https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:32:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-wk-old-only-wants-to-be-held#post-154388 Thu, 10 May 2012 17:11:10 +0000 heffalump 154388@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was like that too. I just didn't do anything around the house! I would do everything with her in my arms- stocked up on finger foods to make things like eating easier. It was hard, but I'm glad I had that time with her to snuggle and cuddle so much. Now she just wants to be on the floor crawling around, not in my arms :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-wk-old-only-wants-to-be-held#post-154225 Thu, 10 May 2012 14:12:04 +0000 Mrs. Pen 154225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely avoid any CIO because at this age it's not "training". They have no way to comprehend why they are being left alone and extensive crying can be very damaging to their emotional and developmental health.</p> <p> Newborns have an "out of sight, out of mind" mentality. If you're not there, usually holding them, they don't know you are ever coming back. It wasn't until JUST this week, at 11 weeks old, that my son realized he can watch me from the bouncer chair while I'm in the shower or doing my hair. Before, he just cried thinking I left him. </p> <p>they get a little better. I started having floor time with him between 3-4 weeks old, and I'd lay right next to him, interacting with him so that he always knew I was right there. That helped him a lot. He could be put down, but could see me and hear me. It wasn't until 6-7 weeks old that he let me set him down for 10 minutes at a time. Which was usually just long enough for me to get some breakfast. Of course, if he didn't want to be put down, there was nothing I could do - we have to eat too! I would try to have simpler meals that I could prepare while holding him, put him in the moby/beco or else just let him cry for 5 minutes til I could pick him up (unless he was hysterically crying. I never let him cry like that. you learn the difference between real "I need you" cries or just "I'm lonely. I want attention" cries). </p> <p>Honestly, for the first six weeks I told myself that it was a special, precious time and if my son needed me this much, I was going to cherish it as much as I could. I had to let myself be okay with a messy house, not getting much done - and just spending every moment loving on my baby. </p> <p>I spent the first 4-6 weeks of his life sitting in the rocking chair and watching TV! It was honestly one of the best months of my life and I'm SOO glad that I let myself be okay with it. Because now I have NO regrets, and so many moms told me they wish they would have held their babies more, or spent less time worrying about dinner or a clean house. My husband helped a lot too.</p> <p>At 6 weeks, I started laying him in our bed and nursing him to sleep for his naps/bedtime. That worked so that he could nap on his own and I had 1-2 hours to get stuff done around the house. He had regressions some days, but for the most part he gives me at least one 2 hour nap a day. </p> <p>It will all work out, your baby won't need you as much soon enough and you may just miss it and wish she did ;) Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-wk-old-only-wants-to-be-held#post-154224 Thu, 10 May 2012 14:10:21 +0000 Mrsbells 154224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>my baby is 3 weeks old tomorrow and wants to be held all the time too. at first I thought something was wrong with her but I posted about it here and realized several other moms experienced the same thing. It still gets frustrating some times </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-wk-old-only-wants-to-be-held#post-154223 Thu, 10 May 2012 14:08:53 +0000 LivsMama 154223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Liv did this, but it was short lived. I remember being like "how do I get anything done?!" and having to take fast showers while she slept in her bouncer outside of the shower (which was SUPER short lived. She hated the bouncer, the swing, the boppy, etc lol). Its normal infant behavior. Like pp said, try swaddling, or it could be a growth spurt. Liv loved her ring sling. That allowed me to finally have two free hands </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-wk-old-only-wants-to-be-held#post-154213 Thu, 10 May 2012 14:02:02 +0000 mrsjazz 154213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks! I just swaddled her, we had stopped doing that since she's been sleeping with mommy. I am able to put her on the Boppy now and she's quiet. She was fine being in the bassinet the first couple of days home but once we started getting the hang of breastfeeding (between week 1 and 2) she just loves being with mommy. I love it, too, except for when I need a shower, to use the bathroom, or eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-wk-old-only-wants-to-be-held#post-154126 Thu, 10 May 2012 13:03:33 +0000 Honeybee 154126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It can be really difficult to deal with, even though this is completely normal newborn behavior. If this is a new behavior, or if it's recently worsened, she might be going through a growth spurt; many newborns hit growth spurts at around 3 weeks, and get fussier/less content. If it is growth spurt, it should only last a few days to one week, and then it should start to get better. It could also just be a sign of her age, though; lots of newborns just don't want to be put down. </p> <p>I know for my babies, swaddling is really important. My kids like to be wrapped up nice and tight; it makes them sleep longer and keeps them content even when they're awake. Also, motion helps; neither of my kids like the swing, but the bouncy seat with vibrations works well. Or they'll tolerate the car seat, as long as I keep rocking it with my foot. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/3-wk-old-only-wants-to-be-held#post-154105 Thu, 10 May 2012 12:53:25 +0000 mrsjazz 154105@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 3-week old doesn't like to be put down, whether that's in her very expensive MamaRoo rocker, bassinet, car seat, or Boppy. We weren't planning on co-sleeping but since I am exclusively breastfeeding, she sleeps with me on the couch (I had to move to the couch because I couldn't get out of our bed due to the C-section) and DH sleeps on a futon near us.</p> <p>I am home alone with her all day and find it hard to do the basics, such as eat, use the bathroom, take a phone call longer than 5 minutes because she wants to be in my arms. I've tried two carriers (Moby and Beco Gemini) but she will only stay in those if she's sleeping and she naps for less time in the carriers.</p> <p>DH and I are not into crying it out--though of course if I really have to go I put her down and try to make it quick before she gets hysterical. </p> <p>Any moms with newborns who only want to be held? How did you do things around the house? When did this phase end? </p>