To be worried about my baby's enery levels?

[ikeaismylocal]

Ds is 12 months old, he is great fun, he is a happy, funny little boy.

He is a whirlwind, he has reached his milestones early (sitting at 4 months, crawling and cruising at 6 months and walking at 10 months) he is on the go the entire time.

He is also a little dictator, he "chats" lots but instead of the questioning, observational babbling I have heared other babies do he shouts like an sargent.

We had some of the mums from my mamma group over (like a nct group but we don't live in the uk) their babies are also all 12 months old. The difference between ds and the other babies was huge, ds ran around giving the other babies toys and shouting at them to take the toys, he would for example put a whistle to another baby's mouth and shout and pretend to blow the whistle to tell her what to do or pick up a toy to give to another baby and if the baby didn't take the toy he would shout and touch the baby's hand with the toy over and over again shouting all the time. He never snatches toys but he likes to decide which toy the other babies should play with if they are empty handed.

It isn't upset shouting it is just bossy shouting.

The other parents were a little taken aback, this happens often at playgroup too, some people have said mean things like "thank goodness my dc isn't like mini-ikea, I wouldn't be able to cope!".

We try to have calm toys (the flashing noisy toys make him even more manic) and he has lots of excersise we go to the park every day and at least one playgroup every weekday.

On the plus side he goes to bed between 5 and 5.30 and falls asleep in minuites as he has used all his energy!

AIBU to feel worried about him? Does anyone else have children who are/where like this?

[formerbabe]

Yes my son was like this. He walked at 9 months! Its nothing to worry about...he is 5 now, completely normal, just a bit of a livewire (like most 5 yo boys!).

[formerbabe]

Oh and he also needs to go to the park everyday or he is climbing the walls otherwise!

[jumperooo]

My one year old is crazy too. Early to sit and walk,always on the go. Has a huge amount of stamina. Some kids are placid, some are livewires. I wouldn't be too concerned at this age. A bit of spirit is good!

[dubaipieeye]

I posted something similar when my DS was 7.5 months - he had just crawled up a flight of stairs! He also walked at 9 months and was a total livewire baby...he is now three and although still high energy, he is pretty much on anpar with his peers at nursery. Don't worry!

[ikeaismylocal]

I'm glad to hear my baby isn't the only super active baby! I love him so much and he is such fun but I do tend to worry when I see my friend's babies who are content sitting and looking at a book by themself whilst my ds is climbing on the table and shouting at everyone.

[formerbabe]

I often look on with envy at the muums who babies are sitting nicely playing with one toy for ages whilst mine were running everywhere causing chaos and making a mess!

[Bearfrills]

DS is/was like this. Into absolutely everything as a baby, if he was on the floor thn anything he could reach while crawling was fair game and he was never ever still, then when he learned to walk that was it - he was off and running. He can't pass a switch or button without pressing it. He gives a stream of counsciousness commentary on everything he is seeing/hearing/doing/feeling. He will literally fling himself off the walls if cooped up indoors for too long and if he gets too excited he will literally shake with excitement.

He is a total livewire but now he's at 4yo and at school I see he's no better or worse than his peers, a bit of a fidget and a bit of a jumpy-jack but he's more or less on par with the others.

PILs have always been cats bum faced about it and reckon he needs a good hiding to calm him down but I wouldn't have him any other way.

And as you say - the biggest advantage is that he sleeps! He's knackered by 6:30 so he's in bed fast asleep by 7 :o

[noswingpark]

My 4th child (13mnths) is just like this. He too walked early 9mnths but didn't start crawling until 4wks before then one day let go and walked off. He doesn't sleep all day, just runs around constantly shouting (and eating). Nothing to worry about, all mine had been so different.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

DD was like this. Still a boisterous child at 3. However, she is a happy little thing, that just needs to be run like a puppy every day. Make sure you choose activities that play to your DS' strengths. I tried dance with all the cute, quiet, biddable little girls in tutus. DD running around shouting and hanging upside-down from the barres. Not a good look.

[QueenofLouisiana]

DS was like this - still is a bit at 8 and a half. My friends had babies who did nice playing on a rug at a picnic, mine charged towards the river to look at the swans (well, I like to think that's what he wanted to do!). He wasn't very verbal, but so very physically active.
Fast forward in time, he now plays rugby, swims for the local squad, goes to lifesaving, enjoys Cubs...... I suppose there is a bit of a pattern really. We get a bit fed up of driving him everywhere (rural location, no chance of walking there), but it uses up all the energy in a productive way. He behaves well at school, which I don't think he would if he sat in front of a computer screen all weekend.

[spritesoright]

"Hanging upside down from the bars" Reminds me of DD (2) in dance class the other day. All the other children were watching the teacher, standing and stretching whilst DD runs thperiphery of the room in increasingly faster circles.

[Toecheese]

The main thing is that you need to lead by example. So you shouldn't shout and should make sure you are considerate when you interact.

[ikeaismylocal]

It's great to hear about active babies turning into kids with lots of hobbies.

Ds will sit still when it is song time at playgroup but he shouts and points and nods his head when the other babies choose a toy to sing about as if he is telling them what to do, I asked the playgroup leader if I should take him out as he is so loud and bossy but she said no, he interacts really well, I'm glad she is so understanding!

[ikeaismylocal]

I nearly never shout, I tell him no but that is more of a sharp tone than a shout.

[Birdsgottafly]

I agree with all of the above.

If it's any consolation, nearly every world leader, Important person etc was a "live wire/bossy/inventive" from a really young age.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

Don't let that cute sitting play nicely act fool you.

DD was like this at group or at friends house, but once we got home it was like her hyper switch got turned on.

[meddie]

My son was exactly the same until he got teen hormones and slept for britain.

[Finola1step]

Yep ds was like this. Crawling at four months, cruising at six months etc. It sounds ridiculously early but it's true. He was by far the liveliest in our NCT group - in every way. And yes, very bossy. At 8 months old, he shouted at the Archbishop of Canterbury. A bossy shout no less. My MIL was mortified.

It was really hard work. I remember that first summer well. We would go to the park with other mums and babies. All the other babies would lie on the picnic rugs, gurgling away all content. Mine would be off. Trying to get hold of any stick, piece of food, leaf or whatever was in his eye line.

But it does get better. It levels off. My ds is now nearly six and is still very active but also loves to sit quietly reading or playing with lego.

You are not alone and you do not need to be worried. It's just the way the cookie crumbles.

[OhMerGerd]

DD1 was the same. At 12 months they had to put her in the nursery class with the rising 3's because she was 'treading on the heads' of her peers. Basically she could not only walk but run and was a tall and physically well developed so went straight into quite a large size outdoor shoe, as the other 12 months dc sat on the mat or tolled on the floor she was running around and there were a few accidents. She also could sing about ten nursery rhymes and coordinate her movements enough to take part in the 3 yo stuff.
It all evened out though and although she went through school as bright she wasn't uber academic or sporty. Just an early starter.
Be thankful and just say to those who say they couldn't cope with an up and at em early achiever ... 'Oh we think its a blessing .. He'll be potty trained soon' and smile sweetly because he probably will .

[TheNightIsDark]

DS is like this. He's 4 now and it does get easier. He's literally only still if he's drawing.

When people give you shitty comments you need to perfect a head tilt and sadly say "it's such a shame your child feels too stifled to show any personality"
It won't win you friends but the comments will stop

[WhereIsMyHat]

Yes, I have one like this, my third son who is ow 18 months. He can properly jump and can run as fast as his two older brothers and I generally on the go most of the time. He was always different from the other two, even as a tiny baby it was as if he 'knew' stuff. I appreciate how ridiculous that sounds but I'd already had two others to compare him to as well. I'm feeling reassured by other posters here that he wil calm down eventually!

[CailinDana]

He sounds hilarious, enjoy him!

[PenelopePipPop]

Love the idea of bossy sargeant baby giving the other babies whistles! He sounds great.

But yeah DD was like this. It was knackering. She still hurtles everywhere at nearly 4 but she focuses her energy a bit more. Apparently she is very good at concentrating at nursery school. But she tells us she relaxes by wriggling.

So I wouldn't waste any energy worrying, you are going to need it in the morning...