Has anyone run in to this? She was fine for the longest time, in fact, I have gone 5 miles with her before. She would sit there and just look around or sleep. Now, we get to the end of the block and she starts getting fussy and arches her back in her stroller. Is it just a ploy to get me to carry her? That's what ends up happening as we just head back home. We take toys and music, nothing. It is going to end up that we just don't go. I was thinking there for a while it was the sunlight, because when we would go in the direction of the sun she would get fussy. But now, it can be cloudy and it happens. Not sure what's going on. I don't believe there is any advice that I can get, I am just curious if anyone else has gone through this. Far as I knew, all babies loved walks. Thanks for any information.
J.
it dounds like she found out at a early age how to play daddy or maybe try starting the other way or try a sun shade for the stroller good luck
J., ditch that stroller and get a baby carrier! She will love it. There are tons and tons of baby carriers out there to choose from my favorite being a ring sling but my husband loves his babyhawk.
Here are some of the great benefits to babywearing:
1. get a better view of the world- babies pushed in strollers or in car seats only get to see the adult world at knee-level
2. cry less -less stress hormones from crying means your baby is happier and more peaceful
3. become independent faster- when your baby feels loved and cared for then they are confident and trust that you will be there to meet their needs
4.learn more- not overstimulated, but calm and alert, which is the optimum state for nervous system development
5.allows you to decide who may touch or interact with your baby
6.helps you to interact with your other children and hold your baby close at the same time- very practical if you have other little ones
7.is good for your soul -it encourages you to get out and get some exercise and some fresh air into your lungs
8.allows you to safely move about with your baby regardless of terrain- you can stroll down uneven sidewalks, narrow lanes, walk up stairs, or climb mountains
Good Luck!
5 months old is too young to let scream for too long because the stress hormones greatly affect the brain. I am with the other moms to go to the baby carrier. The calmer the nervous system is the calmer child you will have. You can also teach her sign language in a few months that helps a ton. Good luck.
It's been a while J., but I can remember that it was around that age when my son figured out that the motion of cars, strollers, swings etc. would make him sleepy. He would fight it off by arching his back shaking his head back and forth and fussing. Perhaps your daughter is trying to fight off her drowsiness.
Hi J.,
Everyone has great advice. My daughter loved the stoller. She liked seeing all that was going on. I had the stroller/carrier combo I believe she was still small enough for the carrier at 5 months. The carier snapped right into the stroller, facing me. I would imagine that for some children, seeing all the different sights, moving at a steady pace with no familiar face insight could be scary and alarming. So if you have the stroller/carrier combination, you may want to try attaching the carrier portion so your child can face you or get a stroller with the flip handle like one of the other responders suggested. I never tried the baby carrier before. I'm sure the baby would love it, but that seems as though it could possibly be bad for your back over time. I wouldn't suggest picking your child up every time she cries. Make sure you carry a bottle with you as well. You may also want to fold a small, soft blanket under the baby for extra comfort as well.
My kids *hated* the stroller, but loved to be carried in a baby bjorn or ergo carrier. My son liked the baby bjorn - he was really social and liked to look out. My daughter liked the ergo and preferred to snuggle up against me. Time will come, as both of mine eventually warmed to the stroller.
I ran into that with my son for a period of time. Probably around the same age. He hated to be in his stroller, when he loved it for the longest time. I would get him in and start walking and, if he didn't fall asleep right away, he would start crying and wouldn't stop until I took him out. Then, one day, he just decided he loved walks and being in the stroller for them. He's now 15 1/2 months old and will happily sit in his stroller and point to objects and name them and look around when we go on walks. But, there are limits...he started walking at 11 months and, after a point, he wants DOWN! :-D
My daughter was like this until about 12-15 mos. Now at 21 mos she loves walks.
Did you make sure that nothing is poking or scratching her, or the straps aren't too tight? She might just want to be able to see you, try walking next to her and see if that helps. MY oldest didn't like walks of any kind until she was 6.5 months old, and then seh loved them. Good luck!
Sounds developmental to me. She's growing and changing a lot at this stage and wanting to move about on the floor a bit - getting ready to take on the world. This may seem too confined to her. I'd try to give her time to wiggle about just before you go as well as lots of cuddle time & see if that helps. You could take a sling and use it if she's really unhappy. Also toys tied onto the stroller that she can look/touch. I think it'll pass. I wouldn't give up but I wouldn't let her be miserable either. Isn't parenting fun?
I have 4 little ones, and my first absolutely refused to have anything to do with a stroller or anything like it. He wanted held and carried - always until he chose on his own to do things, but he was the one who had to go, with his anchor (Mama) where he left her to come back when he was ready. My others have been generally (but not always) been happy with a stroller, and my 4th even thoroughly enjoys riding in the stroller while his Papa takes him for a walk. Each child is different, but accepting and responding to their needs always brings blessings and peace.
For my first, I was introduced to the sling and we both loved it. Once he as bigger, we tried a backpack, and we loved that, too. He could look around and see everything while I did whatever (usually making dinner, but walks were great, too) while still being held close, and could even safely fall asleep. This worked great for shopping, too, for the same reasons. He was safe and held. Also, backpacks are easier on the lower back than slings once the baby gets bigger, though spreading out the sling over the back can help to alleviate the strain.
Also, at 5 months your daughter is about to be sitting up and make great advances in her development. These are times of great change for her. It is very common for babies nearing new things to become more cuddly or fussy or demanding, needing increased attention and support for the new developments they are already in the process of making. It is a time of much transition for her. It is very likely she would continue to love the walks just as much as she used to, if she was being carried. There is just something about that special closeness that makes all the difference. :)
If you're not used to carrying her much, you might want to start a bit easy at first, or make sure your shoes are nicely padded to help your body cope with the extra weight it's not used to. But, the body quickly adjusts, and it's not so bad once the first aches go away by your muscles getting a bit stronger :)
Good luck, and enjoy your baby!
BTW my 1st is now 10 and bright and none the worse for my responding to his high needs as a baby - he wanted nearly constant contact, and increased attention is still the best way to deal with discipline issues with him (before there's problems).
Sounds like she's playing you. Yes, she is old enough to learn that if she fusses, you will carry her.
If you must take her on a walk, go to the point that she fusses and then turn around and go home, no carrying. Tell her (even at 5 months) "oh, you must not want to go for a walk today" and walk back home.
It didn't take her long to pick up the habit of being carried, it won't take her long to figure out that fussing will get her straight back home.
**BTW...Im confused, when did this turn into a question about letting a baby scream?**
hey J.,
at that age, my son didn't like the outdoor walks at all. he would get fussy and demanding. we started mall walking at somerset and he adored the visual stimulation, all fussing simply subsided. i know being indoors on such beautiful days might be frustrating but (my 2 cents) try a litmus test at the mall and see if that might help. :-)
best of luck,
S.
J., yes some kids dont want to be alone at first she was mesmermized by all that she has seen, now that she is more aware of her surroundings she also has been wanting to be more socialized and enjoys humans, i mean why not she is after all human, she wants to know where you are, and cannot see you and is not comfortable not knowing where you are, walks are ok to take and very enjoyable, she may just want to be where she can see you , maybe a wagon or a stroller with flipable handle so it can be used to see child, or child can see you , kids go through stages and enjoy human contact if you have to hold her and walk so be it, they also like to be held and feel secure, its ok to hold them get a back pack type thing maybe you can carry her in that, just enjoy life and dont fret that they are uncomfortable at times its your duty to keep her soothed after all it wont be long and she wll be walking then riding a bike and soon you wont be the one to sooth her any more, get it while you can, D. s
