www.babiestoday.com - Research baby names. Read baby articles, advice and baby health tips. Enter baby photo contests. Discuss your baby with others in our community.

my iParenting

From Our Sponsors

e-newsletters: Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters

new terms of use
new privacy policy

award-winning products: The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.

Expert Q&A


	By Dana Chidekel, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist Author

My son was 4 months old when we adopted him. He is now 7 months old and it seems he will never get over needing to be held all the time. I put him in daycare for three hours a day to help with his physical development (which it did), but now when he is with me, I have to hold him or he begins crying terribly. I have now removed him from the daycare for other reasons and I am home with him all day. What can I do to help him (and me)?

The first four months of a child?s life are critical with respect to that child making attachments to familiar and consistent care givers. While I certainly do not know the details of your son?s life, an adoption at four months suggests that there was some disruption in this process. Unfortunately, while you were well-intentioned placing him in day care, my guess is that the further separation from you that this entailed has made him more insecure. While it may be challenging to contend with a baby who has an insatiable appetite for your company and your arms, I recommend that to try to accommodate him in so far as you?re able. That is, hold him, carry him around, give him the opportunity over a substantial period of time to have the experience of stability and consistency. In the meanwhile, keep an eye on the prize: Having the opportunity to make a stable attachment with you will play a critical role in his ability to separate appropriately from you over the course of his future development. In the meanwhile, I also recommend you check with your pediatrician to ensure that there is no medical difficulty underlying all that crying."

Related Expert Q&A

who are you?

we have specific content just for you!

SAH Mom	Working Mom
SAH Dad	Working Dad
Adoptive Parent	Grandparent
Parent of Twins	Special Needs Parent

create your baby daily page

Enter birth month:	Day:	Year:
The Baby Daily tells you how old your baby is in days and weeks, educates you on milestones, and inspires you with quotes from famous and not-so-famous moms. - OR - Pick the age of your baby: days old.