My son is 4 1/2 years old. He's about 112 cm in height and 18 kilos in weight. Sorry for the metric. He's 90th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight.
I don't need to carry him too often, but sometimes he falls asleep in the car or on the couch. Sometimes in church he wants to picked up while we're signing songs. Physically I can lift him and carry him to bed, even if it means going up the flight of stairs, but being pregnant it exhausts me. Should I or my husband keep picking him up or is he too old for it?
2007-12-28 05:54:18 · 25 answers · asked by sunshine 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Let me repeat I don't need to carry him that often. Just when he falls asleep in the car or on the couch. He wants to be picked up at church so he can see the singers. He is not asking to be picked up all day long. He walks, he runs, he jumps. He does everything a healthy and adjusted child of his age does.
He doesn't know I'm pregnant yet, it's still on the early side. But when he asks at church for me to pick him up and I say "sweetie, I just can't, you're just getting too big for mommie to pick you up." - am I doing something wrong in that instance? He then turns and asks daddy to pcik him up and daddy does so. We still get plenty of tickles and hugs and high 5's and cuddles in throughout the day.
When he does fall asleep o the couch, I would much rather ask my hubby to pick him up and carry him to bed. Am I using my pregnancy as a crutch? My hubby is very sweet and never complains, but should I do my share of carry our son to bed?
2007-12-28 06:12:41 · update #1
Yes, carry a sleepy child to bed, but try to have hubby do it, since your pregnant. Yes, cuddle him in church, but have him stand on the seat. But, by NO means be carrying him up stairs. Either put him on the sofa or have hubby carry him up.
Children are never to old for cuddles, but they do have two feet and could be taught to use them.
2007-12-28 06:01:06 · answer #1 · answered by rustyoldma 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I still pick up my 8 year old. I'm 5'2" and 114 lbs, so I'm pretty little myself. I carry him in from the car when he falls asleep. However, when I was pregnant, I just couldn't pick him up as much, and late in the pregnancy, not at all. For a few more years, he is going to want to be carried sometimes and held to reaffirm his place with you. There isn't and shouldn't be a cut off age.
If you physically can't pick him up, whether it is his size or constraints from being pregnant, then don't, if you can avoid it. But, definitely, as long as you can, hold him on your lap and cuddle on the couch, whatever it takes to help him know that he is still your superstar.
By the way, my two year old is in the 90th percentile for height and weight for his age, and I am still toting him around!!!
2007-12-28 06:30:35 · answer #2 · answered by bells2599 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My 3 y.o. is huge for his age - about 38 pounds, which is maybe half a kilo less than your guy, and maybe around 100 cm tall. I still tote him around like a sack of potatoes on occassion, but more and more often, I tell him "Mommy can't carry you." Turns out he can walk just fine.
Sounds like you're feeling guilty because you're about to introduce a new little sibling into his life. I understand the anxiety, but I think the more you try to push him to walk, the better. After all, if he's still hitching a ride when the baby arrives, he'll be REALLY jealous that his place in your arms is taken.
Plus, during my pregnancy, I found that my sense of balance was a little off. My doctor suggested I give up bicycling, in fact, because the chance of a fall went up dramatically. Based on that logic, I'd give over any tot-toting duties to dad immediately. It's not about shirking a responsibility, it's about keeping you *and* both of your children safe.
2007-12-28 07:10:00 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I sometimes carry my daughter if she is asleep in and out of the car. Or to bed. Other than that I don't. As for a hug bend down slowly with your knees and hug. Have him stand on a chair @ church. But he is a little to old too pick up all the time. Have your husband pick him up if he falls asleep down stairs. But you should not be carrying if if he is walking and just tired. He is way too old for that.
2007-12-28 06:05:40 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm only replying to the last sentence or 2 of your question.
You're carrying baby # 2 in your belly for 10 months... he can carry around the 4 year old for awhile... don't ever feel like pregnancy is a crutch (unless you're sitting on the couch asking for ice cream and a foot rub every 1/2 hour.)
You have a job to do right now and that is to take care of the next baby... let him take care of the 4 year old.
2007-12-28 07:44:18 · answer #5 · answered by amber 18 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's okay to carry him if he falls asleep somewhere other than his bed. His sleep is very important, and it would be silly to interrupt him. As long as you aren't picking him up every time he asks and treating him like a baby, you should be okay. Keep in mind that if you are pregnant, it isn't usually recomended to do heavy lifting. Also, when the baby comes, your son may become dependent on you to pick him up, just like you do the baby. it will be an adjustment. But for now, you are fine.
2007-12-28 06:00:48 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i often pick up my 4-year-old (she falls asleep in the car), still pick up my 6-year-old occasionally (he's really short and often needs a lift to get a view of things), and once in a great while will even pick up my 8-year-old (for a hug). it seems to me my grandfather was still picking me up when i was a pre-teen....
my ob told me not to worry about picking up my older kids when pregnant, but if you're worried or it's just too exhausting, of course you don't need to with a kid that age. other than the pregnancy thing, i don't see any harm in it. of course there's harm in always carrying a child who can walk perfectly well on their own ... but as long as they're doing plenty of walking at other times, no problem carrying them when they're asleep, tired, too short to see, hurt, in need of comfort, etc....
2007-12-28 06:00:34 · answer #7 · answered by ... 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
properly it relies upon what you propose on wearing. My older little ones are 6, 6 and four and that i in no way 'carry' them, yet I p.c.. up the 4 twelve months old now and back. i ended wearing my little ones around plenty whilst they have been approximately 2 and a nil.5 or purely became 3. yet whilst my (purely became) 4 twelve months old falls over and hurts himself, i'll p.c.. him up. Or if we bypass to a night out and he gets very sleepy i will carry him. I had a toddler 10 weeks in the past although (whilst he grow to be 3) and because then I even have picked him up plenty much less. My twin females are 6 and that i in no way rather p.c.. them up. My husband provides them piggy back rides or places them on his shoulders now and back. Or in the event that they nod off interior the automobile i'll carry them to mattress. yet they're too enormous to hold around now.
2016-11-25 22:57:19 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Children under 5 can never get too much affection and love. He is basically still a baby. Set a time frame. Maybe 5-6 years old.
2007-12-28 09:24:29 · answer #9 · answered by Steff0525 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I carried my children as long as I could. Now my daughter is almost as tall as I am at 10, so that is not going to happen much anymore.
Most importantly, use your own instincts. If you feel like holding them, picking them up, do so, if you do not, then don't. Go with your gut, whatever the situation feels like for you. I am sure you are intuned with your childrens needs, otherwise you would not be concerned with their wellbeing.
Have a wonderful day!
Claudia Blanton
Motivational Coach, Fundraiser
www.create-your-life-dreams.com
2007-12-28 06:05:09 · answer #10 · answered by Claudia Blanton 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋