Dear Dr. Heather,

I’m writing to inquire about our 25-month-old grand-daughter and the attachment that she has to her mother.

Don't Take It Personally, Dad.

Her parents have been very responsive to her since her birth. Our toddler is easy with other people including her regular caregiver, grand-parents, other extended family and just about everyone else. The problem is that when her mother is around she has a strong preference for her, to the exclusion of most others. This happens about 60% of the time.

Her mother and father are gentle and kind and fun-loving. They respond to her emotions and explain the world to her. They are consistent with their house “rules” and explain the world to her so that things make as much sense as possible. She is a bright, articulate, inquisitive, active little girl and appears to be developing normally. Again, the problem is just that she clings to tenaciously to her mom. This is trying on her dad and also tiring for mom.

Any tips on how to reduce the clinging and increase her involvement with others when her mother is present?

Thanks very much.

Grandma
~~~~~~

Dear “Grandma”,

What you’re describing is the sign of a healthy attachment to her mother. Babies at this age have a hard time being in intense relationships with more than one person at a time. Strong parental preferences are COMMON. Unpleasant at times, inconvenient often, but COMMON and NORMAL, at this age. The first step is understanding it, the next step is rewarding her when she works well with her father, you, or other adults. She should be gently encouraged and praised for steps in the right direction, but never scolded if she prefers mom, since this will only work against you.

Your granddaughter is at a stage of venturing out into the world, and then coming back to her “base of comfort” as needed to “refuel”, emotionally. As she gains confidence this will naturally abate. Also, as she grows closer to age 3, she will be more curious about the different activities her father and you can share with her, and this will help too.

I can certainly relate, as I am currently on both ends of the preference spectrum with various of my own children. I’m top of the list with my 9-month-old and 4-year-old, and bottom of the totem pole with my 7 and 9-year-olds — Daddy is their current favorite. All of us need to be understanding about the temporary preferences that our children express — please don’t take it personally, nor should her father. Your time (and his) will come…I promise!

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

Sure, she sleeps OK in the stroller.

But Tough Love is rough on me — and on the family. A fussing (or screaming) baby feels like a constant reminder of some kind of parental inadequacy, and is really grating on the nerves. Not to mention the fact that it often happens at ridiculous hours of the night when most other babies are surely sleeping soundly. And forget sleep for poor mom. I’m a zombie.

But persist I must. I won’t give in to an 18-pound 8-month old, no matter how cute she is (in the daytime, at least). It will be worth it in the end.

Here are my tips for getting through this rough time, if you’re going through Sleep Training:

Make sure you and your partner are on the same page. There’s nothing worse than arguing about sleep training techniques at 2 am, standing outside the door of a screaming baby. Agree ahead of time — or don’t attempt it.

Prepare the older kids for nighttime noise. I tell my lightest sleeper that he may hear the baby fussing at night. “But you’re a big boy and can roll over and go to sleep. Soon we’ll all get better sleep.”

Use a little reverse psychology on yourself. (You’re so sleep deprived it just might work!) Instead of preparing for a night of sleep, prepare for a night of watching “guilty pleasure” TV, listening to great music from your (childless) past, or even folding laundry. Fooling yourself into thinking you don’t really need to sleep somehow makes it less painful to be up at weird hours.

Take a deep breath, have a zen moment, do some mindfulness meditation, yoga, or pray – pick your version of expressing gratitude and relaxation. Having a non-sleeping, screaming baby at 2 am is really hard. But in the scope of things, not really that big of a deal. A few moments recalling the years when we feared we couldn’t get pregnant, or thinking of friends who have a baby who’s quite ill, and others who have God forbid lost a child, and I’m ready to get through another tough night of sleep training. Having a healthy, happy, non-sleeping baby is a high-class problem we’re blessed to have, quite honestly.

I’ve written other posts about getting through the sleep deprivation aspect of this, but let me also mention our friend caffeine here. Don’t overdo it. At my peak, I have a mug of java in the morning, some iced tea at lunch, and another cup of coffee around 2. That’s 3 servings a day. Any more and I get frazzled and nutty — and no more awake than if I had stayed with the 3 servings. Studies say that some coffee is fine for most of us, but too much will definitely make you feel worse.

Sleep Training eventually works — I’m writing this now as the baby sleeps nicely in her crib. Get through the rough nights and I promise things will improve!

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

Dear Dr. Heather,

My 2-year-old granddaughter is stressed about her new house. Her parents moved a couple of weeks ago, and then her mother had a new baby. Emma seems to “love” her new brother, so I can’t imagine that he is upsetting her. But I am concerned that her mother is not giving Emma new routines in the new house. Emma is overtired and cranky. She is a lovely, intelligent child and I am worried about her. Doesn’t she need routines?

Sometimes it's all too much for a little kid!

Chris

Dear Chris,

It’s tough being a grandma — you can see that your kids (and grandkids) are suffering, but there’s little you can do about it, since you’re not the parent.

But yes, the changes that Emma has experienced are quite pronounced, and even a 2-year-old picks up on all the changes. The new baby is a big part of it, believe me. At times she is thrilled and entertained by the new baby, but deep down she suspects that the baby is the cause of all the problems in her life right now. That’s why we always remind parents to NEVER leave a baby alone with a toddler — no matter how much the toddler “loves” the new baby. Too many “accidents” happen to babies that way. But don’t blame Emma — she really can’t help herself. It’s her age.

And of course you are right that Emma needs routines, as close as possible to the old routines as possible. But right now, with the new baby, all bets are off. Her poor Mom is struggling with the new addition, PLUS a new house, AND being up all night, and so she gets special dispensation to be disorganized and “out of it”. The name of the game now, with your family, is to GET THROUGH IT, in any reasonable way. Let the new routines emerge naturally and support Emma’s parents as much as possible. The better they feel, and the more rest THEY get, the more their own natural instincts will kick in, and they’ll naturally start to establish new routines.

But if there aren’t many routines yet, and Emma is cranky and overtired for a few weeks — it’s OK. We assume that a few weeks’ disruption will naturally return to normal after an adjustment period. If not, talk to Emma’s parents about your concerns, but until then, I would suggest simply supporting the family and being understanding of a cranky toddler. (And after all, grandmas get special dispensation to spoil their granddaughters, especially when they’re a little stressed out, right?)

If things don’t improve in a few weeks, let me know.

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

It's harder on us than it is on them

Of course, all went very well that day, and for all these years since. But that day ranks up there with one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. Here are some tips for those of you facing that fateful day:

Ease Into It Slowly

You and your baby will adjust more smoothly if you plan to be away for progressively longer periods of time. Start out slow: figure out the least amount of time that you’ll be able to handle being away, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Arrange to have the sitter come anyway, and explain to her that you’ll be coming and going as you all adjust to the new arrangements. Or if you’re leaving her at daycare, work out a “transition” time with the teacher so that you can come and hang out for awhile at drop-off and pick-up times, helping your baby (and you) to adjust. Eventually build up to the length of time you’ll usually be away. For some, this may take days — or weeks. That’s OK.

It May Be Harder For You Than It Will Be For Your Baby

Regardless of baby’s age, talk to her about your plans to leave in advance. Even if she doesn’t understand your words, the tone of your message will sink in. It will also be therapeutic for you to talk about it. Up until about 5 or 6 months, your baby will be pretty cool with you being away for awhile. Older babies and toddlers will need more “practicing” in advance, but for most, their protests will only last a few minutes at most after you leave. A good sitter will have a plan to distract her quickly after you’ve gone. Have the sitter call you when the baby calms down — you’ll feel much better.

Know That You’ll Feel Like A Part Of Your Body Is Being Removed

You’re supposed to feel that way — Mother Nature makes sure of that. Know it in advance and make plans to deal with the feelings: Call an understanding friend after you leave, and make plans for a fun thing you haven’t been able to do because of the baby. But don’t let the feelings keep you from getting the sitter in the first place.

Each Time It Will Get Easier

As long as your sitter is good, you’ll feel better and better each time you leave. And then you’ll start to feel a developing sense of relief and gratitude that you don’t have to do it all yourself. You have help now! HOORAY!

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

This “Perfect Parenting Propaganda” has contributed to an enormous amount of pressure on parents, which is, as I have discussed here on BabyShrink, responsible for (at best) unrealistic expectations of ourselves and our kids, and (at worst) postpartum depression and other psychological fallout. I have advocated the “Good Enough” parenting approach with the intention of reassuring parents that there is, in fact, good research to support this approach. Being a Good Enough parent also allows us some room in our schedules and our lives; room to enjoy our kids, partners and families in a more relaxed and spontaneous way. And being “Good Enough” does NOT mean having a half-assed parenting approach. It does NOT mean you don’t care about your kids. In fact, it means that you understand that children need SPACE and TIME and OPTIONS in order to maximize their development; they need time to EXPLORE, and yes, even to FAIL. Striving for perfection, one of the driving motivators of the over-parenting tendency, is actually BAD FOR YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT. It gives them the message that they are not capable of managing their time and experiences. It does not allow them the time or opportunity to learn how to solve problems creatively. And it takes away from their ability to experience the independence that we had as kids (and lived to tell about it).

So it was with great excitement that I read the cover article in last week’s Time magazine. Nancy Gibbs puts forth a case against “Over-Parenting”, and her article gives lots more details that I can currently muster. (Hey, people, I’ve got a 6-week-old new baby who has decided that sleep is NOT FOR HER — or me!) The fact that I’ve got a few minutes here to expound on this topic should tell you how important I think it is! So here’s the link. Enjoy and discuss!

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

Here are a few of my articles on the “Good Enough” parenting approach:

The Good Enough Mother: Are Breasts Required?

More on the Pros and Cons of Attachment Parenting

and, Will My Baby Ever Sleep Through the Night? (A post I need to re-read!!)

After feeling lousy all day, it finally occurred to me that — duh — it might be labor. It was then that I decided to head down to our local Safeway, which inexplicably has the only supply of H1N1 vaccines on the island, to get my shot. After that, the contractions started. The whole thing from that point on was very fast, and we were only at the hospital for 3 hours when she was born — gratefully, without complications, and VERY easily. (And YES I had a form of an epidural, called an intrathecal, which worked wonders for me.)

The hospital was jammed with laboring mothers and newborn babies, so we got out of there early to recover at home. I am so fortunate to have a lot of helping grandparents at home, and so far the kids are adjusting nicely. But as with her older sibs, this baby is NOT much of a sleeper, so expect a meltdown from me in a couple of weeks when the sleep deprivation really starts to add up!

Thanks all for your good wishes and support. More soon!

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

Dear Dr. Heather,

I was googling the meaning of the term “mainstream parenting” and ran across your site. I read a lot of articles on BabyShrink, including one by the name of:

The “Good-Enough Mother”: Are Breasts Required?

This particular article made me feel choked up and teary-eyed as the mother of three boys. I experienced so close to the original poster’s experience, that it was emotional for me to read about. My second son ended up in the hospital with failure to thrive because I did not know I had under-developed breasts, and the pressure to breastfeed was tremendous. It was as though if I didn’t breastfeed I was not a good mother — end of story.

Now don’t get me wrong – I think breastfeeding is the most natural and wonderful way to care for a child that there could possibly be, but I have struggled against huge odds to get people to understand that there are those of us out here who simply CANNOT breastfeed… it’s not that we chose this option.

I have since had my third son two months ago and planned right off not to fully breastfeed and just give him whatever little bit I could make, and the rest of his meals would be formula. This was the best choice I could have made. Taking the pressure off myself allowed me to make a little bit more milk, and I have totally enjoyed the breastfeeding this time around without feeling like it was forced upon me. (When I say a little.. I mean that I made about 1/3-1/2 oz of milk between both breasts, which increased to 1/2-1 full oz now.)

My close friends and I have always felt that there is no completely right way to do this job of mothering. It’s very dependent on the individual child and his or her needs as a person. Reading your site only backed us up on what we believe and I shared it with my closest friend tonight. I have nothing against the AP crowd except that there are those extremists that ruin it’s reputation. The ridicule and nastiness they can dish out is in a whole category by itself. I’m just grateful that there are those out there with credentials like you who see that there is good in several parenting approaches, and your philosophies closely resemble my own.

So this is basically a kudos to you, Dr. Heather.

—- Lisa
Utah Mother of 3

Here’s my response to Lisa:

Hi Lisa,

There are so many moms like you out there who feel this way.

I keep reminding myself that the WHOLE process of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and indeed parenting itself is an ongoing process. Trying to decide what is best for you, your child, and your family, from day to day, is what it’s all about — not following some kind of idealistic dogma about what is “best”. In that way, we model to our children that we create solutions that are best for all of us — not just based on something that someone else said was supposedly correct for everyone. We can (and should be) flexible, for the good of the kids and our families.

I am so glad you are having a nice experience this time around and trusting yourself. Enjoy and thanks again!!

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

Um, except that…Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt, is it? As much as I’m wanting to avoid this thing called “labor and delivery”, what actually FEELS like “jumping (or getting pushed) off a cliff” — deep down, I know I can’t pretend it’s not about to happen. Deep down, this control freak is really scared about the unpredictable nature of labor, and the fact that an unknown doctor in the group is likely to deliver my baby, not to mention the fact that I’m about to meet a little stranger. An interloper into what has become the lovely rhythm of our family.

I’ve spent this pregnancy in deep gratitude for the upcoming birth of this baby; grateful for the simple fact of my pregnancy at age 41, grateful that the pregnancy has progressed so well so far, and grateful for the support I have to go through this again.

But now I’m getting worried about the incredible changes we’re about to face. Yes, I know. I’ll fall in love with her the moment I meet her (or perhaps soon thereafter). My motherly instincts will kick in — they always have before — and the baby will be a wonderful addition to the family. Yadda yadda. But at this point she’s still such a mystery; such an enigma. So close, and yet so unknown. And she’s about to change everything. It’s a little scary for a control freak like me to anticipate!

I feel protective of the three kids we have, and our routine that this new baby is about to smash. As excited as the kids are about their new sister, I feel anticipatory guilt that they surely cannot know the degree to which my attention will be taken away by the baby (and the killer sleep deprivation I will endure). And I groan when I think of the messy recovery from childbirth, the weight I’ll have to lose, and the strategic clothing that needs to be worn by a lactating mother who also attends Board meetings and clinical consults.

So I think I’ll just pretend that this is “the new normal” for a little while longer.

Baby? Who’s having a baby?

“Do you recommend any techniques for my upcoming labor and delivery? Does anything, in your experience, make things easier or more manageable in the delivery process? I’m trying to develop my Birth Plan. Thanks for your help!”

Seeing as though we’re expecting my FOURTH labor and delivery in a few weeks, you’d think I’d have loads to suggest to this first-time mom. But you know what? I GOT NOTHIN’. Nothing! Each time I go through it, I’m reminded at how utterly out of control we are…in life in general, but in the birthing process in particular. Now yes, I know there are all sorts of techniques and approaches out there. And I know many of you have fruitfully used Bradley, Lamaze, hypno-birthing….yadda yadda. Whatever. The truth is: NONE OF IT REALLY HELPS. It’s all an illusion to help us feel like we’re more in control.

Well, let me backtrack a little here. See, I’m up at midnight right now with a terrible case of heartburn, an aching back, some weird pregnancy-related skin condition and no way to sleep comfortably. There’s a wriggling, basketball-sized being in my belly, and I’m sick of my maternity clothes, many of which are starting to get tight. So I admit it: I’m a little cranky. But when I get on the topic of labor and the infamous “Birth Plan”, I get a little MORE cranky.

Let me break it down for you: Labor is unpredictable. Labor can be dangerous. Not so long ago, women used to die all the time in labor. The point is this: We shouldn’t get too picky about the labor process. Thankfully, the vast majority of women (in developed countries), today, survive the process just fine. But the notion that we can control for all the possible complications that can happen is just plain wrong. And it’s human nature to react to an out-of-control situation with the fantasy that we really CAN control it. But it’s harmful to mothers out there who buy into the notion that they CAN and SHOULD control their delivery process…because many of us CAN’T, and then feel inadequate as a result.

I’ve heard heartbreaking stories from moms who felt guilty and disappointed because they couldn’t live up to their “Birth Plans”. Moms who felt scolded by their doctors, nurses, or midwives for going against the particular birthing approaches of the practice…mothers who changed their minds about pain control, or what kind of labor support to use, or even whether to scream and yell during labor. Mothers who had to have emergency C-Sections, who delivered prematurely, or who had bleeding problems. A close relative of mine recently delivered and had a really unusual — and completely unpredictable — complication that left her bedridden for more than a week, and on a walker for another two weeks. These things happen, and Birth Planning can’t prevent them. And many moms feel inadequate if they can’t live up to this supposed “ideal”.

There is a mistaken notion that labor and delivery are somehow the culmination — the end point — of a process. After all, we go through a 9-month process to grow and deliver this child, which is truly a miraculous experience. But the truth is, LABOR AND DELIVERY ARE ONLY THE BEGINNING. Choices we make during pregnancy and delivery are actually the first parenting decisions we make. And that’s the beginning of a life-long process; how to best parent this child we deliver, in whatever manner we choose to, on that miraculous day of delivery. And how best to roll with the punches of life, and still feel confident and satisfied with ourselves. After all, that’s an important life lesson to impart to our children — the ability to be flexible and adaptable to life’s curve balls. The attitude that we can and will be “light on our feet” in the face of the unpredictable changes of life.

When seen that way, I think it’s easier to see the process in perspective: The ultimate outcome is what’s most important about labor and delivery. Forget techniques: You want a healthy baby and a healthy mom at the end of it all.

So, if a rigid Birth Plan isn’t helpful, what IS? Here’s what I recommend:

Thorough education about the process of labor and delivery. It really helps to understand what the “transition” phase is, in particular, and how you’re likely to feel during that challenging time. I always vote for more knowledge and education to help get through a novel situation.

First-time parents really benefit from Infant Care classes, at least as much as from Labor and Delivery-type classes. Infant Care class helps answer lots of the questions you’ll have about your new baby, and will take some of the overwhelming mystery out of caring for this new creature. It also helps to keep your focus in perspective; this is all about becoming a parent and taking care of your child, after all. Labor and delivery are just a momentary blip at the beginning of that process. The REAL hard work is the parenting!

Working knowledge of some type of breathing exercises. I’ve tried them all, and for me, the breathing techniques I learned in my regular yoga classes helped the most. Experiment with several. During labor, see what works. Often, breathing techniques are only useful UNTIL you get into “transition”. At that point, do what comes naturally. I recently read a study that says swearing and cussing actually help us decrease our experience of pain. I plan to try that this time!!!

Accept the fact that you’re jumping off a cliff here. Things will feel out of control at some point in your labor and delivery; maybe more so than you’d like. Keep focused on the outcome and don’t worry about the process. It’s temporary!

If you want to read more of my Birth Plan rantings, check out this post here. And I’d love for experienced parents to please post about your birth experiences, and whether your Birth Plan proved useful to you. Also, let us know your suggestions to first-time expectant moms!

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink

But as a clinician, I’m very concerned about the high rate of postpartum mood disorders, as well as the tendency of new mothers to ignore or deny their symptoms. Many of you have written to me, with stories of untreated PPD in your pasts, begging me to help get the word out to moms who might be experiencing the condition now. POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION IS ONE OF THE MOST TREATABLE DISORDERS WE KNOW. If you, or someone you know, might have PPD, PLEASE help her to get help…immediately. You can show her this article, which is a nice, straightforward review of the condition, and you can also listen to my 16-minute, free podcast on PPD.

And I know you don’t read BabyShrink for a dose of politics, but the situation regarding health care in America is at a point of critical mass. Insufficient numbers of primary care services in this country result in our missing PPD far more than we diagnose it. This is especially true in rural and semi-rural areas — where many of us live. We MUST reform our health care system to ensure that ALL women are screened for PPD — and given the treatment that we know works — for the benefit of their babies, their families, and themselves. And that will only happen if we reform health care to emphasize the prevention and wellness approaches that we know WORK. Treating PPD isn’t the hard part. Reforming health care IS. But it must be done.

Aloha,

Dr. Heather
The BabyShrink