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I can't pt her down and CIO is not an option!

Jennifer - posted on 03/08/2011 ( 3 moms have responded )

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My 5 month old just got out of the hosp. Thurs. last week after being there for 4 days with pneumonia and reactive airway disease. While she was in the hosp, she was held 24/7. I have always held her all night every night in a recliner, so when they said she could sleep in the hosp. bed with me (it had full rails that would stop her from falling out) I was all for it. She has been in the hosp. 3 other times, but because she is starting to get older, it really affected her this time. Before she went in, I could put her in her swing and she would be very content for long periods as long as someone would talk or sing to her. We have a potable swing, so taking it into whatever room I'm in to clean or cook is no problem. Since this last stay, she won't let me put her down at all. I have never been a fan of CIO (crying it out), but with her reactive airway disease (or possible asthma) when she starts crying, it makes her go into coughing fits. The coughing fits get so bad, that she can't even catch her breath, and her doc has told me to try to not let her get too upset. As much as I love holding her, I also have 3 other kids and a very dirty house. She has also started with major stranger anxiety which is understandable since just about every stranger she sees has to start an iv on her, give her a shot, or do some other unpleasant medical thing to her. So, she only lets me or my husband hold her. Anyone have any suggestions besides CIO to get her to let me put her down. My husband trys to hold her as much as possible when he's home, so that I could get the dishes and laundry caught up, but that's also the time my older 2 get home from school and they need me for homework and just to spend time with them.

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3 Comments

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Andrea - posted on 03/08/2011

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I'd pop her in a baby sling, you can get lots of different types (DD is 6 months and we pop her in a bubzilla sling which she LOVES!) and it will keep her close while freeing up your hands, just don't cook with her in it!

Can you stretch the times that you do put her down, so I'm assuming that you don't have a chance to get much done seeing as you are holding her, so take advantage, when you pop her down for a nappy change play with her (don't walk away while she's on the table of course) for a few minutes, get down with her on the floor and play with her there, keep her happy for as long as possible when she starts to fuss pick her up and pop her back in the sling. 1/2 an hour later take her back out and play on the floor some more, get her used to not being held.

Same thing if you want her to sleep in the bed pat her until she's asleep then gently ease her into the cot and keep patting until you are sure that she's going to stay down, if she starts to fuss pick her up and repeat. (comes from the no cry sleep solution).

DD is 6 months nw and we have a bumbo, i'd just be careful popping her on the bench because DD can almost escape hers

Medic - posted on 03/08/2011

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SLING!!!!!

Elfrieda - posted on 03/08/2011

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It's only been a week that she's been home. Try keeping her near the action (maybe play with your other kids on the floor near her, or put her in a Bumbo seat on the counter while you do the dishes) so that she's still near you, but not actually in your arms. Do this for increasing amounts of time, starting at 2 minutes or so to start. I think you just need to get her used to being a normal baby again, instead of a sick baby.
It must be really hard to have a sick child plus more kids plus housework. I'm sure you feel really overwhelmed. Try to do only what absolutely needs to get done, and keep re-evaluating what is really necessary and what isn't. Hopefully your family will get back to normal soon.

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