Stay home mom dilemma?

Question

I have a 7-month old baby girl. I am staying home to take care of her and nursing her. She was an angel sent from above till she turned 6 month. She was so perfect and quiet, slept through night from day one. She is so attached to me that I can't get away from her for even 30-seconds. She doesn't only fuss, she cries and tears roll down her chicks. I can't even go to bathroom without her crying anymore.

Another problem is that since I fed her from day one, she won't take bottle. Not ever when I pump and give her.

Trouble started when my friend stopped nursing her one year old. She had tough time, so she advised me that I should get my baby used to taking bottle. First problem is she won't accept bottle and second is when I pump, I can hardly get 2 oz. She needs breast to sleep and I had tried pacifier and she won't even accept that.

Anyone who has been through this? Any suggestions would help.

Answer 1

My own daughter had problems - she was born with a receding chin so could not breast feed from the start. She was obviously very hungry & did not like bottle but there was no other choice.

The midwife told me to break up a very small piece of rusk into very fine pieces & add to bottle. This would mean that what little she could drink would be more filling for her. It worked for her.

I do hope you find something soon to sort this problem out for you. It can be harrowing. Best wishes. UK

Answer 2

All three of my children were very clingy.  I breastfed the first until she was three years old...the next one until he was 17 months, and the third one until he was 2 1/2 years old.  

My husband helped me a lot, so it wasn't too bad.  We didn't allow our kids to cry, either, and it kind of stressed us both out.  We were both exhausted.

Suggestions?

Keep breastfeeding as long as your baby wants to, but I did start with baby cereal to make sure she got enough to eat.  My daughter is 22 now and is ok.

I breastfed my babies in our bed at night, and when they finally went to

sleep, my husband would carry them to their beds.  This is the only time that we would allow them to cry a bit.  We couldn't allow the babies to take over our bed.

Buy a baby sling, so you can get your work done.

In a couple of months, she'll be old enough for a walker, and she'll start exploring her surroundings a little bit more.

Remember, there is a light at the end of the tunnel; they do grow up.

(Just a tip on potty training.  Since you are a stay at home mom, don't force that, either.  My son wasn't trained until 3 1/2.  I waited until he was ready.  I think that between all of my children they only had a total of 2 bed-wetting accidents, because I didn't rush them.  Be careful what people tell you, and resist the urge to do and end things fast.)