Infant Holding

So Ava is going to be 3 weeks tomorrow. I LOVE to hold her and cuddle her and all that stuff, but it seems like when she wants to be held, it just so happens to be at the very second I'm busy with something else... like, helping my 7 year old with homework, or cooking dinner, or trying to clean up or something like that. Now, I don't feel like it's necessary to hold a baby ALL DAY long, but I do hold her quite a bit because I was told that they feel more secure and bonded. I asked my pedi about what age before they start getting to be too 'attached' to being held and shefreaked out on me and was like, "You should ALWAYS hold a baby ANYTIME they want to be held no matter WHAT age they are," Well, not trying to be mean...but that's crap to me. I HATE it when babies feel the need to be held CONSTANTLY because then, the mommies can't get crap done during the day. I don't plan on doing the SAHM thing forever-no offense-I just have school and work and stuff like that that I need to do, too.

I think there should definitely be a boundary as to when it's okay to kinda 'wean' them from being held constantly, but...I just am not sure when that is. So when do/did you sort-of 'wean' your baby away from the constant holding?

I hope this doesn't sound like I'm a bad parent or anything. I love my kids VERY much and would do anything for them...I just don't want my baby to be used to being held constantly-that's all.

When Kairie got to about 3 1/2 / 4 months I stopped holding her alllll the time, she started rolling and could entertain herself on the floor with toys.

I HATE when kids are too used to being held, my husbands cousin was held CONSTANTLY and refuse to crawl or walk because of it. Plus later, they won't be as independent.

Have you thought about wearing her in a sling? Its a great option if she likes that sort of thing: she's close to you and you have your hands free.

Once she is a little more independent [can grab toys, roll over] & able to entertain herself, I'd let her do just that. Otherwise [in a sling or not] you won't be able to get anything done & they won't feel secure by themselves.

Quoting SparkleHeart:“ When Kairie got to about 3 1/2 / 4 months I stopped holding her alllll the time, she started rolling ... [snip!] ... my husbands cousin was held CONSTANTLY and refuse to crawl or walk because of it. Plus later, they won't be as independent.”

yes.. i feel the exact same way. See, my 7 year old was ALWAYS independent-even from birth! He HATED to be held and would kick and scream until we just put him the hell down LOL (yea, it's weird, I know) He actually started to WALK when he was 8 months old... we even had to take him to an orthopedic surgeon cuz he was bo-legged from his upper body weight not being supported well enough by his lower body weight. We just couldn't keep him on the floor!! LOL This sense of attachment to Ava is sweet, but...definitely something I'm not used to...

I just cart a bouncer around the house ( i have 3 of them) so she can see me while im gettin my stuff done. I sing and talk to her the whole time. Dance around and be goofy, she seems to enjoy it.

Quoting MagischMama:“ Have you thought about wearing her in a sling? Its a great option if she likes that sort of thing: she's close to you and you have your hands free.”

I have a boppy sling that I tried to put her in, and I think I might be doing it wrong because her neck is all contorted about all funny when she's in it and I'm terrified I'll break her neck. She might be a little small for it...even though it says on the box it fits all babies. Plus, she likes to look around and stuff, and the sling doesn't give her the opportunity to do that at ALL. I can't wait till she gets big enough for it though. It definitely would save me some room in the carts at the grocery stores! LOL

Quoting Breanna'sMomma:“ I just cart a bouncer around the house ( i have 3 of them) so she can see me while im gettin my stuff done. I sing and talk to her the whole time. Dance around and be goofy, she seems to enjoy it.”

Awww   I talk to Ava all the time, but...I can never keep her awake long enough to be able to tell if she likes it or not! LOL I'm sure she does...but she's so little right now...

Quoting Jenay6282:“ yes.. i feel the exact same way. See, my 7 year old was ALWAYS independent-even from birth! He HATED ... [snip!] ... couldn't keep him on the floor!! LOL This sense of attachment to Ava is sweet, but...definitely something I'm not used to...”

Kairie's the same way, she's always been pretty chill, she's content doing whatever, but being a first time mommy, I ALWAYS wanted to hold her, now she won't sit still.  

Quoting itsmicahbitch:“ Once she is a little more independent [can grab toys, roll over] & able to entertain herself, I'd ... [snip!] ... do just that. Otherwise [in a sling or not] you won't be able to get anything done & they won't feel secure by themselves.”

that's what I figured... LOL

I guess being a full time mommy, full time student, and having a full time job just isn't gonna work right now. A girl can try though!

Quoting SparkleHeart:“ Kairie's the same way, she's always been pretty chill, she's content doing whatever, but being a first time mommy, I ALWAYS wanted to hold her, now she won't sit still.  ”

LOL! I hear ya! I felt the same way with Dylan. This time around though, I'm so busy with them both that sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy! It's getting better though. It will be MUCH better when she starts sleeping through the night though. Im up every two hours twenty four hours a day!

Quoting Jenay6282:“ LOL! I hear ya! I felt the same way with Dylan. This time around though, I'm so busy with them both ... [snip!] ... It will be MUCH better when she starts sleeping through the night though. Im up every two hours twenty four hours a day!”

Idk how I got lucky. I was a heathen growing up and so was my husband, Kai has slept through the night since we brought her home from the hospital. I'm guessing her teenage years are gunna be absolutely horrible.

Quoting Jenay6282:“ that's what I figured... LOL I guess being a full time mommy, full time student, and having a full time job just isn't gonna work right now. A girl can try though!”

Trust me I understand. I'm juggling all of that with just one.. I can't imagine doing it with two.

My kid is pretty content with just following me around the house until she gets hungry or I tell her she can't do something.  

Quoting SparkleHeart:“ Idk how I got lucky. I was a heathen growing up and so was my husband, Kai has slept through the night ... [snip!] ... through the night since we brought her home from the hospital. I'm guessing her teenage years are gunna be absolutely horrible.”

Lucky! Khi still doesn't sleep through the effing night.

When Mackenzie was first born we were staying in a camper because our house burnt down, and all I did was hold her, she slept with me...all that jazz. When she was 4 months we moved into my mom and dads old house, until we can get something on our own, and she started sleeping in her cradle. Thats when I quit holding her ALL the time. I would let her stay in there and play with her toys and such until she could roll over, then we moved her into her crib. Mackenzie now is far from a hold me baby. Shes VERY independant! Only when she goes to my MILs shes held all the time, and shes fussy because she hates it!