advice needed for a clingy 5 week old

[KayteeB]

hi ladies

my 5 week old is so clingy! I literally cant put him down for a minuet without him launching into a full blown screaming, crying, wriggling tantrum. He is so bad tempered and shouts and screams. Ive tried the sling but he hates that as he is very active and hates not being able to wriggle around. Ive tried a playgym for him to lie on, a baby swing and ive just brought a vibrating bounc chair which should arrive next week

Its seriously getting me down as i cant do anything with him being perminately attatched to me. Is letting him shout and cry a bit cruel? i always thought it was wrong to do at this age but i cant find any other solution. I know baby's need their mum at this age but i know most babies do have some indepedant play so their mums can bath, wash up, make bottles and i cant do any without him screaming

please help

 

[HellBunny]

I'm afraid at 5 weeks this is totally normal baby behaviour, as difficult as it is to get things done, it does get easier. Have you tried using a baby sling or carrier throughout the day so he can still feel you are close to him yet enabling you do do things like housework?x

 

[emzky90]

Hey huni, big hugs to you! I know it's hard but at 5 weeks they do like to be close to you all the time and aren't ready to be independant yet. Have you tried swaddling him once he's been fed/winded/changed etc? You mention you have a sling? Why not try a wrap? As he might feel more secure as they're closer to your body which is what they've been used to. Other than that with regards to bathing etc, it does get easier! Whilst he's so young though could a family member or friend not come round to help you out for a bit so you can shower etc? In the day I used to have to put Marnie in her car seat and sit her in the bathroom whilst I showered or if she wasn't happy with that then i'd simply have to wait til OH came home. HTH x

 

[georgebaby1]

Hey hun it is rely hard but u just avent to make peace with it that this is how it will be for a while. i think once u accept it and don't expect anything it feels a bit easier as u expect that behaviour anything better then its a bonus. that's wot helped me anyway.

 

[HungryHippo]

Went through this at 5 weeks and found she was more content with a little more food in her belly. Have you tried upping the feeds?

 

[tootyfruity]

Its hard, i don't think i had an uninterupted shower, bath, cuppa tea etc for about 3 months. sounds silly but have you tried talking/ singing to LO and keeping him in the same room while you do things? xx

 

[KayteeB]

thanks for all your suggestions ladies
i will try a wrap instead as ive seen them and they look alot more cosey! and yesyes i do keep him in the room with me at all times but he just screams haha. My mum always calls me when he starts crying, even if im in the bath and gets very annoyed if i take too long to come so thats not an option
guess ill just have to wait it out

 

[KayteeB]

he is also on 5oz every 4-5 hours

 

[Mrs IKW]

A 5 week okd baby is so new to the world, everything is so different to being in your tummy that they just want to be with you where they feel safe and secure.... I dont think there is such a thing as a clingy 5 week old.... Hes just so tiny and needs his Mummy! I had to sleep sitting up in bed with LO on my chest for the first 7 weeks and even hold her with one hand while I had a wee! I used to put LO in her car seat and carry her round the house with me if I needed to get dressed or do something where I really couldnt hold her....

Another option could be a sling/baby wearing? So she feels secure but you have your arms free....

 

[Annunakian]

Is he draining the bottles or just leaving them slightly empty and acting content? My LO was on 4/5oz every 3/4 hours so what you're feeding is normal. I would def. suggest a wrap. Babies that young can not be 'clingy' really, they are just trying to get used to this big world around them. He feels the safest with you, cherish that because once he gets older those cuddles won't exist!

 

[raylynn]

This is how my 5 week old is too. The only thing that gives me some time to myself is having my oh take care of him while I do laundry, bathe, do the dishes, etc. Even if I put him down when he's in a deep sleep, he'll wake up within 10 minutes, although I found swaddling will help him stay asleep alone for awhile longer. I think independent play time is on the way, but we haven't gotten there yet.

 

[mummyosborne]

my LO was the same at that age and the vibrating bouncy chair worked a treat! as soon as she was old enough to play properly she was much better and now i miss those days as she is the complete oposite! i only get a long cuddle when shes already asleep! xx

 

[v2007]

At 5 weeks they are not being clingy, they are being a babies.

He will be coming up for a growth spurt, try upping his milk.

Also try baby wearing, worked for me.

V xxx

 

[aliss]

4-5 hours? That seems like a bit long, even my 16 month old does not go 5 hours sometimes. Do you think a more frequent feed can help? Have you tried that?

Aside from that yes unfortunately it is normal for 5 weeks. I wore him whenever I could and didn't get much else done TBH. Letting them cry at that age won't solve anything - if you need a shower then by all means have a quick shower, but other than that it's just easier to wear them or hold them They DO outgrow it but until then there's really no way to teach them otherwise but let them outgrow it.

Yes, some 5 weeks old will just sit there and stare without fussing but many don't!

 

[htaylor]

my LO has been like this this week (and last) i was feeding constantly and he'd cry before he had even opened his eyes after a sleep! turned out he wasnt exactly hungry but just wanted to suck! he'd polish off 5oz and cry - i thought it was for food. stuck a dummy in n he fell asleep lol

 

[special_kala]

Very very normal. Your lo isnt clingy he is baby ed needs you to survive so of course he wants to b e near you.

Try a sling. Ive noticed the last few weeks willow has been much happier being put down, it will getbetter soon x

 

[hattiehippo]

The bouncy chair might do the tirck - Tom loved his from a week old and would quite happily bounce to himself while I was washing up etc as long as he was in the room with me and I talked to him constantly. He hated the vibrations though.

It does get easier once as they get older but at 5 weeks they just want to be with you all the time.

 

[kmumtobe]

Try laying down with him like on his gym so you're still close but hes not being held but hes so young if he needs you he just needs you x

 

[purapura]

My boy was the same so what I did is I was constantly putting him down but the moment he start to show signs of been unhappy or cry I will pick him up imidiatly and calm him down and the try putting him down again and again and again. Now he happy to sit in his bounser for up to 15 min and love his gym. Also if he is not happy in one place I will try a different Place. They getting board very quick. Good luck!

 

[taloolah]

sorry, you just got to ride it out its so normal and soooo tough, get a sling x