Who else has a difficult baby?

Question

And how do you handle him/her? My daughter is 6 weeks old and she has such a temperament! I love her sooo much and I wouldn't trade her for the world. She is difficult to comfort. If she wants to be held-she SCREAMS until I get her. She won't sleep in her bassinet next to the bed- she has to be right next to me in my bed..If I put her in her swing-she cries after about 10 minutes-20 if I'm lucky! She has been this way since we brought her home. I've been told by many that you can't spoil a newborn. Is anyone else in the same situation? How do you cope? And is this just a stage?

Answer 1

It is a stage, and it is a temperament type.  My first born was the same way. I had to learn her and who she was.  She was very different from me.  Don't listen to people who tell you to let them scream themselves to sleep and don't pick them up when they cry. Your daughter needs you and depends on you to help her with her fears. My baby never liked the swing. She wanted to be cuddled and rocked and nursed. She was in my poor tired arms 24/7 almost. She eventually loved being read to and sung to. As she grew, she needed advanced notice of changes - letting her know when it was going to be time to leave helped her prepare for change. Letting her know what was on the menu for dinner helped her to adjust. You learn your baby as you go. Not all of them are well mannered quiet stuffed animals types, and thank God for that! Sometimes the louder, more insistent ones are the smarter ones!

Mine is now a very strong, independent and wonderfully brilliant 14 year old who is starting high school today, and she is the best musician I have ever heard and very smart and ready for school work,  but the first couple of years were a learning experience for me. However, I did it the way my heart told me and not how some silly book or well-advising friend told me.  Follow your heart. She is your daughter.

Answer 2

Aw, I had a fussy newborn and it's exhausting!!!!!!  They told me in the NICU that my son had a temper!  And they're right =)  

With a fussy baby, keep in mind that it's not forever (unless there's something medically wrong).  Be an eternal optimist and always hope that tomorrow will be different.  No, you're not going to spoil your baby!  Listen to you baby and give her what she needs, everyone is happier that way.  Get a baby carrier of some sort so your arms don't give out.  My son only liked the swings that go from side-to-side, he would sit in those forever (I'm sure they're made by angels), any other he would scream and cry in.  As she grows, it will be easier to distract her.  She'll become interested in toys and people, and different sights. Around 5 months we noticed a big difference, and it seemed like from then on, at every month he got a little easier.  My son had colic, reflux, gas, whatever could bother a baby he had!  If you're breastfeeding, maybe check your diet.  I changed mine around and noticed a huge difference.  To get some sleep at night, we bought an amby bed, from www.ambybaby.com, and it was completely wonderful!  Just hang in there!  Try to get as much rest as you can, and if anyone offers to help, take them up on it!!!  

It doesn't last forever!  

Answer 3

I sure hope so - for your own sake more than anything!

And here I was thinking that my ten week old baby girl was being difficult and temperamental...

Answer 4

Hopefully it's just a phase but it sounds like she has the crying thing figured out. I think you are just going to have to try letting her cry. Do you have a crib for her yet? Putting her in her own crib in her own room might be the answer.  

Answer 5

Just do what you have to.  Anything that makes your life easier and hers is right, for right now.  I worried so much and stressed so much with my first one about this stuff.  The second one, I just did what I needed to and we all got sleep and were happy.  This will last up until about 3-4 months probably.  Don't worry, you'll get through it!!

Answer 6

That sounds about right for a 6 wk old. They have an attention span of about 10 mins so if you get 20 mins of her in a swing she exceeds what is expected of her age. You may have unrealistic expectations of her.

My son was 'difficult' and he was until he started going to mommys day out, mommy and me and infant gymnastics. He needed a wider social circle. Babies are creatures of a social nature. Get her out and about.  

Answer 7

i am not a mother. however, i have been around so much newborns. i am the youngest of 8 children and i started babysitting my neices and nephews at 13.

this is normal baby behavior.  she is not being difficult, she is being an infant.  she likes you.  

Answer 8

jacob was like that. two things here,

one: he just didn't like the swing! 5 months of trying taught me that. and he hated a sling or inward facing carrier.

two:it will pass.

what i did was decide which things were essential for me to be able to cope. i decided that getting him used to lying on a play mat was vital. then I spent ages getting him used to it. helping him through the crying till he realized mommy was down there with him and would start to play. then getting him used to me being further away from him.

but I had to keep going back to square one whenever he decided he didn't like it anymore.

now I have a happy active 7 month old who is still demanding, won't play by himself, and gets bored and shouty withing 2 minutes of doing anything. But he is so active and smiley that I think its worth it. I have friends who have the stereotypical quiet contented little baby and I'm glad I've got a little powerhouse. I never have to work to get his attention, he always lets me know when he wants something, he "talks" to anyone and everyone and makes complete strangers smile, and is wonderful.

my advice is to pick your battles. decide what you need to happen to make coping easier and let her tell you what she needs for everything else. after 12 weeks it starts to gete asier!

Answer 9

If you need to put the baby down for 5 minutes and get out of the room - do so - take a break and when you're ready to handle her pick her up again. Its okay for baby's to be difficult , maybe she is gassy, hungry, needs a diaper change, or maybe she is just crying for no reason to (colic). Give her little bit of grape water.

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Anyway I hope i was much help...