My 8-month-old son is really a pain in the butt sometimes. He refuses to entertain himself and is constantly whining and wanting my undivided attention. Is it wrong to let him stay on the floor when he is fussing (otherwise happy, well rested, changed, fed, etc.). I feel like if I let him fuss a little bit on his own maybe he will figure out a way to entertain himself for a short period of time. He does not crawl yet, hates to roll over to his tummy (because of the sleep on the back rule) and generally just wants me to entertain him all of the time. He has every toy imaginable (including boxes, tupperware and the homemade gadgets). Why won't he play by himself for short periods of time. Do I just need to let him figure it out by himself? He is not sick, he is very loved, and has no reason why he shouldn't want to play and explore on his own?
2007-01-13 08:02:41 · 13 answers · asked by Vicki W 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
He's still a baby and he's going to act like that for a while and there's nothing wrong with him. It's okay to let him fuss for a little but not long because it's not his fault that you're the best thing in his world. It is frustrating because they need you so much but that's what parenting is all about. When I was a first time mom, I got upset sometimes because I couldn't do anything without my baby distracting me from it. I realized that the other stuff just had to wait because my baby didn't ask to come here. He eventually grew more and more independent and didn't need me as much. Despite what others say, I held my son a lot and spent a lot of time with him. It didn't spoil him it made him very confident and secure. Relax and give your baby what he needs most right now...you.
2007-01-13 13:03:31 · answer #1 · answered by VWoman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Letting him fuss for a short time won't hurt him. Some babies just need a lot of attention. Is he teething, that often makes them miserable. Be on the lookout for problems though for he should be starting to crawl. roll over & even sit up at that age. There is no set time for these things but he should be making some effort towards these things.
2007-01-13 16:13:24 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
My 11 month old son is still this way, although there has been a lot of progress. With both of my children, we did kangaroo care at night. I was in a well cushioned and secluded spot where there was no change that anyone could roll off or on top of another. At 8 months, it was just too much. I needed sleep and his clinginess was not a good thing anymore. It was sweet, and it killed me to have to make him mature a little bit,but it was something that had to be done. I started doing a routine with him. change his diaper, let him see me making a bottle for him (for the night, not always bottles). Then put him in his bed, prop up the bottle ( I sit right there keeping an eye on him, not walk away and leave him to choke) and make him sleep on his own. Now he holds his own bottle and falls asleep easily. he looks at me, lays on his belly, and sort of hums himself to sleep. Same thing for the floor. I put him down, and let him cry it out. When they get angry enough or worked up enough, they will go on their own. You need to give them that motivation. Now he crawls around on his own with his older sister and doesn't really bug me unless he's hungry or tired. Or his diaper needs changing It's ok to let him cry it out although it feels heart wrenching. It's a tried and true method.
2007-01-13 16:11:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different babies respond different to the same stimuli. It sounds pretty normal to me that an 8-month old isn't very independent; I've seen 8 year-olds who don't like to be away from their mothers, and who are bored when left on their own for a few minutes. You probably DO need to leave him on his own occasionally for a few minutes, even if he fusses, just for the sake of your own sanity, but basically, babies are completely dependent upon their mothers for the first couple of years of life. Why do you think people complain so much about parenting?
2007-01-13 16:14:15 · answer #4 · answered by neniaf 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like he's spoiled. My daughter was and is still sometimes the same way. When I know that there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with her, she just wants my full attention, I ignore. Kids have to learn to somewhat entertain themselves anyway, so why not get them started now. As long as nothings wrong with him, then I think what you're doing is perfectly fine.
2007-01-13 16:09:30 · answer #5 · answered by Aaliyah & Natalie's Mommy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Leave him alone and let him fuss. Eventually he'll figure out what to do with himself. As long as you're not ignoring him all the time and still play with him sometimes he'll be fine. But he needs to figure it out on his own that you're not there to entertain him all the time.
2007-01-13 16:10:48 · answer #6 · answered by alimagmel 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
hes a normal 8 month old, and there is nothing wrong with letting him be on his own, while still being supervised of course. He does need the tools to figure out how to play and soothe himself.
2007-01-13 16:07:49 · answer #7 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because he is 8 months old. It sucks, I can understand your frustration. Have you tried just letting him play on the floor, and no matter how much he fusses, leaving him alone?
2007-01-13 16:25:25 · answer #8 · answered by Popsicle_1989 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
hi,
if he is not a child of special needs i see nothing wrong with him playing on the floor for a little while. as long as he is where you can see him in case something goes wrong. sooner or later he will get the message that its time for him to play on his own.
2007-01-13 16:15:08 · answer #9 · answered by Sonya K 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to teach him how to play with the toys.
Do you spend time laying in the floor with him playing?
I'm assuming he can sit up at this age?
Have you tried putting him on his tummy with a small, unbreakable mirror so he can push up and look at himself in it? They usually LOVE that.
2007-01-13 16:18:01 · answer #10 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋