Has anyone had a newborn that wants to constantly be held?

Question

I know they say you can't spoil a newborn. When my son was a newborn, he was fine just to sleep and eat and go back to sleep. My daughter, on the other hand is almost 4 weeks old. She will get so upset when I lie her down. At times, she is content to swing or sit in a bouncy seat. But then a lot of the time, she wants to be held constantly and will cry and cry until I pick her up. Just wondering if this is normal for one so small. Anyone else had a little one like this?

Answer 1

My daughter was (and sometimes can still be) like that. In order for me to get some sleep, I would put a heating pad down, and right before I would go lay her down, I would move the heating pad, make sure that it was not hot and then lay her down. I did this until she was about 3 months old.  

Answer 2

Yes, i eventually bought one of those infant carriers because she always wanted to be up close to me, i think it is like a sense of security but that helped and she then got better so i could leave her in the swing with something of mine.

Answer 3

Honey, she was 9 months with you, and that is not forgotten all of a sudden... A baby 4 wks old is too Little to be spoiled...Do what your mommy instinct tells you... My baby (4 months now) has been like that since day 1, so me and my husband bought a carrier and we carry him when he wants to be held and I still have my 2 hands free!

Answer 4

My son is 1 week 4 days old and he is like this. If you lie him down in his bassinette or his crib without him being asleep he'll fuss around a lot until someone picks him up. He is however, perfectly content in his swing or anywhere else as long as he's asleep.

I guess you'll just have to try and get him use to lying down by himself without being held.

Answer 5

every baby on the planet has has a need to be held all the time - it's natural.

use a cuddlywrap to keep her close and give her the snuggling and reassurance she needs.  if you try to distance yourself from her, she will become an anxious neurotic sucky-baby or, worse, a whining, demanding brat.

Answer 6

Some babies just need to be close to their moms much more, every child is different. I suggest you buy a sling, so your baby can be close to you but at the same time it will give you the freedom to continue with your daily life.

Just snuggle her, those few months are so precious, when she gets older she'll be more independent and will miss those sunggly days.. I know I do :( She's on the run lately!

I really found the slings to be very useful they last till the child is over 1 yr old. The baby can lie down comfortably in it, and go to sleep while feeling your closeness. Besides it's great for breastfeeding!

My daughter loved the sling, specially when she wasnt feeling well, the only thing that would calm her down was being in it.

Best of luck!

Answer 7

It's normal. You were just lucky with the first. I couldn't even lay my son down to sleep until he was 3 months old. I had a sling and wore him in that all the time. I would get him to sleep then sit in the rocking chair with a book while he slept. At night he slept in bed with me and seemed content with that.

Right around 3 months it just stopped. He started only taking cat naps while I held him so I started swaddling him and laying him down instead and he sleeps better that way now.  Proof that you can't spoil a baby.  

Answer 8

Who doesn't love a good cuddle?  My daughter was like this as well, I put her in her carrier and we were good to go... I guess it's comforting to them since they're just coming off spending pretty much forty weeks bopping around with you.  She just about four months now and she is little Miss Independent!  Probably the more comfortable she gets in her new world the less she will want to be held close.  My advice, get a comfortable infant carrier that doesn't break your back! ;)

Answer 9

I think it's normal!  My son is almost 8 weeks old, and in the beginning, all he wanted was to be held.  He's growing out of it at this point, and is starting to be able to take naps in his bassinet.

Answer 10

I think that this is completely normal. My son was the same way.  He always loved to be held. I think this is because the feel safe and secure in your arms.  One thing that I tried with my son was swaddling him.  I think it is because it gave him a similar feeling to being inside of me.  Anyways I hope that everything works out for you.  Good luck.

Answer 11

perfectly normal. hold her.

Answer 12

Ohh.. this sounds like my son!

My baby boy is almost 7 weeks old and he's STILL this way! Ever since he was born, he's been completely attached and clingy to me -- he won't even let his father or grandma hold him for half an hour without crying hysterically for me. He *has* to be held constantly, and he's only content for longer than 30 minutes when I'm the one holding him.

And god forbid I place him in his swing for a few minutes while I eat or shower.. lol..

Its normal for us! But its been a huge adjustment for me to adapt to him being so high-needs..

Just remember to take care of yourself and don't neglect your needs just to please your daughter. She may cry a bit, but in the end - you'll both be happier when mommy is taken care of too.

Good luck! <3

Answer 13

There actually a biological reason as to why babies "magically" change at three months, and why before that they need to be held all the time, nurse on demand, etc.

Humans are primates, like gorillas, chimpanzees, etc.  However, we walk upright, causing our tailbones to be smack-dab in the center of our pelvic opening.  Also, our pelvises are a different shape than other apes.  Our babies are born with extremely large heads.  Because of all these reasons our babies are born three month earlier compared to other apes.  Gorillas and chimps have babies that can hold their own heads, cling to fur right away, and nurse by themselves.  By comparison human babies are completely dependent.

The first three months of your babies life, your goal should be to re-create the womb.  Constant holding, frequent feedings, and cat-naps are all part and parcel of re-creating the womb.  As well, co-sleeping goes right along with all of this.

You baby will outgrow this needy period.  Enjoy the snuggles while they last.  My son is now 8 months and hardly ever wants to snuggle because he's always on the go!