I love that shes independant so much but shes making me nuts, lol. She absolutely will not eat without feeding herself. And shes sooo messy. Everyday she wakes up she wants milk in a BOTTLE (she prefers to run around rather than cuddle me). She goes "milk bottle, waffffff-el peas" She then runs around the house eating and crumbing things everywhere while singing. Waffle steaks end up on everything and she loves to rub milk all over herself. Then, in the afternoon, she wants more waffles but I usually give her something else small to hold. No matter what it is she finds a way to make it messy. She went on a no eating strike before this and actually starved herself for 2 days which scared me. I broke down and let her have the bottles and cups and feed herself. She'll sit still sometimes but she knows how to get out of her chair and then I have to struggle to put her back in while she fights me so sitting and eating nicely just doesn't work. I'm so tired of bathing her all day, vaccuuming all day and windexing everything her hands touch all day. All this stuff is just the tip of it all, she constantly trys to use the toilet as well but thats good so I don't think theres a problem there. She has to do everything by herself. The boys went through this too but not like Riley. Suggestions for a momma with a fiercely independant baby anyone?
Do the boys eat everywhere in the house? I'd instill a new family rule in the house that all eating is done at the kitchen table. Period. Buckle her into her highchair and let her eat there. I wouldn't stop letting her feed herself though. if she won't lay still with a bottle cuddling, then take the bottle away. i've got a 10 mo old too and she's easily distracted while nursing and if she keeps popping on and off, I just stop nursing her. I'd apply the same concept with Riley's bottle. Sounds like you've got a very active toddler on your hands, good luck mama!
I used to make jokes when Sage was about a year old, that she could actually CREATE MATTER. You could give her a piece of toast, and she could make MORE CRUMBS, mass wise, than the original piece of toast contained. LOL! We had a "Eat at the Dining Room Table, or your Baby Table." Rule, too. My kids had those little smalll tables, with kid sized chairs, and I'd let them eat breakfast and lunch there, as long as it was kept clear. As for the bottle, you may want to insist on a few feedings a day in your arms. (Whether breast or bottle.) She is in an Independent Phase, but she still needs physical contact with you a LOT. My oldest would often pop off the breast, crawl around the room, relatch herself, pop off, slide down, crawl around, reattach herself ect 30 times during a feeding. A lot of work, but she was an active baby, too. I did insist on several "Quiet Time" nursing a day, though. The only way I could get those, with this baby, was to go into the bedroom, close the blinds, lie down on the bed and NOT look at her, she was so distractable, any stimulation would set her off and crawling. But, she was always calmer after these enforced "Quiet Times" and somtimes she actuallly would fall asleep. Once in a great while.
