Hi All --
Hubby and I have an almost 3 week old little boy and have retired grandma (my mother) here to help for the next 8 weeks. Grandma has been extremely helpful, especially since this is my first baby. However, as time goes on, I can't help finding myself getting upset that whenever I'm holding my son and trying to comfort him (whether he's sleepy or gassy or needs a diaper change), my mom just comes and takes him away from me to take care of the issue. I'm very grateful for her help, but part of me feels like hubby and I really need to figure some of this out on our own. Am I overreacting to her helpfulness? Or should I just accept the help and be grateful?
Thanks,
Kate
Re: Newborn Help is Too Helpful?
this, whether she is doing it to "help" or not. Let her know that you appreciate her helping, but that this is frustrating and you want to figure out some things yourself.
this, whether she is doing it to "help" or not. Let her know that you appreciate her helping, but that this is frustrating and you want to figure out some things yourself.
This and this. 8 weeks is too long.
You need to speak up for yourself. It's your child and you can figure it out. You need to be able to bond with your baby. I'm curious... why is she staying with you for 8 weeks? My mom stayed for a week and that was more to help with DS and help around the house.
I just had my first baby, too. She's 6 weeks old. My hubby and I had no clue what we were doing in the beginning. We got a lot of help from the nurses in the hospital, and my mom once we were home. I'm grateful, too, for all her help.
She kind of does the same thing as your mom, whenever I'm at her house now. She'll take my daughter when she needs a diaper change or if she starts crying for whatever reason. My mom's not pushy about it, though, and I love getting a break. So maybe right now your mom might need to let you figure it out, but once you feel more comfortable you may really like the help.