Baby bedtime battle

[BubblingBottle]

My DD is almost six months old and since I can remember, everytime after her bedtime bath she whinges and cries and throws an absolute tantrum as we dry her and clothe her! Luckily there's one particular song that seems to stop her going into all out meltdown but just wanted to know is this normal?! Every single night it's like this and I dread bedtime!

I'm starting to think she may also be different to most babies. When I go to classes or meet other mums for coffee my DD is so needy compared to all other babies. She is absolutely hyper! Needs 100% attention (maybe I've spoiled her with doting on her at home?). In classes other babies just lie there but my DD gets bored, needs picking up, bouncing , whatever.

She's 110mph whenever she's awake. When we went for a long walk in the sling/ carrier for an hour earlier in the week she talked/ babbled for the duration, it was lovely, but it's an example of her just never seeming to switch off and chill. Even on the playmat at home she has her matchstick monkey in her mouth babbling non stop and rolling over the length of the room!

Normal? She's my first....you can probably tell!

[BubblingBottle]

Bumping

[Amrythings]

You forgot to specify middle gears when you put the order in, so did I. DS is two and still a total maniac. Luckily his baby brother seems to be marginally less wild, although I suspect it's just a ploy and we're fucked when he can move.

[Viviennemary]

At that young age if she hates bathtime and makes a fuss I would stop doing it every night. Every other night or even every third night. And just sponge down the other nights. Try some bath toys.

[NewmummyJ]

You've described my son there! He's 8 months now. He has a meltdown most bedtimes and needs constant entertainment, like you I look at the other babies who just lie there happily and wonder why my son is so different! It's a lot easier now he is crawling and cruising as he can entertain himself more by exploring, although he needs constant supervision as he is into everything! He doesn't like chilling or staying still... ever!
I found this article helpful as described my son to a tee and reassured me it wasn't something I do wrong... www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/high-need-baby/12-features-high-need-baby/

[BubblingBottle]

@Viviennemary oh she loves the water she just hates getting dry and dressed afterwards! She actually puts up a fight whenever she's being dressed.

[Thatsplentyjack]

Yup mine is the same. Its just because by that time she's usy pretty tired (unfortunately I can't get it done any earlier) and she knows the milk is coming amd gets frustrated.
None of my kids have just lay and played. My second was the neediest child in the world. Proper whinger. This one isuch better but she's absolutely wild and at just turned 8 months is nearly walking already, but both my boys walked at 10 months so was expecting it really. They were all quite needy/active. I would say pretty normal.

[BubblingBottle]

Ah brilliant! Thanks for the reassurance everyone! Xx

[BertieBotts]

She's probably just cold after the bath, it's not a tantrum, she just doesn't understand that she'll be warm soon and doesn't have any other way to express that she's unhappy with the current air temperature. I would use as big and snuggly a towel as you can find and dry her off as fast as possible then put her vest or pj top on as quickly as you can before even the nappy. That's what I've always done with babies and it does help.

She sounds totally normal. Your own baby getting unsettled is always way more noticeable than anyone elses.

[BertieBotts]

Agree with PPs that they tend to be tired and hungry after a bath too.

[Elisemum]

Totally normal. But there’s no point of giving her a bath every night! Must be so tiring… once every 3 nights is enough for every baby. Anyway your DD might just be a wild baby ;) my son was the same. When he was 6,8, 12 months whenever I met other mums with babies for coffee lunch other babies just sat there babbling away while my son had to “eat” everything, threw toys around, laughed, giggled, wanted to be picked up, he was non stop. He is now 2,5 and is wild but he’s the sweetest most intelligent boy . Good luck :)

[BubblingBottle]

@Elisemum thank you. I just thought that was the done thing bedtime routine wise, bath and bed!

[BubblingBottle]

I would use as big and snuggly a towel as you can find and dry her off as fast as possible

Thanks. That's the thing, we do but her protest slows everything down as she goes mad!

[BubblingBottle]

I think it's fear of missing out tbh 😂

[Elisemum]

@BubblingBottle no, a bath every day is way too much and must be draining…if your baby is not in creche (when they get dirty notoriously) then twice or 3 times per week is plenty. Bath every day actually strips babies of their skin oils. Cut to 3 nights per week and use the rest to have a glass of wine:)