Monkey has been a very needy little boy. Which is fine considering what he's been through.
Ever since his hospital stay last week, lil' Monkey has been VERY needy. I can't put him in his crib to sleep at night unless he's completely Milk Drunk (which now takes 20 minutes instead of the usual 7-10 minutes). Which is fine since I really just want him to get a good night's sleep and for US to get a good night's sleep. He also nurses more often than he did prior to getting sick. Which is fine, since the breast milk should help with his diarrhea.
We've regressed to napping together in our bed like we did when he was 3 months old. Which is fine because at least we're napping which was hard in the hospital. I can't put him on the floor to play while I check email like I used to do and he doesn't even like sitting in his brand new exersaucer or jumper things anymore (that was short lived as they were Christmas presents). I had to take him into the bathroom with me and put him in his bouncer (which he's getting a little too big for) in order to pee or poop. This is not so fine and driving me crazy quite frankly.
At his follow up appointment today with his doctor, I asked if this could possibly be PTSD from the hospital stay. She said it could be, in combination with the teething (he's got one trying to break through currently) and possible separation anxiety since he's nearing that age.
Now I don't mind this too much and I know he'll eventually go back to his usual self, however, there are two things that worry me at this moment. One, my nipples. They are SO sore because they're not used to this much activity and because he's decided they are a good teething ring. I realized today during one nursing session that he wasn't really drinking anymore and was just sucking with a little toothiness thrown in there. Two, I'm going away this weekend and if Monkey is experiencing separation anxiety from his mommy, my poor DH will have a real tough go of it while I'm gone.
At least we found a solution for the soy formula switch -- he's supposed to avoid milk-based formula for the next few weeks because the lactose might irritate his stomach more. The doctor gave us some free samples of regular lactose-free formula today which he gobbled up at bedtime. Which is more than fine because if DH runs out of frozen breast milk this weekend he has a suitable back-up.
So my questions to the other parents out there are:
1. As they got bigger and more mobile, what did you do to keep them safe while you did your business, got dressed, checked email?
2. If you kept breastfeeding until your child got teeth, how did you prevent the biting or scraping of the nipples? I've tried the loud "Ouch" without the smile and the prompt breakaway (as prompt as I could pry him off) but he just doesn't seem to get it.
3. Has anyone had to deal with the separation anxiety when going away on a trip and what did you do to help it?
Can you tell I'm trying to remain on that positive note I had Sunday night but finding it hard?!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
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5 comments:
1. when ours started crawling, i put her in the high chair just outside the door, turned just right and distracted her if i had to *ehem* sit down. i'd give her toys to play with - this was outside our half bath. now that she walks, i go to the upstairs bathroom and close all the doors except the bathroom door, and she usually plays out in the hall or comes into the bathroom a bit to check up on me. once again, i throw a toy and ask her to go get it if i need to *ehem* site down. this is how she learned what knees are. :-) getting dressed? i usually don't until her first nap. checking email? we keep a playpen set up down in the basement, with toys, that she lies to play in, but only for so long. then i'm pointing out the kitty to her and that'll work until the cat runs away.
2. i've never tried breastfeeding. i don't think that would be beneficial to either party in this case :-o
3. it's funny you bring up separation anxiety, cause only just yesterday has she really started to become attached to me. she gets a little upset when i go downstairs to work and leave her with the "mommy's helper" but she forgets about it pretty quickly (i can hear her pretty well). when i switched places with her mommy, she did go through a phase where she would get upset when mommy left for work, but i played with her and did goofy stuff to make her laugh and get over it.
i wouldn't worry too much about DH, it might be tough, but they have a bond too. this will only strengthen it. and also, you'll have more fun away without the worrying, as difficult as that may be for you. ;-)
1 - I found that a hard transition from not being able to hang out in the bouncer while I showered and got dressed. I found myself waking up earlier on work days and rushing to get ready before she woke up (like a time bomb that you have no idea when it's going to go off). It's gotten better with age because she used to wake up crying in the morning, but now she wakes up talking, saying "HAAAPPYYYY.... BUG... BUG... HAAAAPPYYY". So, I let her hang out for a couple minutes while I finish getting ready for work and she's ok with that. On the weekends though, I just put her down in the walk-in closet and I shut the door with us both in there together. She loves playing with plastic hangers. In the early mobile days, we utilized the big plastic play-yard alot. She might not have been totally happy with it at times, but she was safe while we "took care of business". The high-chair and a couple toys works pretty well too.
2 - My mother has said that was the reason she stopped nursing my sister at 6mo. She was a BITER...funny thing, she grew up and got kicked out of pre-school for bitting too. Haha. As I watched Aria's teeth appear at 4mo, I was thankful for the pump and the transition to bottles a couple months before. That was one feeling I'm glad to have missed out on. Ouch!
3 - I'm sure he'll be fine...you shouldn't worry becasue he'll have Daddy. If I were in that situation, I think the seperation anxiety would be more from Mommy than Baby. Going to work for a day is one thing, leaving for the weekend is another...but then again, Daddy would be there and she LOVES her Daddy. Plus I'm sure they'd figure out all the Mommy stuff together...mornings, breakfast, dinner, baths, bedtime etc.
I hope you enjoy your trip and Daddy and Baby have nice male bonding weekend together!
kz and dana -- thanks for the advice! I'll keep those in mind.
dana -- you could be onto something with the separation anxiety being more on mommy's part than Monkey's but we'll see.
1. During the Pumpkin's fussy periods (all of them), I just mostly kept her with me. When she was able to crawl and stand and stuff, I'd just put her on the floor in the bathroom or bedroom with toys (or with things that were safe but not toys). She was very happy with a cardboard box full of random stuff that she could pull out. When she would stand for it, I'd try the play pen or the jumper, and we actually leave the jumper in the bathroom.
2. You just have to say no when they bite, break the latch, try again or end the session. Rinse, repeat, ad naseaum. We've been able to get past it (for now), but you have to be consistent so they learn. I would also keep my finger handy during biting days so that I could pop her off as quick as possible.
3. He will miss you, but your hubby and he will do fine. They will have their own ways of doing things and dealing with each other. I'm sure it will be a surprisingly good father/son bonding time. Either that, or he really appreciate you when you get back! haha!
Also, I wanted to point out that what the Monkey is going through is normal for a baby his age. Very developmentally appropriate for him to be nursing alot right now (there is a growth spurt around his age I believe... he's 6 or 7 months, right?). And also having been sick, these are normal reactions. Personally, I think it's especially important for you and/or your hubby to be there for him in the ways you are. Way to go, even though it is tough on you!
You are away by now, sorry I haven't had time to check in. For biting while nursing just hold his nose for a second until he lets go if he latches on and won't let go. A little flick to the cheek works very well also, babies as young as he quickly get the connection of "I bite, cheek flicked." Have a nice look on your face when you do it and just say "no, don't bite mommy." Just takes a little training. Hope it helps you, these techniques have worked for me and several friends.
Hope the weekend goes/went well.
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