Am I Spoiling My Baby?

My daughter did the same thing at the same age. Now she's 19 months old already. I carried her around just like you did. It lasted until she was about 8 months or so... I think it's just a stage. I don't believe that you can spoil a baby that young. Good luck :-)

You might be spoiling her...but, I can't say I wouldn't do the same if I were in the same position.
Maybe try taking her for a walk in the stroller, or out for a ride in the car, when she starts squealing. Or..just let her holler for a while. She'll know you're going to give in to her crying, after a while!

Hello K.,
There is no such thing! I am a mother of 3, my baby is 6 months old and my last. I hold her every chance I get, and I wish I held my other 2 just as much! She is the happiest baby ever, but since I do hold her all the time, if I have to put her down, she is okay w/ it b/c she knows as soon as I am done doing what I have too, I pick her up again! Enyoy your little one, it goes by to fast! M.

NO! Or if you are, it's a good thing. I carried my Addie around a lot longer than my mom and others thought was right. They said I was spoiling her. Now, at 15 months (and she's been this way for some time) she is a happy and independent child most days..because she know Ill be there if she needs me! She handles separation well, plays well alone, etc etc. It's the people who don't pick their kids up that end up with clingy kids. Their kids aren't sure they'll be there when they need them.
(all my opinion and personal experience, of course)

Meet their NEEDS while they're young and they'll be more secure when they're older. I had one who had to be held 24-7 for the first few months. Ne's now a very well behaved 5½ year old. The other 2 were less needy as infants so I did put them down more.

I also agree with the other mom's responses so far. I would get so upset when people would tell me I was spoiling my son and to not pick him up. The majority of the time my son would cry for a reason and as a new mom it just took some time to figure out exactly what it was each time. And of course they just want to be held at times and I don't feel there's anything wrong with that.

My son is now 14 months old and most of the time he just wants to be running around, so I love when he gets in his moods and wants me to hold him because time flies by so fast. I personally don't think you can hold, hug, and kiss your child too much.

Every mother and every child is different. Do what feels right for you.

Hi K.. Oh god no. hold that baby, the depression only hits when they wont let you hold them anymore. This is your time with your infant. ENJOY!! also if you just need to get things done invest in a sling there great.

i dont really think you can spoil a baby so young.. at that age.. mommy is their universe and when mommy leaves their sight, they think all is lost. so its hard to say wether or not you are creating a future issue to deal with.. just make sure its not b/c she's not feeling well or anything like that. if my girls are sick at all they want me to hold them all day too. but if you need to get things done, you have no choice but to let her down. i had the bumbo seat. it was fabulous. it made it to wear she could sit and look around w/o being on the bouncy seat which had her leaned back. you can put that right on the counter if you're cooking or doing dishes, on the table at dinnertime.. really anywhere, and since she can see you she wont feel so left out.. but you will have the use of your two hands!! its at target, its 40 bucks... they have a lot of cute colors.. it was the best 40 bucks i spent on baby items ever!! i would definitley try it to see how she likes it!!

Some babies have higher needs than others.
I don't think you are spoiling her.

Of course not! She is just being a baby, most babies do the same thing. I wouldn't think you are spoiling her until after a 9 months or so when she is learning the crawl and walk. Don't feel bad at all!

Hello,
my name is F. and to answer your question yes! When you put her down walk away. She will scream but when she realize you are not responding she will stop. You also have to get strenth to walk away and not respond to her demand you are the parent not the child

It's so hard to say. My doctor said you can't spoil them until they are 6 months or older and they need to know that you respond to their needs at this age. My daughter was the same way, but come to find out she had acid reflux which is why she would cry when we laid her down. She is definitely spoiled now (she's 13 months old), but I wouldn't change anything that I did. She's very close to me and I love every bit of it! Enjoy holding your baby now because when they get older they don't like snuggling!

Heck NO... My favorite thing to tell parents is to hold her/him often as they get big way to fast. I have two great boys ages 6 years and 21 months and I sware I do not know where the time went. I held them both from the second they were put on my chest after being born. I don't believe in spoling, it's not. It is meeting there needs. Think about where they come from a cozy warm, , quite, dark place where everything they ever need is there for them, if they are hungry they have food if they are tired they have the soft comfy feeling of floating and you walking and moving to help sooth them to sleep, every single need an unborn baby could ever need is right there for them it's a big scary loud world outside the womb. By all means hold that precious baby, she's only little once and for only a very short amount of time.

K. my doctor said:

when she is hungry feed her
when she is wet change her
and when she wants to be held..hold her

you cant spoil a baby until they are 6 months old

No your not spoiling her. Your daughter just has days when she needs to be a little closer to mommy. My daughter was the same way and I always picked her up. She is a nice child at 4 1/2 now.

When I was a kid people used to accuse me of being spoiled and I always told them the same thing that I tell anyone saying anything about me spoiling my daughter..."She is NOT spoiled, she is just extremely well loved."

Good luck and enjoy your little one. They are only that little for a very short period of time.

I'm not sure if you are creating a monster of the future, but if it makes you feel better, my daughter who is also 4 1/2 months does exactly the same thing (and I always pick her up when she does).

K., I know you received a ton of responses but I just wanted to chime in real quick. I do not believe you are spoiling your baby if you carry her a lot if she NEEDS you. But I do think that you have to be careful because in the blink of an eye and without you noticing, they cross the line from unable to spoil to oh my gosh that is a spoiled brat. I'm sure you have seen children like that. You need to let her know if she needs you, you are there. But she doesn't get Mommy by pitching a fit (which she is still young to be doing this)or misbehaving. Just really pay attention to this, because before you know it, when your little angel turns one or two, she will be that child you see in the store that makes you say "oh my gosh." Be there when she needs you, but don't let her think that means she should always get her way. But as long as you feel that is not the case- love her, love her, love her!

I agree with most of the responses that you have gotten and as a mother, grandmother I say go for it. They grow up so quickly, so enjoy her closeness. I used a sling with mine and carried her as I did housework, cooked (on my back not front), went for bike rides, shopping. I even used the sling for a little boy I kept from 1 mth to 4 yrs old. Do a search for "attachment parenting" there is a lot of info out there. Check out mothering.com. Enjoy your baby and meet her needs now and just close your ears to anyone saying you're spoiling her.

I AM AGREATGRANDMOM OF 6 ADORABLE DARLINGS AND I AM A FERM BELIEVER IN SPOILING AND MINE ARE OK. I HAD A SWING THE KIND YOU HOOKED OVER THE DOOR FRAME IF I WAS WORKING IN A ROOM I MADE SURE THEY COULD SEE ME AND I WOULD SING NOW AND THEN TICLKE A FOOT ARE JUST TOUCH JUST TO LET THEM KNOW I WAS THERE IT WORKED WITH ALL MINE. NO DEAR I DON,T THINK YOU ARE SPOILING THEY NEED THAT MOTHER TOUCH THAT YOUNG THEY WILL GROW OUT OF IT ONCE BIG ENOUGH TO NOTICE TOYS.AFTER ALL FOR NINE MONTH IT WAS THE SMELL, FEEL, AND TOUCH OF MOTHER AND NOW IT IS TO SOON TO TAKE THAT AWAY. TIME WILL TAKE CARE OF IT MEAN TIME TRY THE SWING WORKED FOR ME AND ENJOY YOUR BABY THEY GROW UP WAY TO FAST. A NANNA

You really can't spoil a child that young. Your daughter just needs to feel that closeness and I would carry her as much as she needs. My daughter loved to be held but once she feel asleep I was always able to put her down and I would use that time to clean up around the house or do laundry. My daugther was also colic so I was forced to carry her around most of the day to try to calm her down and get her to stop crying. My daughter just turned 18 mths and she is no wear near being spoiled. She has her periods when she likes to be held and needs that but most of the time she doesn't want to be held she wants to run around and play and be independent. Enjoy this bonding time like I did when my daugther was younger because once she starts to walk and crawl she wont want you to hold her that much and you will miss that. Have fun with your new baby!

Hi,my name is R.. I had my boy first then my girl my little terror she did the same thing,well I couldn't hold her all the time,because I had to take care of my son.This might sound a little mean but it worked.My daughter wanted me to carry her everywhere when she was about 2 to 4 months old. I would put her in her exersaucer or playmat and let her cry you know when something else is wrong.Yea at first it was a hair pulling exepience for me, but every day I noticed less and less crying from day to day and it did stop. Now she is 16 months old and she onlys wants held from time to time.It drove my crazy but you don't want a spoiled kid or a child on your hip doing everything you need time for yourself well I hope I helped you bye:)

Hello... No your not spoliling your baby at all I had A son just like your baby some babys just need to be held and have there momma close by I had to carry him in one of those front packs I also had to sleep with him on my chest most of the time.. I had a new parent nurse who came to my house to help with any questions ect ect she said that this is normal and its not spoiling the baby he just needs that human touch he is now a happy depentend 3 year old... hope this helps

That always got to me, too. I just respond that things only spoil when left UNattended -- seems like a no-brainer to hold your little one when they want you to do so...keep up the good work, Mom!

K....no, you are definitely not spoiling her. I don't believe that you can spoil a child by loving them. My daughter is now 12 and I have actually had people tell me that I spoil her b/c I love to hold her and hug her and kiss her. She lives with my mom right now and I try to give her the utmost attention when she is with me. I take her places and buy her things, but I do not buy her just anything. She gets the things that she needs and a few extras here and there, but nothing more. She even gives me the occasional whines when she doesn't get her way, but I just explain to her that I can't always afford, get or give her every little thing she wants. I don't think that you are creating a "monster" as you put it. Love her while she's young b/c as she grows up she may not want you to hold her or love on her a lot. Believe me, there have been times when my daughter will give me a quick hug and kiss and then tell me that's enough Mom. Best of luck to you and your daughter. Keep in touch and let me know how things work out for you and your daughter.
H.

Hi,
Have you tried putting her in something that provides a little movement? Like a swing or vibrating chair. This can be very soothing for babies. This may distract her from the fact that you are not holding her or it could be that she just enjoys that movement that she gets while you are holding her.

Right now she is learning trust vs. mistrust (Erick Ericson's stages of development). By holding her you are sending the signal that she can trust you when she needs you. It is very true that you can not spoil a newborn. HOLD THAT BABY!!! Don't let anyone tell you differently. (Sometimes grandmas can be very pushy on this issue but do what your gut tells you to do. Mommy instincts are very powerful)