[Niclayson]

This post is NOT meant to be negative or to scare anyone. I just want to take a few minutes to share my experience with you...especially with those waiting or newly home.

My son Trey came home in March. He was 7 1/2 months old. He had been in an orphanage and then was moved to foster care. We visited twice and he seemed developmentally on target (I am a nurse). I did briefly read about attachment disorders in infants but was not really too concerned about this. I should have been....

Trey came home under the worst of circumstances. He was ill with an upper respiratory infection and required surgery for a tumor on his back. He was terrified and fearful. He has been home 9 weeks and has slept thru the night ONCE. The rest of the time he is up several times a night. He initially drank 55 ounces of formula/day!!! His comfort was food. He could not sit up when we got him but can now sit, crawl, stand, and cruise. Up until 2 days ago he whined CONSTANTLY. I was ready to throw either myself or the child or both off a cliff.

The attachment forum here is wonderful. I have actively been practicing attachment parenting and it is working. The past 2 days he has been a happy, smily guy. He kissed me today.

I simply wanted to encourage you all to really read up on attachment parenting while you have time and not when you are overwhelmed with the new child whining 24/7. I expected things to be difficult...but I did not expect it too be as bad as it was. I have a close friend who is also experiencing this with her newly adopted infant.

I also wanted to share so that if others are going through this difficult type of transition...you can know I am here to talk.