The clingy stage...

My babies, I believe, have officially entered the "clingy" stage. They are 10 months old (or 9 mos if you adjust for being 5 weeks early) and they really just want to be held if I am around. They can be distracted somewhat - but it is inevitable that after 10 or so minutes of sitting on the floor with them playing, they both climb into my lap. Of course, that doesn't bother me - I just put them both in my lap and sing, play, read a book, etc. But then when I try to put them both down to go get diapers, play with my older DS, etc. - Sullivan refuses to bend his legs into a sitting position and Finley just sits and cries/fusses. So, whenever I am not within climbing distance it seems like they are fussing/crying for me to come closer so they can launch themselves into my lap!

With my older DS, I know that I just carried him around with me when he went through this stage. And when only one of them is feeling clingy and the other baby is perfectly happy sitting and playing - I carry the clingy/fussy baby around with me - but I can't carry both of them around for extended periods of time (I really don't like carrying both of them at all, it makes me nervous that I'll trip and not have a free arm to catch myself).

Does anyone who has already been through this stage with 2 babies have any great tips or suggestions? I know that it will pass - and I'm not worried/upset/stressed out about it. I would just like to make it through the stage with as few baby tears, fussing, etc. as possible. I want to reassure them that they are fine - but I also know realistically I cannot make 2 babies happy by constantly carrying one or the other around and still be there for my 4-year-old and the other baby who is not being carried. Any tips?

Thanks!

 

I wear them both at the same time. Try this one, it's easy! Wearing twins I've done it since they were a few months old and it helps a lot around the house. I just went to Walmart, bought 5 yds of knit fabric, cut it down the middle, and put the babies on! For more babywearing info, check this out. http://www.mamatoto.org/

 

I dont really have any advice-I just wanted to say that I know EXACTLY how you feel! It is a stage though-
I have noticed that my boy is much much much worse then my dd-if I am anywhere in his sight he will cry until I pick him up! If I dare walk past him and not pick him up he completely loses it!
I hope this phase passes soon because I am going to go crazy!

 

Mine started about two weeks ago... The 'advantage' I have in my house is that their play area is the living room and there's not much else to do in there, so when they're playing and I'm busy doing other things, they can't see me, and they're usually ok... Getting away is the problem obviously, but if I manage to get them interested in a toy for a bit, I might be able to get away without any fussing. Only DS climbs on me at the moment though, I imagine it's going to be way worse when it's both of them...

 

Whoa...there is NO way I could wear both of mine at the same time, unless I just stood there for hours or sat on the couch. haha.

My girls are this way and it is the pits! I try to distract them with a toy if I have to leave the room and not make any eye contact until I am back and ready. Making bottles is hard at times. I just have to let them cry for a bit.

We are also leaving the house everyday. This really helps as they are super distracted. Sitting at home with them makes it worse.

Don't put all of their toys out at once. Keep some separate and switch em up a bit. This way they will not get so bored so quickly with their toys.

Last, but not least turn the music up really loud and just start singing. They will look at you like you are nuts but it gets them to stop crying haha.

 

Thanks Everyone! Yeah, there is no way that I could wear both of them at the same time, either. I wish I could - but with almost 40lbs of baby - I'd be lucky if I could get off of the couch. Plus I had back surgery when I was 19 and I'm just sure my back would not agree with me wearing them both.

They are distractable, so that is good. My 4-year-old does a great job at keeping them busy when I have to leave the room. It is funny, in a way, because they can be totally content playing on the floor with my DS and DH and I come walking in the room and they just smile, stare, and reach out their arms to me (and then cry if I walk by without picking someone up)! I remember my older DS going through this - but it was much easier when I could just pick him and and not worry about anyone else!

Definitely makes me feel very loved!

 

I always wonder HOW people "wear a baby"????????? And then I REALLY wonder how they can wear TWO!~~ Props to those who do it, for sure!

I couldn't even "wear" my colic kid at 8 weeks old w/o my back KILLING ME! I think/thought there was something wrong with me. They've always been big too so it just never was an option for me. Plus, I just don't "get it".

I am dying laughing thinking about ME with my 26 lb TIMES TWO babies strapped to me. They're pretty much heavier than me LOLOL!!

I went through that clingy "stage" for 2 months and it was absolutely miserable. I ended up joining a gym during that phase cuz it was soo bad. That really helped. It was either that or shoot myself. It really sucked.

I couldn't even go pee during the day during the worst days. This also coincided w/ molar getting so it was EXTRA tough!!

It truly will pass.. I did not believe people when they said that to me but it will. Those 2 months were WORSE than the newborn/colic phase and let me tell you.. THAT is saying A LOT!

 

I have no advice because I've had three clingers so far, and I don't get much done with the twins now as it is!

 

I couldn't wear both of mine at 10 months either - the best I can do is sitting on the floor and letting them both sit on my lap, but I can't do that all the time.

 

Thanks Everyone. It is nice to see that others have gone through the same thing. I guess I just didn't pay any attention to it with my older DS b/c there was just one of him - so I'd pick him up and carry him around the house with me. I just can't do that with two - so I end up sitting on the floor with them in my lap reading books. Not a bad thing at all - but I just hate that they both get so upset when I leave their "reach" for a minute or two to pee!

 

Mine don't even like being held... they feel trapped. They want me on the floor with them... Thankfully as long as I spend 30 minutes with them, they're ok if I leave for a bit...