I'm losing it! Need help!

My girls are 8 months and lately they just constantly fuss!!

-I can't leave the room for 2 seconds without both of them starting to cry for me.
-They play with something for 2 seconds before they start to whine.. like they are bored or something. They don't seem to like any of there toys anymore.
- They are not interested in crawling.... STILL! I lay them on there tummy and after a few mins, they get frustrated and more whining!
-NAPS?!! they only take 3 - 30 min cat naps. This afternoon it was like 20 mins!!! I feel like I have no time to myself!! I feel suffocated!!!

They used to be so cool.... and now they are just annoying!! LOL What changed?! I feel like I am doing something wrong.

What do I do?!!!

 

The only thing to do is just hang in there... they're at a tough stage where they want to do a lot for themselves but can't. So they get frustrated. In a few months they'll be more mobile and able to focus on toys for a bit longer and the whinyness will probably pass (only to reappear months later when they hit another developmental stage!).

 

I've been wondering if I've done something to encourage this behavior as well or if its just a normal phase. I feel like I'm losing it too. Your not alone-not that I'm any help to your questions.

 

Ugh. I am right there with you on the whining... My little girl is exactly the same way! I feel so bad because my son is soooo laid back that he gets passed over so often because she is just.so.needy right now!

Mine aren't much older than yours, but my son just started really trying to crawl the last week or so... and my daughter! Ha! She will stay on her tummy and just hang out until she notices me... then she rolls onto her back and cries and kicks her legs like an overturned turtle, to make herself appear even more pathetic and worthy of being held for the 50th time of the day!

With naps, mine took 3 30 naps up until a couple of weeks ago. It it completely drained me!!! I kept working at it. Everyone said that they would naturally start sleeping longer, but mine didn't. Then I switched and stuck to the 2-3-4 schedule and it totally worked (with a little CIO the first few days). Now they sleep a solid hour in the morning, and 1.5-2 hours in the afternoon!! I LOVE it! If you aren't familiar with 2-3-4, essentially it's put them down 2 hours after they first wake up in the morning, then again for 2nd nap 3 hours after they wake from the first nap, then bedtime is 4 hours after they wake from their second nap. Some days they wake before they should (right at that dreaded 30 min mark) but unless they are crying, I let them get themselves back to sleep....

Best of luck to you!! Hang in there!!

 

Hmmm, is it possible they aren't feeling well? Teething? I don't know what the weather is like where you live, could you try taking out for a walk in the stroller?

 

It could be teething like Aimee said. Have you tried giving them a cold washcloth to chew on? Or teething rings that have been refridgerated? Hylands teething tablets work good for me, I use them during the day, and then motrin at night if necessary.

I also agree with it being a very "whiny" stage right now, and once they get more mobile they can be more independent from you.

And thirdly I also agree with a 2-3-4 approach although 2.5-3-3.5 worked better for us, you can tweak it as needed. Now they do a 3-3-3 thing most of the time!

 

I'm going to try this 2-3-4 thing! thank you! Can you please tell me exactly what your schedule is? like wake up time, nap time, and feeding time, bottle feed and solid food feed time... please!???!!! ) Just to get an idea if I should change my feeding schedule at all.
thank so much!

 

I'm in NY. and its just a bit too cold still... but in a few weeks I am definitely starting my daily walks again. I think all 3 of us are sick of the snow!!! Its getting us all cranky! LOL

I think they are teething, becuase they are drooling tons and rubbing there gums on stuff..... but I don't think it really bothers them all that much, because as soon as I pick them up they stop crying. So its makes me wonder, if they are teething all that bad.

Well we'll see if changing there nap schedule helps any. thanks so much for your help.

 

I empathize. I think we are right there with you and we're struggling getting them to sleep at night too all of the sudden. Must be an 8/9 month old thing. ARG!

 

oh gosh... I'm sorry! my girls are still sleeping thru the night... thank goodness. We had a couple of rough nights last week.. but that's about it for now. They just turned 8 months yesterday. So I am bracing myself and enjoying the quiet nights for now.

 

I can feel your pain-except it's my daughter as my boys are over two. She is a very easy going baby. She literally spends her day smiling! LOL! Lately though, my goodness! She's not happy anywhere for long periods of time. The bouncer, jumperoo, johnny jumper, sitting down. The problem is she wants to MOVE. And she hasn't figured out how to yet! She has been up on all fours rocking for WEEKS, if not months! The boys were both crawling at nine months. She will be that next week. If I am sitting near her, she tries to climb up me and stand. If she is sitting, she is now able to go to all fours now. And that's it. She can't move, so she fusses.

If I leave the room and she is happy-great. If she sees me again-she cries. And she is getting THREE teeth in as we speak.

So my guess is-teething and not being able to move! I think they are just getting aggravated and want to do things, but haven't mastered the skill. Luckily she is *mostly* STTN. On her own thankfully! I hope she learns to crawl/stand/walk or something soon! I can't hold her all day with her brothers to deal with!

This too shall pass....quickly????

 

On most days my schedule goes like this:

7am- wakeup/ bottle
8am- solids
9am- 1st nap
10am- wakeup from 1st nap/ bottle
1230pm- solids/ small bottle
1pm- 2nd nap
3pm- wakeup from 2nd nap
4pm- bottle
6pm- solids
7pm- bottle/down for night

I feel like I am constantly feeding right now, but they have no interest in bottle when I try to give them their solid meal at the same time... Our schedule is definitely still a work in progress (we have been trying to drop down to 4 bottles) but this is what it looks like most days!

Good luck!!

 

thank you so much for responding! I appreciate it!