What do you do when a baby demands constant attention? She won't go to sleep unless she's being held and rocked. When she's awake she screams the whole time she's not being held. What can be done to break these habits?

Try playing a radio at a low volume while the child sleeps or when you aren't in the same room.

That's a hard habit to break. Running and picking up the baby every time it whimpers is the worst thing a parent can do. It won't hurt to let the child cry a bit. This way they learn crying won't always get the attention they want.

But a crying baby just isn't a sound I'm comfortable with. I always feel like something could seriously be wrong.

You've gotten really good advice here. Picking the baby up every time she makes a sound is only going to spoil her. This isn't good for you or for her. You both need to be able to get some rest.

But a crying baby just isn't a sound I'm comfortable with. I always feel like something could seriously be wrong.


I can understand that but, you are doing yourself and the baby no favors by picking the child up every time it whippers. Even as an tiny baby they learn fast how to get attention. They are helpless but, not dumb.
If the child has been fed, changed and otherwise taken care of and you know it's not sick, crying for a bit will not harm the child.

What do you do when a baby demands constant attention? She won't go to sleep unless she's being held and rocked. When she's awake she screams the whole time she's not being held. What can be done to break these habits?

You've let her develop some pretty bad habits. You're the only one who can put a stop to it. Like others have said, if she's been fed and changed and you know nothing is wrong, let her cry. She's not crying because she's hurting, she's crying because she's spoiled and she's not getting her way. And if you keep letting her get away with that kind of behavior, I'd really hate to be around when you have a teenager on your hands.

I see a lot of sleepless nights in your future if you continue to cater to her every cry. If there's really nothing wrong with your baby, letting her cry isn't going to hurt her.

I would say everyone has given you good advise. It is very important to set a night time schedule. I would turn the lights down low, see if the temperature needed to be adjusted in the room. Get all the baby bankies ready for sunggling. A nice warm bubble bath for the baby, some soft music, a warm bottle in the cold months and a little less warm bottle in the summer.

I would sit on the edge of the bed and rock the baby. My daughter did not like the rocking chair. I think that by sitting on the edge of the bed forced me to snuggle her more. She would be out like a light in an hour.

DCMerkle

Maybe try to slowly stop attending the baby every time it cries. So, for a few days you can answer her when she cries most of the time but once or twice dont. The next few days answer half the times and not the other half. After a few weeks hopefully she wont cry as much.

just a thought

Well Im not a dad yet, but I can imagine it is pretty tough to ignore a crying baby. Ill have to refrain sometimes when my newborn is crying for no reason.

If you know that it's a cry for attention, just stand out of view if the baby just to check and make sure that it's all it really is. It's scary to think that he/she might be crying because something is wrong, but it's all just part of parenting.

seeker

Definitely check her when she's crying to make sure there isn't anything wrong. But you can't always pick her up. She'll cry just to be held. That's what spoiled babies do. Don't be too hard on yourself though, I learned that the hard way. I cried to my mom that something was wrong with my baby because she cried all the time. My mom told me the only thing wrong with my baby was she had a mommy who was a pushover.

With my son, who is now five - I ripped my hair out.....JK! But he was demanding, now with my girl who is 8 1/2 months - she is quite independent, and loves to be left alone - so its cool. :D

Well, I picked my baby up every time he cried. I disagree that there is anything wrong with it. You can't spoil a baby. When a BABY cried a baby NEEDS attention. Now he's not a baby anymore, he's a 3 year old little man, and he has learned that crying doesn't always get him what he wants. When we are talking about a baby, we are talking about a little person who's only method for getting it's needs met is to cry. And the more attention a baby gets the better off the baby is. There is NOTHING wrong with picking up a baby or giving it constant attention. Since that is what nature wants you to do anyway.

You can't spoil a baby.

Do it if that's what feels right. It's called attachment parenting. Lots of people do it.

I let my kids just cry. There is no way I could have held them everytime they wanted it. I can't even imagine how clingy and dependent they would be now if I had.