Unhappy baby

Hi Meags

I think your boy and my girl are very similar!
I think he is at an age where he needs more 'company' if that makes sense.

Kaylee is extremely happy at the daymom, and they say she is such a happy friendly and easy going child who keeps herself busy.
But at home its a totally different story. I've been home with her for a month and its exhausting.
Because she doesnt want me to be out of her site, or do my own thing, she wants to do everything with me. I think it's that she enjoys company and whether it be mine exclusively at home, or that of 9 other kids and a daymom and her assistant at the daymom, it's not that her personality is different at home, but that's just her personality.
But when that is focused on one person, it is exhausting, and I really struggle to spend entire days alone with her.

Can you find a play group for him a couple of mornings a week?
Or have friends over with their kids as a weekly routine?
You'll be amazed at the difference.

It really boggles me sometimes because my totally friendly baby drives me up the wall, and I know she's not being difficult or needy, it's purely her personality, which will be great for her when she's older but means as a little toddler she wants to be around others.

Needless to say for her sake I cannot wait to take her back to the daymom!

He does have a dummy and a blanket and both are always with him. Its not that hes so miserable. But he really spends like 80% of the day moaning and it drives me nuts.

I have decided to get him a nanny twice a week for 5 hours each day so maybe he'll miss me and be happy to see me?!

I wouldn't worry about it too much. Just like some of us are quiet by nature or more serious by nature so are some children. Maybe he just needs to explore and find something that amuses him or something that he really enjoys!

With my lg, she used her blankie as a soothing object - today she still uses it (that and her dummy goes hand-in-hand). Try something similar and see if he eases up a bit.

I think I might know what you are talking about.

My baby was really quiet and didn't laugh a lot. It just seemed as if she was observing everything the whole time without showing any emotion.
When I saw other babies who were quite expressive and shrieking with laughter I became worried. Other babies explored quite a bit and my child was just happy sitting on my lap or closeby and sit and stare.

I now realise that children do have different personalities and that is okay. However if you are in any way worried that there might be something wrong, never ever ignore your mother instincts.

From my own experience I have noticed that babies pick up on your emotions like you won't believe (toddlers too). I could really see the difference in her mood when I was more relaxed. I think I only started relaxing when she was about a year old...That is when they start to see themselves seperate from you and start to realise they are actually their own person. I felt smothered by a baby needing my attention the whole time. I am loving the toddler phase!

She was only diagnosed at age 2,5 with a bladder abnormality that she had from birth. She had bladder infection every few months. I can't help but to ask myself how often she might have been in pain without being able to comunicate that she had pain from bladder infection? Did this medical problem have an effect on her personality? I don't know for sure, but what I am trying to tell you is that if you suspect that something isn't right with your child, do get a profesional to check if all is well physically and emotionally.

I tend to find that people are sometimes too quick to say "Oh, I am sure you are worried for no reason, I am sure everything is fine". I am not suggesting wildspread panic and "what if" mentality. But if you are worried, a parent is the best one to know if something doesn't sit right.

Meags I know how frustrating, tiring and disheartening this can be. Emily was the happiest, easiest baby until I went back to work. Now she won't entertain herself at all when I am around. When she is with my mom or her dad, she is happy-go-lucky. The minute I walk through the door, she is completely miserable unless she is attached to me!! THey keep telling me how she DOES play by herself, etc. but I seldom get to see it My dh works every 2nd weekend and then she and I are alone and it is not fun for me at all

so, I hope the girls are right and that it will eventually get better.

My boy was the same and now you won't say he was so straight face. Nothing to worry about, it gets better, some babies are serious, clingy and others just don't give a dam. Just like us. They can also feel if mommy and daddy is not their self and that can also cause them to be a bit confusing as to how to feel. My suggestion, try to be as relaxed as possible around him and as the other ladies said, shower him with love.

Hey,

I think all babies are different and just because he doesn't laugh every second of the day doesn't mean he isn't happy.

But I find if Paige is going through a clingy, miserable stage the best thing is to shower her with love and affection and in no time she is back to her normal happy self. its difficult especially when you are busy with every day life, but I find a bit more attention does make the world of difference to her attitude,

and he will probably grow out of being clingy, just hang in there