Is this just temporary, or are we headed for trouble? (long)

For the past few weeks, dd has fussed pretty much every single time we set her down anywhere. This is a tremendous change for her, and we've been assuming that it's because she's teething.

So, since we think it's because she's in pain, we keep her in our arms most of the time to keep her mind off the pain, and if we do put her down and she fusses, we scoop her right back up and cuddle her.

But if this isn't teething...then aren't we encouraging this? She's almost 6 months old - definitely old enough to learn that fussing brings Mommy and Daddy running to her. We don't want to teach that lesson, and we very much want to encourage the kind of "independence" she was exhibiting before this started.

There are no teeth in sight. We're sure she IS teething, but not so sure that that's the cause of this new behavior.

For the record, I believe in picking up babies when they cry, regardless of why we think they're crying. But this is fussing - just kind of groaning & complaining (which may turn into crying if left alone but I never let it get that far.)

Thanks in advance for all opinions!

Jude

[KrisM]

We have this behavior now, too. It is definitely teething related for us. It comes for a while, he gets a tooth, and it goes away. Very cyclical. His 3rd tooth just popped through yesterday, so I expect today to be a bit better. However, I can see the 4th coming along already.

For the 1st tooth, we couldn't see it coming until the day it popped through the gum. I'm sure it was bugging him for 4-5 days before that though.

I just wish he'd stop getting teeth for a while! Four weeks ago, he didn't have any and now he's working on #4!

[vpalmer]

Eva teethed forever before her first tooth appeared at over 7 months old. Regarding the behavior, I say it is completely normal. Before you know it she is going to be a running toddler who won't want you to hold her at all. :o


Veronica
Mom to Eva
Born 6-03

[lizajane]

6 months is a big age for separation anxiety. so you could have a teething/separation anxiety combo going on! at that age, lots of reassurance is appropriate. you can just keep trying to put her down, and remind her over and over that mommy is right here! or mommy will be right back! my ped told me to put him down for a minute, tell him i would be back, and then come right back. he may have been 9 months old when he said that... but you can do the same kind of thing by sitting with her, etc. not because you shoudn't hold her! but just to reassure her that if you need to put her down for saftey reasons, you really are going to stay there with her or come right back.

[Rachels]

It sounds like you're handling this perfectly. Babies gritch and complain when they don't feel well, just like adults do. Sounds like she needs you. And FWIW, EVERYTHING is temporary. :)

-Rachel
Mom to Abigail Rose
5/18/02


"When you know better, you do better."
Maya Angelou

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbo...pphire_24m.gif Two years and counting!

[babymama]

THis happens in our house when DS is teething or when he;s sick. Sometimes the clinginess/fussing is the only symptom that he's sick - no fever, no runny nose, etc.

If it is teething, you could give Motrin. That helps us and usually makes him less clingy. You could also call your dr to explain the behavior change and ask if she/he thinks your kiddo is sick or teething.


Lydia
Mama to Santiago, born 11/16/03

[deborah_r]

Burton White's book "Raising a Happy Unspoiled Child" directly addresses behaviors that emerge at this age. He has a whole section dedicated to the stage from 5 1/2 months to 7 1/2 months. I don't have it in me to sum it all up right now, and I'm not sure if it would be agreeable to your parenting style, but PM me if you would like more information. :)

[Karenn]

Colin went through a "fussy" period right about that age. I also worried that I might be encouraging the fussiness when I held him, but I held him anyway. As soon as he started moving on his own & crawling he became a much happier baby. The fussiness decreased dramatically. He regained his independence almost immediately.

Looking back, it sort of seemed like he was just really eager to get see the world and staying in one place was boring for him. It was at about that age that I started carrying him in a pouch sling. It let me get things done and kept him happy because he could see what was going on.