How to relate to a 6 m.o.?

[Ms Panda]

Hi,

My baby has been really grumpy lately and I always go to him straight away and do what I can to distract him, which has in the past included clapping, singing and talking, etc. (I resort to these measures when my arms are killing me from carrying him around and cuddling him -- he's a big boy.) I have tried carrying him in a sling but he gets sick of that too.

Anyway, I know he is far too young to make the necessary connections to become manipulative but I was wondering if anyone knows how I can give him what he needs (which I strongly suspect is attention or entertainment) without running the risk of him associating grizzling with being seen to.

I am attentive as I can possibly be when he is happy as well as when he's unhappy, and as it is I don't do any personal things (such as cleaning the house and showering) if he's awake... basically I can't give him any more than I'm already giving him, but he is being really clingy.

Does anyone know what I could do? Does anyone know why he could be like this? Has anyone experienced anything similar?

Thanks

[taliistheword]

Ms Panda (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/member.php?u=18840) my little 7 month old girl sound the same
i don't know what to do ever , i feel like pulling my hair out at the moment

[Gigglesmum]

Ms Panda,

I was reading a back issue of Wellbeing today and there was an article about teething and all the different symptoms that a bub could have. They then went on to prescribe homeopathics, but there were so many different ones depending on the symptoms. Reeeeaally interesting! I had no idea. Guess thats why they wrote the article. I will scan it and email it to you. Might shed some light for you as to what is going on. :detective:

[ZooKeeper]

G'day Ms Panda,
I have been going thru a similar thing with starfish for a few months now, and a few things have helped...
*so I can make phone calls in relative tranquillity, she has her own handset plugged in as an extension and sits near me, that way she can listen in, chew on it, push buttons (but not hang me up lol) and generally be involved.
* to play on the computer like I need to, she has her own keyboard, not plugged into anything, but just like mummas (from an old Pc that died) which is on the floor next to my setup, she also has a couple of toys in here
* I give her old women's gossip mags to tear up, flick thru, etc
* keep a collection of board books and other sturdy books at the play area, starfish now likes to 'read' to herself as well as asking me to read books to her -- it's so CUTE!
* I put her in an old bassinette with a cushion in it and a few toys and she hangs there while I do kitchen stuff, washing, other stuff, & I take it where I need to be.
* she has a fairly large play area (more than half the loungeroom) which is an old double mattress and cushions, and a rug next to it, and I alternate her between the two through the day, playing or doing storytime with her some of that time but otherwise letting her learn to play on her own when she's up for it, I sing out to her if she whinges and keep one ear cocked for noises that mean I should get there quick fast (like the topple of a bub still trying to do things they aren't quite good at yet)
* she has started enjoying creeping around on the carpet in her own room, there's a few toys that live in there, again, sometimes i play with her, sometimes she does her thing while I do clothes folding, or even duck out to do soemthing else like put on a load of laundry
* she likes to hang out on our bed while I get dressed etc
* we have a baby swing she can be harnessed into which can be moved about, good for garden time when the ground is wet, we never bothered with the batteries
* she likes to talk to her own reflection a lot and i also play games with her involving the mirror
* baby proofed rooms where the only possible accidents are more or less safe and not really injurious ones are just a godsend at this stage, lots of low stuff and padded surfaces :thumbsup:
i think the clingy thing is all about bonding, and it can be a right pain-in-the but it all passes so quick. being 6mo finn is probly about to creep/crawl/cut teeth, and i've noticed starfish gets really cranky just before she gets the hang of something... right now this week she's cranky cause she can't climb the coffee table etc lol. solids are also very amusing and use a lot of time in the day, and a good chance for the mumma to sit, and do a bit of spoon feeding and a bit of just letting them muck about with it. (terry flats are a great cleanup tool for that one)

hope he cheers up soon for you love
:hugs:
zooy
PS thanks so much for the melbournabilia -- my mail came today :smiliedance::hugs:

[Ms Panda]

Hi again,

That is awesome advice, ladies, thank you soooo much!

A

[RmumR]

zookeeper has given some great advice and i may have to use some of it myself.
My little miss is 7mths and also loves to have all my attention and be constantly amused when she is awake.
I've taken to involving her in everyday chores and things and she finds them tremendously exciting....much more than i do.
When i have a basket of washing to put away i put her in the basket with the clothes and we use it as a boat to get around to the different bedrooms to put the clothes away, lots of toot toot tooting makes it a fun game.
When i am in the laundry putting clothes in the washing machine or dryer she is right there again sitting in a laundry basket holding bits and pieces of clothes whilst i chatter to her telling her all about what i am doing.
For hanging the clothes on the line i put her in the pram and take her out under the clothes line and give her some pegs to hold and occasionally she will pass me one.
In the kitchen i put her in the highchair and give her some plastic spoons and bowls to bang around whilst i pack or unpack the dishwasher.

I find involving her in household chores along with playing with her and her toys etc fills in the day and also gets things done.