Greetings!
I am a SAHM of 4 children ages 4 - 11. I am currently watching a family of 3 children (boys) for a co-worker of my husband. I do this very cheaply, as I am not...nor ever thought about doing a licensed day-care. I'm doing this as a neighborly service, more or less.
The boys are dropped off on M, Tues, Thurs, Fridays at 6:30am. The oldest, 8, gets on the bus at 7:05 and the 5 year old plays with my son until his pre-K van picks him up at 11:45.
I have the 5mo baby, whom I've had since he was 4 weeks old, all day.
Baby has been extremely challenging. He has cried more often than not. At first, I attributed it to his not-so-easy and abrupt transition from breast milk to formula. This caused major acid reflux and explosive poops..and some very messy diaper changes / outfit changes. (To this day, I don't think the fella has gone without soiling his clothes at least once.) Now that he's 5 months, I think he is just spoiled. I refuse to constantly hold him. I love to cuddle and play with babies, but he is super particular about how you hold him...where you hold him etc. There will be times I pick him up and he screams until I walk with him around the house. The moment I stop..SCREAM, arched back, cry until purple in the face. I'll put him on the floor, and he's fine for a min or two with some toys...but then SCREAM. He rolls (has been for about 4 weeks) but once he rolls onto tummy, SCREAM until you roll him back. However, he promptly rolls back to his tummy again and starts fussing. He hates his pack and play even more. I'll put him down for a nap, and he will cry and cry. I once let him "cry it out" for and hour or so before I finally picked him up as I had a headache from all the crying. He still cried when held. I put him down before I got angry and left the room.
I am at my whits end. SOME days he's really quiet (aka those sleepy days when he's going thru a growth spurt). If he's awake, he's screaming. I've asked the older boys about how mommy and daddy do it (the boys complain that I don't pick him up immediately when he whimpers) and they say mommy and daddy hold him all day.....UGH! I LOVE playing with and snuggling babies...but I guess I was lucky with all 4 of mine. We had our cuddle / play time BUT they also loved playing quietly with their various toys, taking walks in the stroller etc.(This one has had a blanket covering him at all times since he was born, took him outside last Fri as it was super nice, he screamed the min the air hit his face.) I could put my babies on the floor, or in a baby seat to watch me do dishes, cook etc and they were happy to just be included. I cannot get a THING done while this baby is here. You should see the laundry monster in my basement.....
I love this family, however. They are very good to me. They appreciate what I do for them, and it shows every day! The boys are sweet (even baby has those awwwww moments). I just don't know how much more crying I can take! I have my FT college work, my son, my girls before and after school and all the other chores that go with a family of 6. I feel bad letting him cry so much, but if I have to hold him the entire time he's here that cannot possibly be good for him either.
I am a SAHM of 4 children ages 4 - 11. I am currently watching a family of 3 children (boys) for a co-worker of my husband. I do this very cheaply, as I am not...nor ever thought about doing a licensed day-care. I'm doing this as a neighborly service, more or less.
The boys are dropped off on M, Tues, Thurs, Fridays at 6:30am. The oldest, 8, gets on the bus at 7:05 and the 5 year old plays with my son until his pre-K van picks him up at 11:45.
I have the 5mo baby, whom I've had since he was 4 weeks old, all day.
Baby has been extremely challenging. He has cried more often than not. At first, I attributed it to his not-so-easy and abrupt transition from breast milk to formula. This caused major acid reflux and explosive poops..and some very messy diaper changes / outfit changes. (To this day, I don't think the fella has gone without soiling his clothes at least once.) Now that he's 5 months, I think he is just spoiled. I refuse to constantly hold him. I love to cuddle and play with babies, but he is super particular about how you hold him...where you hold him etc. There will be times I pick him up and he screams until I walk with him around the house. The moment I stop..SCREAM, arched back, cry until purple in the face. I'll put him on the floor, and he's fine for a min or two with some toys...but then SCREAM. He rolls (has been for about 4 weeks) but once he rolls onto tummy, SCREAM until you roll him back. However, he promptly rolls back to his tummy again and starts fussing. He hates his pack and play even more. I'll put him down for a nap, and he will cry and cry. I once let him "cry it out" for and hour or so before I finally picked him up as I had a headache from all the crying. He still cried when held. I put him down before I got angry and left the room.
I am at my whits end. SOME days he's really quiet (aka those sleepy days when he's going thru a growth spurt). If he's awake, he's screaming. I've asked the older boys about how mommy and daddy do it (the boys complain that I don't pick him up immediately when he whimpers) and they say mommy and daddy hold him all day.....UGH! I LOVE playing with and snuggling babies...but I guess I was lucky with all 4 of mine. We had our cuddle / play time BUT they also loved playing quietly with their various toys, taking walks in the stroller etc.(This one has had a blanket covering him at all times since he was born, took him outside last Fri as it was super nice, he screamed the min the air hit his face.) I could put my babies on the floor, or in a baby seat to watch me do dishes, cook etc and they were happy to just be included. I cannot get a THING done while this baby is here. You should see the laundry monster in my basement.....
I love this family, however. They are very good to me. They appreciate what I do for them, and it shows every day! The boys are sweet (even baby has those awwwww moments). I just don't know how much more crying I can take! I have my FT college work, my son, my girls before and after school and all the other chores that go with a family of 6. I feel bad letting him cry so much, but if I have to hold him the entire time he's here that cannot possibly be good for him either.
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