Anyway, I have a friend who is giving me a Baby Bjorn tomorrow, and I’m planning to follow Genesis’ instructions to make a sling to see if the baby prefers that. I’m really hoping that will make a difference in how much I can accomplish in a day.

Thanks again to all who shared your thoughts on this post. I’ve read and re-read all of your comments and will come back here often to review them, I’m sure.

A sling is an EXCELLENT idea. If you want, you can try both a front carrier and a sling. Neither of my boys liked the front carrier, but were happy in a sling. Down here, you just make your own out of a big square of cloth. Fold it in half diagonally, leave the open points hanging down and tie a knot with the other two corners. Then put your head and one shoulder through and position the baby inside . . . tucking the open points under her body. Works wonders, once you get used to it and you don´t have to spend any extra money, a decent sized baby blanket works.

Using a chair that swivels is good, you can wear the baby, twist back and forth so she is happy and still manage to type. A bouncy seat is also invaluable, you can keep it by your feet and use one foot to move it while you type. I still do this with my 9 month old sometimes.

Have you tried swaddling? That often helps when a baby doesn´t want to sleep on their own.

Oh, and one last thing . . . try putting her down with something of yours, a recently worn shirt, for example. My firstborn would only sleep if he had my shirt under his head . . . they like the smell of Mama. Hope that helps. And don´t stress out too much, I don´t know a single mom who hasn´t cried her eyes out along with her baby. Sometimes you just need to shut the door and stand outside and calm down for a minute. But it will get MUCH better soon. Just wait until she starts interacting with you, babbling and smiling and playing games.

My daughter is 6-months old and also was colicky and wanted to be held. We did find out that she had mild acid reflux (which many times is what colic is!). We tilted her crib mattress (after spending a month with us in our room) and kept her propped up using the baby vibrating chair during the day. Anytime she was on her back, she fussed from the acid reflux. Luckily, it got better by 3 months.

Hang in there! It’s not easy–but it’s worth it!

That said, do hire your cousin if you need to, because sometimes you just need a break to feel like a human being again. Much luck and congrats!! Dot is beautiful!!

When I had my first, I was able to work almost full time from home once she was about 3 months old. But, during those first few months all bets are off. Once she is a few months old you will get more sleep at night, and she will take predictable naps. Everything will change then!

For right now, like others said, you can do so many things while you take care of her. Do you have a boppy? I can nurse a baby on the couch, and put my laptop on an ottoman in front of me and have both hands to work.

Totally hire the cousin to come and help – great idea.

This is a matter of personal preference – but as she gets older I wouldn’t hold her ALL of the time if possible. I hope she’ll learn to nap without you holding her, because that nap time will be so important for working down the road. And in my experience, you can spoil a baby and you do have to gently teach them good habits (read: the habits you want them to have later. Attachment parenting is just fine, just pick your chosen method). I put my first daughter down a lot, and she was always very independent and would sleep alone, and entertain herself just playing. I got so much work done until I had twins two years later!

Good luck!

A motorized swing near your computer can help and when she’s upright an exersaucer can be great as can the activity blankets or baby gyms with a blanket near your computer. I think the idea of introducing a p/t Mommy’s helper early on is a fabulous idea too!

Do try to nap when she does at least in the first few months so you don’t burn out too quickly.

Congrats again!

Dana’s last blog post..A Writer’s Warning About Contract Clauses

The binky becomes a lifesaver once you stop breastfeeding- they get ATTACHED to that thing, whew!

Yes, I tried the slings too and they helped. I remember typing papers (I was finishing a BA) with baby in a sling! I also walked on a treadmill with baby in a sling when I was going stir crazy (which happens when you got a cold weather babe).

Work. Gosh, I don’t know. I wasn’t in love with any of my jobs until I strated freelancing, so I wasn’t in a hurry to get back. . . Once you have a mobile baby (I know it seems like forever) you’ll need a sitter so you can write more than 5 minutes at a time!

Gosh she’s so cute. Ugh, I can’t look at babies, it throws off my life plan lol!

Allena’s last blog post..Writers Work Wednesday

Great questions – here’s some of the stuff I did with new babies:

My first daughter was the same way – but we finally figured out at one point that it wasn’t just that she needed to be held all of the time, just that we hadn’t found the *right* ‘baby holder’ for her yet. The swing didn’t work, but a pillow-cushioned vibrating chair put her to sleep instantly.

I agree with some of the commenters above that a sling will work – until she’s about 5 months old and will want your constant attention. But by the time she can hold things and sit up on her own (6-7 months), she will start finding ways to entertain herself for short periods of time.

If you plan on having her with a sitter at some point in the first year, start introducing that environment to her asap, even for just a few minutes a day.

Most of all, don’t expect too much of yourself and Dot for the first year. Babies need a lot of hands-on parenting right now – which simply means less work, period.

I doubt you wanted to hear that last part, but its true.

Hugs to both of you!

But, here’s the clincher: she won’t be this little forever. And this period is over before you know it. There’ll be challenges ahead–just when you think you have it all figured out, she’ll decide to take up sofa-trampoline, or she’ll refuse to eat anything but saltines, or she’ll discover how much fun it is to just yell at the top of her lungs (yeah, been there!)

Think of it as honing your skills as a freelancer: you learn to adjust, you learn not to take everything so seriously, and you learn that you’re so much stronger than you ever realized!

Everything will be fine. Your life just got a whole lot more exciting

Deb’s last blog post..Sketch book: the fish tank

Baby carrier: Go with the African sling-style carriers. They’re basically pieces of sturdy cloth with a ring on either end. Find them online. Don’t waste money on the fancy straps and gadget things. Get a *real* sling to carry your baby, and you’ll appreciate the versatility. Trust me – I’ve tried five Western models and they suck. They also cost me a small fortune.

Take the time to recover. Hormones, emotions and shock of a brand new life for which you have no instructions takes its toll.

Instructions: There *are* none. All books provide cookie-cutter suggestions that may work for all but that mostly never work for *your* specific issue. Do what you can, go with your instincts.

Walk. A lot. With your baby. And talk. Mutter anything. Walk and talk and talk and walk. Do whatever it takes.

Kids are beautiful. Babies are a sh**load of work, honey, and you’re doing everything right by wanting to do the best. Dot’s going to play the poker game and up the stakes every time you call her bluff. You’ll survive; she’ll grow to be a wonderful person. Trust me.

Oh. Last bit of advice: No, don’t throw babies out the window into snowbanks. Even when you want to

James Chartrand – Men with Pens’s last blog post..The Importance of Suspending Disbelief

Anyway . . . I was going to suggest the baby carrier, but it looks as though you’ve thought of that already!!

I don’t have any advice, because in a few months I will be joining you in the ‘freelance parent’ arena, and will be facing your same issues.

I’m just glad you are willing to share the problems that come up and your potential solutions. It’s going come in handy for me once August comes.

Can’t wait to hear from the rest of the readers with experience being a freelancer AND a parent.

holli jo’s last blog post..How to Avoid Getting Stuck in a Rut