LO has started the awful habit of whining for my attention. I spend lots of time with her on the floor playing and just haning out with her but there comes a time when i need to do other things and she has play on her own. but she doesn't, she just hangs on my pants and whines and cries. Even when she has just woken from a good nap and is fully fed she whines. its so frusterating, ill pick her up and cuddle her and then put her with her toys but she just comes whining back. she doesn't even really want me to play, i just have to sit on the floor by her toys and she'll stop whining. i don't want to ignore her as she is only 9 months and its her only means of communicating but i also don't want to make this the start of a bad habit. any advice?
Re: The whining, oh god the whining!
Although sometimes when not picked up kids will go back to playing by themselves, as you said, it is her way of communicating. You're not creating bad habits by acknowledging her needs; you're teaching her that communication is a good thing.
When she gets old enough to communicate in other ways, the whining will decrease (and she'll be old enough to learn other ways of telling you what she needs).
Micah Leonard
oh man, i hear ya sister.
i am a stay at home mom, and spend probably 15 hours a day touching or playing with my baby in some way. and she STILL whines at the end of the day for more attention. it is getting to be a lot. my pants are seriously stretched out from the hanging, and my mind is stretched, as well! i need a little personal space!!! doc said it is truly a phase, she is learning how to communicate right now. in a few months she will be much more independent and also be a better communicator.