O...M...G....How Much Do You Hold Your Newborns?!

[sahm2three]

So my new newborn is colicky AND spoiled ROTTEN. Ugh. Why do parents do this to their daycare providers!? Obviously they can't help the colicky part necessarily, but the spoiled part.....If he isn't being held and bounced constantly, he screams this high pitched loud scream.

[Zoe]

The only thing I've found that helps is time. The child will get used to your schedule and the way you do things if you keep it consistent.

I had a little guy, 6 months, who would scream if I put him down and would NOT go to sleep by himself. After about a month of crying it out and showing him that I wasn't going anywhere when I put him down to play, he became so much better!

[sahm2three]

The only thing I've found that helps is time. The child will get used to your schedule and the way you do things if you keep it consistent.

I had a little guy, 6 months, who would scream if I put him down and would NOT go to sleep by himself. After about a month of crying it out and showing him that I wasn't going anywhere when I put him down to play, he became so much better!

I just can't stomach letting a newborn cry too very much though. At least one that isn't mine. I could let mine fuss for a bit and then come back and talk to them or whatever and then let them be for a bit again. This baby doesn't fuss at all. He flat out screams!!! Ugh.

[Zoe]

I just can't stomach letting a newborn cry too very much though. At least one that isn't mine. I could let mine fuss for a bit and then come back and talk to them or whatever and then let them be for a bit again. This baby doesn't fuss at all. He flat out screams!!! Ugh.

Yeah that's hard when you don't like to hear them cry. For some reason I'm able to tune it out. Sounds horrible right?! But it works for me. I wouldn't want to listen to them scream either.

Maybe you could transition slowly with the amount you hold the little one. If it's something you are able to do with the group you had.

[MNMum]

I just can't stomach letting a newborn cry too very much though. At least one that isn't mine. I could let mine fuss for a bit and then come back and talk to them or whatever and then let them be for a bit again. This baby doesn't fuss at all. He flat out screams!!! Ugh.

I'm the opposite. My own babies were hardly put down. I can stomach it for a little bit with my daycare kiddos, if I'm busy with the other kids. Newborns are supposed to be held and cuddled and bounced and kept close. Ya it makes the transition to daycare harder, but if it is better for the baby in the long run, I'll deal with it. I get so sad when I see little babies enter my care with major flat heads and torticollus. Little babies need to be held!

[Heidi]

so, he stops screaming when you hold and bounce him? or he continues, but you feel like at least you're doing something...

According to infant expert Magda Gerber, we tend to OVER stimulate our infants. Jossling, swinging, patting, etc. Her answer would be put him in a quiet area, and allow him to self soothe. A soft breeze and a curtain to watch, or some white noise nearby. She might also suggest you help him find his thumb, although I prefer the old binkies (can be taken away when older...thumb not so much).

This would explain why many young infants sleep all day and want to be awake at night. Think about the lighting and noise level in a nursery at night. Mom is engaged and quiet, the lighting is soft, noise level low. After the quiet of the womb for 9 months, the world can be a lot to cope with at first.

Try it...maybe it'll work for this guy, maybe not. It's better than carrying him while he's screaming in your ear!

[Ariana]

Get an infant carrier. My DD lived in a Bjorn!!

[frgsonmysox]

You can't spoil a newborn. They are supposed to be held and loved on. Look up the philosophy NINO (Nine in Nine out).

Bjorns are bad for baby's hips and spine. I do agree, get a carrier though. Baby loves to be snuggled up to someone warm. A moby is a great wrap for littles.

[sahm2three]

so, he stops screaming when you hold and bounce him? or he continues, but you feel like at least you're doing something...

According to infant expert Magda Gerber, we tend to OVER stimulate our infants. Jossling, swinging, patting, etc. Her answer would be put him in a quiet area, and allow him to self soothe. A soft breeze and a curtain to watch, or some white noise nearby. She might also suggest you help him find his thumb, although I prefer the old binkies (can be taken away when older...thumb not so much).

This would explain why many young infants sleep all day and want to be awake at night. Think about the lighting and noise level in a nursery at night. Mom is engaged and quiet, the lighting is soft, noise level low. After the quiet of the womb for 9 months, the world can be a lot to cope with at first.

Try it...maybe it'll work for this guy, maybe not. It's better than carrying him while he's screaming in your ear!

A little of both. Sometimes the bouncing makes the crying stop, but most times it doesn't help a lot. He is just a miserable child.

[mismatchedsocks]

Poor baby and you! What age is the newborn? Hard when they are used to being held, or have movement of some kind. Is there a quiet room to put him in? Bouncer or swing that helps. What does mom/dad do at home?


I have a 6 month old that just started. He is used to being rocked and held his WHOLE naps. I am on day 3, and have let him cry it out each day. I rock him a bit, read to him, fill his tummy up then lay him down. I keep eye on him on camera, and go in every 15 minutes or so to rub his head and tell him it is ok. Day one lasted almost an hour of flat out crying, screaming. day 2, 45 minutes with whimpering and crying mix and today he fell asleep after about 15 minutes of whimpering. I think time with him and realizing I am not holding him when he sleeps.

[sahm2three]

You can't spoil a newborn. They are supposed to be held and loved on. Look up the philosophy NINO (Nine in Nine out).

Bjorns are bad for baby's hips and spine. I do agree, get a carrier though. Baby loves to be snuggled up to someone warm. A moby is a great wrap for littles.

He HATES the 2 different carriers I have. One is a sling, and the other a wrap. He wants to be held facing out and upright all the time. The second he feels himself lowering he starts. I understand babies need to be held and loved on. But if a baby needs to be held ALL the time, they don't belong in a daycare with other kids. They belong with a nanny.

[sahm2three]

Poor baby and you! What age is the newborn? Hard when they are used to being held, or have movement of some kind. Is there a quiet room to put him in? Bouncer or swing that helps. What does mom/dad do at home?


I have a 6 month old that just started. He is used to being rocked and held his WHOLE naps. I am on day 3, and have let him cry it out each day. I rock him a bit, read to him, fill his tummy up then lay him down. I keep eye on him on camera, and go in every 15 minutes or so to rub his head and tell him it is ok. Day one lasted almost an hour of flat out crying, screaming. day 2, 45 minutes with whimpering and crying mix and today he fell asleep after about 15 minutes of whimpering. I think time with him and realizing I am not holding him when he sleeps.

He is 10 weeks old.

[Breezy]

I hold them as much as need be. They need the closeness! But, I also put them in a sling (I have a moby wrap) so I can have my hands free. If you need to out him down and your regs allow it, I would try to swaddle. My DS was swaddled until he was 7 months old because he needed the comfort and had a startle reflex that drove him crazy.

[Breezy]

He HATES the 2 different carriers I have. One is a sling, and the other a wrap. He wants to be held facing out and upright all the time. The second he feels himself lowering he starts. I understand babies need to be held and loved on. But if a baby needs to be held ALL the time, they don't belong in a daycare with other kids. They belong with a nanny.

Yes I agree with you there!

[wdmmom]

I have a 3 month old that is colicky and is held...A LOT!

I only let her cry for 10 minutes at a time. She's gradually getting adjusted to our schedule at daycare. We try to only hold her during feedings, before naps and when were trying to console her.