Difficult Baby

My sister babysat once a week for a friend's daughter who did the same thing. My sister doesn't have kids, so when I babysat for this child, I thought she'd be fine for me (yeah right!). I had to stand holding her & bouncing her around for the entire 4 hrs. I was told she did this for everyone including dad. And guess what - as soon as she saw Mom, tears turned off instantaniously! At about a year old things got better & she doesn't do it anymore. Nothing was really done differently. I don't know how much help this is, but just know that things will get better.

I can completely understand where you're coming from! My daughter's 15 months now, and used to be the same way. Then i started taking her to the library for reading time with other babies. I started going to the gym and letting her stay in the nursery, playing with other kids. These things really seemed to help get her more secure in herself. And it was totally gratifying to see how happy she was when i returned. Sometimes a little time apart can be just what the both of you need. Good luck, and remember that you're not alone!

Hi Alison,
I had the same problem with my son and husband. I had to just leave my husband alone with my son at first it was very hard on my husband to have my son cry the whole time I was gone. My son after the first couple of times leaving them alone together stopped crying and wanted to play with my husband. It did take awhile for my son to get used to someone else caring for him because I did it all day then my husband would come home and try to help with my son and my son would just cry. Try having your husband start small maybe you start feeding your daughter then Dad can take over.Same with bath time you get her in and Dad can help give her a bath.Just the littlest things can give you a break.For the cleaning thing my son still has a problem if he can't see me if I'm cleaning or doing laundry so I put him in his high chair with lots of toys and take him in the room I'm in. He thinks it's great and I can get stuff done.Plus he thinks mopping is the funniest thing in the world. You will be amazed at what she thinks is funny.
Hope I help you,
M.

I know just how you feel. I tried to buy my daughter in a sling/backpack when she was younger so I could do some house work but like other moms, the only way I could get anything done was to put her in her swing or bouncer and put her in the room with me. The only way that I could deal with leaving her with her father was to leave the house. You just have to go slow and do little things, giving a bath, feeding, changinf diapers, but some of it will mean that you have to stay and let her see and hear you.

Good luck!!

Congratulations! You have a lovely child,it really sounds like my youngest, he's three now and from day one, I couldn't even tip-toe on the carpet or shut a door, he'd be awake in seconds. I've chosen to nurse and still do, by the way, so he'd wake up and want to nurse. Not always easy but the benefits outweigh the moments' inconvenience, I feel your frustration, I do, but it comes with the territory, your daughter is a momma's girl, nothing wrong with that. She's familar and comfortable with you, unfortunately only you. She is not doing anything out of the ordinary, I know it just bugs you because you've got stuff to do and you don't want to alienate your husband. Well my advise to you is, sometimes you have to choose, are you willing to put aside your important things to do and focus undivided on her, because it's sounds like she needs that..for now, not forever just now she needs reassurance.
On the practical side...A couple things I used for my clingy baby were a door bouncer and a cool baby exer-saucer, they would work for short periods of time, but sometime that was enough to do the dishes or sweep. Hang in there, she won't be clingy forever.
Another thing that is very helpful is a baby sling, Over the shoulder baby holder or a Nojo sling(Target,Wal-mart), those allow you your arms and allow the baby closeness. Remember your daughter is a baby and babies like momma's. period. No changing that. God bless you and I feel your pain, it's universal. I hope this helps at least a little. T.

I had this problem with my son; the only thing different was for the first three years of his life my husband and I were home all day with him. If he could not see me he would start crying for me. What I started to do was leave for short times. I would go to the bank and do the daily run for the mini storage or I would go to the mall and do homework there. When I would leave he would cry until he was distracted with something else or he fell asleep. As for doing things around the house, I bought a bouncer for my oldest and I ended up using it for him as well. He could play in an area of the house and see me, but to break him of always having to see me I started putting him in the hallways so he would watch me go in and out of rooms as I was cleaning. At first he would cry every time I went into a room but would stop when I went to the next room or poked my head out. Soon he knew where I was and that was good enough for him. He is three now and he plays with his sitter most of the day but every once and a while he will want to hang out with his mom, which makes me happy. :)