I don't have much advice about adjusting to daycare, but I would just like to say that IMO the way you've been looking after your baby is just fine. You're showing careful attention to his needs. Being held is a real need for babies; some need it more than others. I believe that normal human evolution involves carrying a baby almost all the time, while doing other activities. Gradually as the baby gets older there's less carrying.
In modern life, focussed on computers and things rather than physical activity, it's harder to fit in carrying a baby around. Some people carry a baby in a sling or backpack while doing housework, for example. I remember holding a baby in one arm while hanging up laundry; my mother did the same.
Transition to daycare or not 4375Dan Stromberg I don't find that at all unusual, particularly for a first time parent. It is a tough transition, regardless of how wonderful a caregiver you may find, and oftentimes more...
Maybe he has gas in his digestive system and needs to be moved around a lot to help things move along. Adults can go for walks to get the same effect; babies need someone else to provide the motion. Some need it more than others.
You could hold him constantly during the hours that he's home, and co-sleep, to try to fulfill his need for being held. Then maybe he wouldn't need as much holding at daycare. If it's because he needs his digestive system to work, you could move him around a lot every morning and every evening. You could take him out for a walk every morning and evening before and after daycare. I know, this would probably be really, really difficult to fit into your daily schedules. It's just an idea. (Unless you could fit it in by walking to the daycare, for example.)
You could ask the daycare providers whether one of them could carry him in a sling most of the day, whether awake or asleep. They wouldn't have to actually pay attention to him, just carry him while going about other activities.
You could try to change your working hours, or you wife's. If one of you starts work several hours earlier than the other, he wouldn't need to be in daycare as many hours per day.
You could see whether one of you could bring the baby to work and work while rocking the baby in a sling, or bring work home a few days a week and either rock the baby while working, or work in the evening while the other parent looks after the baby. Maybe one of you could work on Saturday and Sunday instead of the usual weekdays.
I hope things work out OK for all three of you.
