https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:58:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1820086 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 09:56:50 +0000 ElbieKay 1820086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks to everyone for your responses. We have generally been responding to him, though obviously sometimes he has to hang out with his dad while I am showering or some such. I was just surprised by this shift and wanted to make sure I'm not asking for future trouble by being so responsive now. It sounds like it's age appropriate to pick him up, though, so we will continue.</p> <p>Just for added context, usually he is very content to ride in his stroller, but we took a long walk yesterday and he cried the whole time unless we carried him. His dad carried him most of the way because I still have residual back pain from my pregnancy so my ability to carry him long distances is a bit compromised.</p> <p>We peeked into his mouth this morning, and I think I see the faint beginnings of a first tooth, which very well may explain everything!</p> <p>Thanks again for all of your responses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1820027 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 08:01:10 +0000 ScarletBegonia 1820027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so jealz of your 5mos nighttime sleep - we still haven't recovered from 4 month sleep regression/2 colds/2 teeth/travelling from Australia to Canada. I would hold and cuddle my baby all day if he was sleeping 8-5. I mean, I still do hold and cuddle him all day cause he won't let me put him down. But you know what I mean. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1820010 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:31:01 +0000 Andrea 1820010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds normal. Kids become increasingly demanding! :-p </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1820003 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 07:10:08 +0000 Applesandbananas 1820003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ElbieKay: I think there might be a Wonder Week around 5 months. Wonder Weeks always made my LO extra fussy! Also, at some point, babies learn object permanence, where they begin to understand that even though Mommy isn't standing right there, she still exists. I had a baby who went berserk if left with Daddy so I understand your frustration. Sometimes you just need time to shower or just breathe! I wish, with hindsight being 20/20, that I had encouraged LO to be more comfortable with being left with Daddy. DH is still a far distant second and that isn't fun for anyone :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819989 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 06:26:04 +0000 catomd00 1819989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My almost 6 month old has been this way since 5 months. Ts a big wonder week. At least yours is still sleeping unlike mine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819988 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 06:23:43 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 1819988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Bad naps are pretty standard at this age, but I can unequivocally say he's not manipulating you or being annoying on purpose. He's far far too little for that.</p> <p>And, uh, my 3-year-old doesn't play by himself, really. :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819986 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 06:13:32 +0000 hilsy85 1819986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: I agree, but I also don't think at 5 months it should be an attitude of "Well, baby is crying but he needs to learn he can't be picked up right away" if the only thing you're doing is watching tv or talking on the phone (not saying at all this is what the OP is asking about). At 18 months, sure--not at 5 months, IMO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819985 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 06:10:28 +0000 hilsy85 1819985@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: lol!</p> <p>He sounds like a normal baby to me. Maybe it's a wonder week or developmental period or whatever, but TBH I found babies to be demanding most of the time (or my baby at least)--my LO wasn't one to just contently sit and let me do my own thing. I can count on 1 hand the number of times I Was able to put him down and go shower--those only happen while he's sleeping!</p> <p>Also, if he was much easier before 5 months, I'm going to go ahead and guess that it was mostly because he was basically still a newborn/in the 4th trimester for most of that time, and not because that was his personality. At 5 months he's more interested in the world around him so it makes sense that he wants more interaction now. He is DEFINITELY NOT manipulating you, and while of course there are times when you need to get something done and he will need to fuss for a bit, I Would not do CIO for something like him wanting comfort from you. </p> <p>If your DH is half asleep when you put LO in bed with him, maybe LO would be happier if DH was awake and playing/interacting with him? Just a thought. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819969 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 04:45:48 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1819969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Teething possibly? If not, then I wouldn't say he's manipulating you... just that he's becoming more aware of what makes him happy, which is you. Talk to him more ("ok, mommy's going to get a shower so I'm going to leave you w/ daddy for just a little bit") - he may not completely understand, but he'll eventually understand the tone and that you'll be back. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819943 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 01:45:17 +0000 sarac 1819943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, babies are the worst. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819930 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 00:35:57 +0000 anonysquire 1819930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like when my baby is demanding. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819918 Sun, 17 Aug 2014 00:05:14 +0000 Anagram 1819918@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Teething possibly? My babe had two teeth around 6 months and is always more fussy then. </p> <p>But also, generally speaking if my baby is just being fussy (not scream crying or anything) I still do what I need to do and dont hold her all day. I was an EPer so I always had to pump even when she was fussy and took showers, made dinner, etc. I guess what i'm saying is...depending on your parenting style you dont have to hold them every time they want to be held. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819914 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 23:56:39 +0000 Kemma 1819914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Your LO is probably at the age where he's working out that you and him are in fact not one person and he's still learning to process this bit of info. I'm of the belief that you can't spoil a baby / child with attention or cuddles but at the same time LO's do need to learn to cope with discomfort so leaving him to hang with Dad isn't going to hurt him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819899 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 23:13:01 +0000 lady grey 1819899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you read about the Wonder Weeks? Maybe he is in a big storm- aka leap of development. He actually sounds just like my 14 mo old- cranky and wanting to be held all the time! I think we're in a storm too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819890 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 22:53:43 +0000 reverie 1819890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had some tummy issues when he started purees (gas) that caused him to be a little more upset. My little guy is 14 months old now and still prefers to interact with us vs. play independently. I think it is a personality thing? Also I think 5 months is kind of the age that you can kind of blame everything on teething. Every time my guy is grumpy or clingy I assume it is tooth related. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819858 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 22:05:29 +0000 Weagle 1819858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds like a 5 month old. He's not being demanding, he's communicating. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819854 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 22:03:33 +0000 Mamasig 1819854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sounds normal to me too. My son didn't become more independent until around a year. Before that he pretty much was always with me. For showers, I put him in a bouncy chair so he could see me. Eventually it became an exersaucer and then just toys on the floor. </p> <p>As he got older he liked hanging out with DS more. They just like being with mommy! They are babies after all :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819847 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:55:23 +0000 Jess1483 1819847@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>He sounds like a 5 month-old to me. I don't necessarily think he is being "demanding." He likes being with you and he is telling you that. At the same time, I think it's ok to say "mommy is going to take a shower, I'll be right back" as long as he is with another capable adult. It's not "cry it out" if he is being soothed by another adult even if he is fussy. Other times, I'd pick him up and comfort him. He is still so little and needing mommy is a legitimate need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/5mo-becoming-demanding#post-1819832 Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:40:53 +0000 ElbieKay 1819832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 5mo is getting annoying. He used to be much better at playing by himself and generally being in a good mood. Lately he demands to be picked up all the time and is much crankier and less willing to go with the flow. In the morning I usually feed him then toss him in bed with my half-asleep husband while I shower. Lately he has been very fussy when I do this and will only calm down if I pick him up.</p> <p>Has anyone else experienced this? Should I keep trying to comfort him or is he manipulating me? Is he old enough to "cry it out" regarding this sort of thing?</p> <p>He is also a bad napper. But he pretty reliably sleeps from around 8pm til around 5-6am.</p> <p>We recently started giving him fruit and vegetable purées in case that is relevant. </p>