How can I find time for myself when my baby is very demanding?

Question

My baby is 8 weeks old and at this point I am so exhausted. He wakes up 3 - 4 times and night and barely sleeps through the day. I am finding myself w/my head spinning trying to hurry to wash dishes, clean, make bottles or anything else I have to do for the short periods he does let me put him down. He never sits alone more than 10 minutes and sleeps very little (usually when I'm holding him). My husband keeps telling me he's spoiled. I don't think you can spoil and 8 week old baby. HELP!

Answer 1

Pepsi you're an idiot, punching your husband in the face isn't going to get him to help with the baby... Second you can't "spoil" a baby, but you can get him into a bad habit. Get your husband to help out whenever you can, oh yeah a hint. If he works do not and I say do not make him do any work the second he gets home. Give him a bear and a sandwhich let him chill for an hour, and then get him to do stuff. Invest in a swing, baby sling, etc. Again I like to say do not punch your husband, do not get mad at him for making a statement or else he won't feel like doing anything. You might want to let your baby learn to self soothe sometime, remember to break the habbit when he's young so it'll be easier on the both of you.  

Answer 2

YOU CANNOT SPOIL AN INFANT BABY!! Solicit help from family members.  When he's cranky, try giving him a warm bath, feed him, swaddle him securely and rock him.....eucalyptus oil (1-2drops) in the bath water may help to soothe him.  When all else fails, leave him with daddy and go get yourself a pedicure:)

Answer 3

If your baby is fussy when you put him down, you might look into if he has gas or some kind of lactose problem.  If he is formula fed, try adding Mylicon (or the generic simethicone) drops to his bottle.  It is very safe and helps ease gas pains by cutting down on the air your baby takes in.  You might also try using an easier to digest formula like Similac Sensitive.  Try one for a week and see what happens.

If you are breastfeeding, try cutting out dairy from your diet for a week.  No milk, yogurt, cheese, or ice cream.  See if this helps.

You can also try any of the following external methods -

1.  Swaddle him - he's not too old yet.  Do it especially at night when he should be sleeping.

2.  Get an infant swing for during the day.  Try using it when you need to get a few things done.  Don't leave him in it all day - 20 minutes to a half hour here and there to give your arms a break.

3.  Invest in a sling to carry him around hands-free.

4.  When he should be sleeping, try turning on some white noise in the form of a radio tuned to static.  Place it right in his crib if you want to - this is ok until he starts becoming more mobile.

Waking 3 - 4 times at night is not unusual.  However, if you are able to start helping him take naps during the day, he may sleep better at night.  Make sure you are on a regular feeding schedule - he should eat every 2 - 3 hours at this point.  Follow the eat, wake, sleep pattern.  Once he becomes less fussy, you'll notice sleeping cues like rubbing eyes or yawning.  Start putting him down when you notice this and he'll fall into a napping pattern.  He should only be able to stay away for 1 - 2 hours max, and then should sleep for at least 45 minutes.

I hope this helps you out - good luck!  And you can not spoil a baby at this point - he's still figuring out how to be a baby.

Answer 4

Thats what Grandmas are for get one to come to visit. If you can get both to come at different times thats even better.

Call Grandma and tell her the kid is making you climb the wall she will be there in a week. They understand your problem.

Glad you asked

Answer 5

I would suggest getting some help. Maybe bringing in a nanny or a family member a few hours a week would help you to get some time to yourself. You don't even need to leave the house - just having someone else around to hand the baby off to will give you a much needed break! You'd be surprised how just being able to have a shower and some lunch in peace will make you feel better.  

Answer 6

holy cow! after you punch your husband in the face ask him to take the baby for a walk so you can nap for 30minutes... OR tell him to do something .....You need to rest... try to invest in a sling or carrier so the baby can be with you when he isn't around...which seems to me often.

the waking up at night is typical for this old...it wont be until he's about 6 months that he sleeps all night

Answer 7

My baby is the same way!  She just doesn't like to sleep unless she's in my arms.  Even at night she wakes up if I try to put her in her crib and I'm not going to sleep myself.  it's liek she has esp or something.  Sometimes her eyes are half open while she sleeps keeping an eye on me to make sure I don't go too far!  My husband suggested I was spoiling her too, but then his mom said I should hold her as much as possible and he stopped saying that.  Really, what do men know?  My husband thinks our duaghter is a football with arms and legs.  Don't try to do too much.  My daughter is three and a half months old and starting to get better at sleeping for longer periods on her own and now I regret setting her down so much while she was awake to do things.  This time when they are so needy really flies by and it's much more important that the child feels loved than the dishes get done.  

Answer 8

You can't spoil a baby.  Your husband should be offering to help you around the house, you have a fulltime job just being mom right now to a new baby.  For the first 3 months it is extremely hard to have any time for yourself and balance things out and he should be understanding of that.  Babies sleep in small time amounts and wakeup often for diaper changes and feedings and just to be held and loved when they are that young.  They are so use to being carried inside you nice and safe and warm that when they are outside they still want that for awhile.