when to let her fuss...

liz.eckel

listen, i need to eat. i like to have 15-20 minutes to myself to make and eat lunch. poor baby wakes up as soon as i put her down and fusses until i pick her up. i just want to eat this one meal without holding her!

she is 3 months old, and i hold and kiss her all day. but i need a few minutes to just eat, and it's just me and her all day! it breaks my heart to hear all pissed off in the other room, where she can see me ignoring her!

what do i do? make faces and talk to her while i eat? give in and pick her up?

00jennifer00

I just hold them.  In the Ktan or in my arms.  It really is a short time.  It's frustrating, and when I'm super GRRR about it, my husband reminds me that moms are going to be first in line for hot food in Heaven.

honkytonk_kid

Can you wear her? Get some kind of wrap, carrier, etc so you have free hands and she is still close. 

Can you bring a pnp/swing/bouncy seat/play mat/bumbo into the kitchen?

beth2882

You said she wakes up when you put her down...so it seems like you are trying to eat while she sleeps?  Have you tried planning your lunch time during playtime?  My DD will happily play on her activity mat or jumperoo while I make and eat lunch.  I so with you on the sleep though...DD wakes when I put her down too!

pixieprincss

Two things that worked well for us were wearing baby while we ate or putting baby in the reclining highchair while we ate (and giving him a toy or spoon for entertainment). You DO have to make time for yourself and your sanity, but I don't think that has to connect to your meal times, which tend to be a natural time for family socialization. As for getting baby to stay asleep--have you tried nursing (or whatever soothing method you do) her while laying down and then inching away once she's been out for 15 minutes (as time goes on, you'll be able to lessen this time)? A great tip is to move yourself, not the baby.