[Mommy2AvaRose]

Ava is becoming more and more like this everyday. If I put her down, she screams. If I go to leave the room, she screams. She needs my full on attention. Her toys keep her occupied for a very short amount of time. Then it's back to crying. Sometimes I feel like I can't even use the restroom or fix something to eat without her bawling her eyes out. She is also throwing tantrums. Bad ones. I cannot take ANYTHING from her. I try the exchange what she has and give her something else trick. It works sometimes, not always. I can't change her anymore, diaper or clothes. She screams the whole time. Ahhhh she is driving me batty lately. I'm gonna check my self into a looney bin soon

you just described my day perfectly! My background noise is marcus crying. The only thing that I've found that works for us is to constantly make faces and weird noises. The only way I can get his clothes on without him freaking out is I'll show him the shirt and make a noise like a car revving and then i'll pull it over his head with a noise like tires screaching and then do the same thing with the arms. If I don't do that he freaks. The diaper changing, I just have like 10 toys right with me and hand them to him one by one wehn he gets done with one toy. Usually last as long as him taking it and throwing it.

do you have a carrier? That's helped Marcus quite a bit. If I wear him around the house he gets sick of being in the thing and will want out. The minute he starts crying I put him in the carrier so he knows if he cries he goes in there. If he doesn't want to be in there he'll stop crying when I put him back on the floor [doesn't usually last very long, but it lets me grab something to eat or go pee or soemthing]

I hope you figure something out soon because M was driving me nuts like 2 weeks ago!

Oh and I know this is hard to do because it took me a while to get it through my head, but she's not doing it to annoy you. She wants to be with you. Try to not think of her as being annoying. Try not to think "GAH she wants me AGAIN." and look for the times when she doesn't need to be glued to you. If you keep her with you and give her the love she needs, she eventually will give you a break, promise!

[Wednesday]

I wish I knew what to tell you. Koen has been high needs since he was born. I thought he would get better as he aged, but it hasn't made much difference. I used to get a break because he was a sleepy guy, and although he wouldn't sleep unless I was beside him, I could enjoy the peace and quiet of having to lay there. Now, he is on a sleep strike, and is teething, and is cranky! I feel like pulling my hair out!! There are days when I hate my life (although I don't regreat having him) because I can't do anything. I was up at 5AM and I know he won't be asleep until 9-ish tonight. DH works a ton so I know I won't be able to even eat a proper meal untilhe gets home around 5. Ugh... we just need to remember that this will be a distant memory at some point. lol

The only thing that seems to help us is getting out. Are there any playgroups you can go to? Other mom's you can go to the park with? If he gets out in his stroller, and has a chance to meet other people, he is a way happier person. I don't think he likes being at home so maybe that is what is going on with Ava too?

Edited for spelling.

I agree with that, if M is being super clingy and cranky I take him to a store [any store] where there are lots of people adn just let him look around. Also if he's being super cranky and its not like a tired cranky, I'll do an activity [like climbing stairs] that really wears him out so he's prone to sleep. But M is like Koen, sleep is a rare commodity in my house. He doesn't usually go down until like midnight.

[georgieshrinks]

Jaden has been more needy lately too, i thinkk it is a common thing at this age--part of their development somehow. I also notice that she gets over stimulated by her siblings quite easily and that will set her off so I can't even really have them entertain her while I try to get things done. it is quite exhausting, I agree.

[Mommy2AvaRose]

I wish I knew what to tell you. Koen has been high needs since he was born. I thought he would get better as he aged, but it hasn't made much difference. I used to get a break because he was a sleepy guy, and although he wouldn't sleep unless I was beside him, I could enjoy the peace and quiet of having to lay there. Now, he is on a sleep strike, and is teething, and is cranky! I feel like pulling my hair out!! There are days when I hate my life (although I don't regreat having him) because I can't do anything. I was up at 5AM and I know he won't be asleep until 9-ish tonight. DH works a ton so I know I won't be able to even eat a proper meal untilhe gets home around 5. Ugh... we just need to remember that this will be a distant memory at some point. lol

The only thing that seems to help us is getting out. Are there any playgroups you can go to? Other mom's you can go to the park with? If he gets out in his stroller, and has a chance to meet other people, he is a way happier person. I don't think he likes being at home so maybe that is what is going on with Ava too?

Edited for spelling.[/b]

Ya know it's weird you say that. Because she is good 90% of the time when we are out. She is good in the car, and good in the store. So maybe we will just go out everyday, all day lol.

[Robin22]

Loren has been pretty high needs his whole life too. He' s much happier (not colicky) now that he's older, but he still wants constant attention or he fusses. He only likes to play with his toys for a few minutes when we're not right next to him. Most of the time either Matt or I is constantly playing with him, or at least sitting by him while he plays, otherwise he's fussing. The exersaucer lasts about 15 minutes on a really good day.

He also seems more content/stimulated when we're out as long as he's not tired or hungry. He loves being outside and we go for a long walk in the stroller every night.

[chantellnp]

Aislinn has been high needs all along. I either have to be playing with her one on one or she has to be doing something bad to keep her happy. So, I'm either playing with her or have her in my hip carrier all day. We usually take alot of walks too but it's super smoky from wildfires. So we have been cooped up in the house going crazy.
Oh, and I'll meet you at the looney bin!

[Motherbird]

Aww, I totally feel your pain. My now 5 yr old was a High Needs baby. It was so hard! First and foremost, get some support from other parents of a HN child. They are the only ones who will truly understand and it will really help. My support group was a yahoo online group when G was a baby but it really made a difference. I also had the Dr. Sears book about High Needs Children- it was like my Bible for a year.

I remember driving around alot because she would usually be quiet if we were driving in the car. So I'd try to think of as many drive-thru errands I could run. Bank, drive thru pharmacy, drive-thru ice cream to soothe my pain. It does get better eventually. I promise. They'll be walking soon- that will help a bit. Hang in there!

[erika182]

Kami has always been high needs, but at least now that she is older I know "why" she is behaving the way she is usually.
Most of the time she needs to be able to see or know that DH or myself is in the room.
Lately it is sleep that has been the battle.
She is napping her first nap right now since being up at 8:30am
The dr. said they often fight it at this age.

Good Luck mommas......we need it!!!

[Allybug007]

I really needed to see this topic. I am so tired from Ally fighting sleep at night and then add in me trying to get at least two meals a day. If I leave the room, she will follow me and pull up on me which makes it super tough to get around the kitchen to fix anything to eat! For the bathroom issue, I just take her into the bathroom with me and she usually pulls up on the tub/is so interested in the tub and her bath toys that it occupies her long enough for me to go. LOL It seems like Ally is becoming bored with the toys we have for her, so maybe that is part of the problem too. Maybe they are ready for more stimulating toys? Idk

I hope it is a stage and they all get through it quick...or it goes by fast, something. We are some tired mommies!

[Lauren]

Was totally coming to post this today. My happy baby is a monster. She crys, throws herself around, screams. Nothing makes her happy. I feel like the 3 hours i'm with her a day she crys. She wakes up and screams it takes two of us and the dog to get her diaper changed and dressed, I think DH and I will both meet you there in the looney bin.