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I received a placement of an adorable 6 week old baby girl 3 weeks ago. She is now 8 weeks. For the past week I have noticed that she follows me with her eyes no matter where I am, when she is awake. She wails if I leave the room-I thought I was imagining it but it keeps happening. She cries when dh is holding her and stops as soon as I hold her, goes for just about everyone. Today we had a Dr's appointment and her mom was there. She cried when mom held her. MOm got frustrated and asked me to hold her. She stopped immediatly. She would look at me while mom was holding her and cry with real tears. We went through this cycle 5 times before her mom left the room sobbing. Every record I have seen says she is only 8 weeks old yet I find this very strange behavior in an infant so young. Most infants do not care who is holding them so long as they are holding them in a way they like. Her mom's body type is also similar to mine-lots of padding in the chest area. I felt bad for her mom. She did come back in the room but cried the rest of the time we were there. She picked her up when we left and again the same crying until I took her to put her in her car seat. Has anyone heard of this?
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When Emma was with her family she had not been held for the first 3 weeks of her life more than briefly. She arched her little back when I would hold her. Eventually after wearing her constantly she would become frantic when I set her down or someone else would hold her. I didn't know about attachment issues then but I can tell you wearing her did help over time. Her Mother had a moment of doubt early on and tried to take Emma for the day, she quickly returned her b/c she couldn't console her no matter what she did. The moment I took Emma from her she was fine. I felt so bad for both of them. Emma is now 6 and fully attached to me.
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Thanks Tudu-you are amazing BTW I read your blog from time to time. I have been wearing her, thanks to what I have learned here-I wonder if that has something to do with her attaching to me so securly/insecurly at such a young age? I mean really at 8 weeks it could be a million other things. I do find it odd that she will wail if I leave her eyesight consistantly and will cry when others are holding her and stop when I hold her consistantly. I am the oldest of 5 and from a huge extended family, my mom is the oldest of 13, I have been taking careof babies all my life. I have never heard of or known an 8 week old baby to know or care who is holding them-so long as it is the way that they like to be held. I mean other then they respond more to their mothers voice and face they are pretty much content with anyone. Babies mom mentioned in passing that she may not have visits if it happens again. I tried to reasure her. We'll see what happens. I'm very curious-love this baby girl but I also want to help mom to have more positive visits if at all possible. Boy am I having fun with my two babies! Never a dull moment.