Very active nine month old

[Firsttimemuma1]

Hi all, please no judging here I just have genuine concerns and want to hear others experiences.

I’m a first time mum to a beautiful nine month old, but my god she is hard work.
She has always been a fussy baby, never really enjoyed being a newborn, terrible colic, screaming day and night. I didn’t get a decent nap out of her until she hit six months!
She is so full on from the minute she wakes up. She would never just sit there for a few minutes, she’s just constantly having to move or touch something. She’s very hyperactive in my opinion competed to friends babies this age. I’m always having comments like she’s a handful blah blah like i don’t know!
She also makes this super annoying groan like in frustration, but she does it ALOT! It goes through my husband and I. Especially when she’s in her high chair. Yet she will still eat so it’s not like she hates the food or wants to get out.
A simple thing like a nappy change/getting her dressed is a challenge in itself and ends up both of us stressed.

Has anybody had this experience with their little ones? Did it get better as in did the babies chill out a bit?

Thanks

My DS is 8 months and very similar in terms of constantly on the go, always touching things he shouldn’t etc. Since he learnt to crawl a month ago nappy changes and getting dressed has became incredibly hard work and I feel awful for admitting it but it’s true. I wouldn’t describe him as hyperactive though.

I’m not sure what the answer is but you’re not alone finding this stage exhausting and a little difficult!

Sounds like my 9 month old. She is into absolutely everything! I I don't know how she isnt exhausted the way she charges around our house all day.

I was told it gets easier..definitely doesn’t! Feels like I coped with the awful colic stage better and that nearly broke me! Just finding her increasingly difficult to cope with day by day! I hope she chills out when she can walk, I don’t think it will be long.

My DS is/was like this. Down to the groan/moan whatever it is he does. I call it a whinge. It can be so frustrating.

It got better for him when he started walking (10 months). He could get to what he wanted more easily and chilled out a little bit.

He's 14 months now and it's a lot easier than it was. He's a handful in other ways - empties cupboards out, drawers out, anything he can grab needs to be thrown on to the floor etc. But it's not as exhausting as it used to be.

I'm sorry OP but don't pin your hopes on it getting better when walking. It just means they are faster at running away from you in public, are impossible to herd, can reach cupboards and shelves more easily, become more resistant to buckles and pushchairs and become more efficient climbers. Each physical stage masters becomes more difficult not easier. All of mine have been like this.

My DS is like this, currently 16 months. He started crawling at 7 months, started walking at 11 months and never stops. I’m 37 weeks pregnant and I have to use a toddler reins or he would be gone!

What I would say is that it’s a lot when he’s awake but he sleeps like a log because he’s worn out and needs it. Even now he sleeps 3 hours in the day and 12 at night so hopefully that’s the silver lining for you too!

Oh OP it's SO HARD isn't it. With all of mine I found, by far, the 6-18 month stage the hardest. They aren't newborns that mostly sleep and you can just plonk one a pram. They nap less, are moving about (but not enough to actually get anywhere quickly) and still need everything done for them.

It gets better, I promise

My nephew was exactly the same. Cutest thing ever but Constantly on the go and hard very hard work. They’re like baby elephants aren’t they. He’s still quite a handful but he’s calmed down a lot now that he’s older (almost 3). He’s a proper little character though and so funny. Sounds like she’s just got spirit, op. Would you want a perfect robotic child.

My second baby is like this. Took her first steps the day she turned 9 months and she is definitely more physical than her older sister.

DS is like this too - he's a year now and it's a bit better because he's less frustrated as he can do more than a couple of months ago but bloody hell, we're exhausted. Today he napped for an hour and has been moving (and chatting away to himself) the whole rest of the time. He's relatively independent though so I mainly leave him to it and just try to ensure that he doesn't kill himself.

Thanks everyone for your replies. I know every baby is different, I guess I didn’t think it would be this hard. Just sick of meeting friends and having comments about her being a handful and having to run after her/stop her from hurting herself or someone else when their babies are so chill. Makes me not want to go anywhere or meet up with people.

I had the same OP. It is really hard. Mine cruised around from 8 months and walked quite soon after. I found it better once she could walk. Yes it was crazy trying to keep up with her, but it meant she was less frustrated and more independent, and happier. I put quite a bit of effort into finding which sort of toys and activities engaged her. She was (and still is) very inquisitive and bright so it really helps if you can keep them engaged. Try lots of different toys, jigsaws etc as she gets older. And yes you might need to accept she is different from most babies. I totally gave up trying to go to baby groups or cafes.... it just didn't work however hard I tried. But we're lucky to have such independent, strong minded ones!! It's exhausting but it does get better. Start a day or two at nursery as soon as you can for your sanity! Mine loved the extra stimulation and variety.

Are your friends babies crawling or walking yet?

Sounds exactly like my nearly 2 year old that that age. Even down to the groaning! He’s still full of beans. But as his understanding of the world has gotten better and he’s become more independent, it’s more manageable. If worse comes to worst, he has at least got the attention span to be popped in front of CBeebies for half an hour so I can get some stuff done (terrible mother alert).

FWIW he was a late walker (almost 17 months) unlike some babies mentioned here but my god I’ve never seen anyone crawl so fast! He’s also very advanced speech and language-wise so I do think intelligence may play a part.

My friends babies are crawling but my baby has always been a bit advanced so she’s very nearly walking. She starts nursery next month when I go back to work for three days, so will shall see if that chills her out a bit too.
Thanks for all of your messages

My DS was like this too and I found the 8-18 month stage very difficult. He was very active and constantly climbing anything in sight. He was cruising from 9 months but despite his activeness, didn't actually walk unaided until 15 months so he got very frustrated

He's a lot better now (he'll be 2 next month) and although he's still a menace, he's much happier and easier nowadays

Mine was like that. Me going to work definitely helped as childminder and then preschool were great at entertaining him and I had more energy to cope with him the rest of the time! He’s a lovely chilled 6 year old now so it does get better. Hang on in there

Yep but mine is 13 now and was pre-lockdown out 6n a week doing sports or activities fantastic child bright and active walked at 9mths never really stopped. Starting school was great as finally mind and body were worn out at the end of the day. She’s turning into a great young lady though. My second child very different still active but not on that scale. Enjoy the ride it does get easier when they can talk & look after themselves more.

My first was like this. Loads of energy and I was always the one chasing after him as he would try to escape at every opportunity.
On play dates there was always a noticeable difference and I rarely got to sit and chat to the other mums.
It was exhausting but I was lucky in the fact he was an excellent napper up until age 3.
Right up until age 6 ish he would run away whenever he could. He's chilled a little bit now (age 9) but still has lots of energy.
It is hard work but on the positive side it keeps you active - if that's any consolation!!
They're all so different, my second was a lot more chilled out.
Good luck 💐

Should also say, he's also very bright as others have mentioned

I had a baby like this, and it is absolutely exhausting! The colic, the hyperactivity, the bad moods when she didn't get what she wanted right away. The not sleeping, ever, us having to run with her stroller so that she would have a shitty 30 min nap - if she was asleep in a stroller, I could not slow down, or she would wake up instantly. Broken sleep at night until 18 months old or so.

It slowly got better with mobility (crawling and walking), then with other things after she was around 18 months old, certainly after 2. She never had the terrible 2s (maybe because she was an absolute handful beforehand). She's always been a very active, sporty child, still fidgets, hops and dances at home all the time, needs her sports. But no problems at school ever, her moods are fine, and in no way could you pick her out as a difficult baby from her friend group.

The only thing that has been a constant: she gets (and probably needs) less sleep than the average, whatever age she's been. When she's asleep, she sleeps very well, but now, at 12, at most 9 hours a night, more often 8.

Hi @Firsttimemuma1 Just wondering how your little girl is getting on? Sounds exactly like my 9 month old boy. He just doesn't stop!! Would love to hear how things are for you now 😅

Yep my second baby is like this (1 yr now)- i didnt realise how chill my first was until her. All food on the floor, battling nappy changes (didnt have to battle my first until she was a full toddler)- she walked at 9.5 months and is so active. It's hard because you have a toddler before everyone else- gets easier once they can talk.

My DS was like this. He calmed down a couple of years ago.

He's 14 now...