spoiling a newborn?

I know everyone says you can't spoil a newborn but I'm starting to feel like thats not true. When are they no longer considered newborn? My dd is almost 7 weeks and lately I feel like she tries to stay awake even though she is really tired. Whenever I put her down she cries and cries and the second I pick her up she stops. She will fall asleep in my arms and when I put her in the crib she often wakes up. Am I supposed to keep picking her up when she cries? I don't want her to only be able to sleep with me holding her! What should I do???

Re: spoiling a newborn?

She's only 7 weeks old!! Pick her up! Love her! Hold her!

She was used to being in your womb for a long time. She needs comfort.

Trust me, I was frustrated too when DS was a newborn. I wanted to put him down just so I could clean, or shower, or just brush my teeth. I felt like it was wasted time when he slept on me.

But I realized how precious that time was. He didn't care that I had spinach in my teeth or that I hadn't showered in days. He just wanted to be held by me and his world was wonderful!

Re: spoiling a newborn?

Have you tried swaddling her? Miracle Blanket worked wonders for me.

I'll be honest though, DD was in either her swing or the bouncer (Boppy) when she was sleeping. Both I think gave her that security she needed. She slept in those until she was about 10 weeks old.

ETA Maybe try a sling. I didn't use one because DD would only get clingy at night, so at that point I would rock and pace the apartment til she fell asleep and I would put her in the swing after that.

Message edited 7/14/2009 10:23:07 PM.

Re: spoiling a newborn?

It's not that you are spoiling her, it is just that she is more comfortable in your arms, she probably likes the feeling of being cuddled. I really believe babies at that age need you to be there when they cry, I don't think you can spoil them at that age.

Do you swaddle her? Many babies sleep better when swaddled. Also, do you put her down when drowsy or fulyl asleep? I found with my DS if I put him down asleep he'd wake up and cry, but if I put him down when he was drowsy he was more likely to put himself to sleep (this is still true for him at 6.5 months)

We had similar problems with my DS, those first 2-3 months were tough, but at a certain point he just got better at sleeping, I think alot of it had to do with being so young and we really just had to wait it out.

Re: spoiling a newborn?

newborn is first 3 months....

pick her up... it does get better- my ds started geting better after 2 month

Re: spoiling a newborn?

thanks, we do swaddle her every night and it helps but all of a sudden the past week or so she is just so much more needy it seems. She used to fall alseep in her swing all the time or in the stroller if we walked her now she is always up it seems and after 5/10 min she just wants to be held. I do love holding and cuddling/comforting her its just hard to get anything done and I wasn't sure if I was "spoiling" her. She just seems so smart already like she knows what she's doing but I know she is still really young so I won't worry about it too much. Thanks for the advice!!

Re: spoiling a newborn?

Its not possible to spoil a baby. Be it a newborn, or a 1 year old. Babies look to their mommies for comfort, for love, and if you are not there, they do not learn to trust. Pick her up! Snuggle her, and embrace these moments. It goes too fast. Before you know it.... they are 6 years old telling you to stop hugging them

Re: spoiling a newborn?

I totally agree with the other ladies, pick her up, love her, hold her. These moments go by so fast!