6 month old naughty???

[SpottyTiger82]

My DS is almost 6 months, and over the last couple of days has become suddenly clingy and incredibly grizzly if not played with constantly or if activities aren't varied fast enough! Previously he would be happy playing with his baby gym whilst I ran around doing laundry etc, but last few days I've not been able to put him down without loud cries. He has also been screaming and pushing away his milk bottle. I have had to coax him for an hour before he drinks it. I'm sure he is then grizzly due to hunger. Today he was sitting up on a cushion and was literally screaming at me as if he wanted me to pick him up, but it was more like a very angry shout rather than tearful cry. Sort of like a toddler tantrum. Is this the new normal now or can I do anything differently? I am not sure if this is teething behaviour or what.

My own mum who is in her 70's heard his shouting over the phone and said it sounded like he was being "very naughty" (and that I've molly coddled him) but I don't think that's possible at 6 months is it??!

For context, he sleeps very well 12-13 hours with one or two wake ups, and naps regularly like clockwork. Awake windows are normally no more than 2 hrs. We are going to start weaning him this week as he is just about to turn 6 months, and he is formula fed.

Six month olds cannot be naughty. He can only communicate his needs by crying/laughing/smiling etc. And no, you haven't molly coddled him, your mum has some very outdated views when it comes to babies.

And yes, your instincts are right, he is probably teething (or about to take a developmental leap into becoming more mobile so is frustrated at what he wants to do but can't just yet).

You're mum has completely forgotten everything about babies and parenting. I'm sure baby will be change again as soon as this growth spurt/ tooth/ gets crawling/ etc has occurred.
Just nod and smile at her and then ignore.

Mine are older but I would guess that he's teething. His bottle is probably uncomfortable on his tender gums. He will get through this stage and settle down soon. He's not naughty. He can't talk so is probably frustrated.

There is no way he is naughty. It’s just not possible

I imagine he’s either poorly (sore throat? Hand, foot and mouth?) teething or having a developmental leap.

As he’s both fussy and refusing milk, I’d imagine it’s more likely to be teeth or something hurting. Have you tried teething gel or calpol? Does he have a temperature? Sometimes ear ache makes them angry in my experience.

I hope he feels better soon. Don’t worry about him being naughty. He sounds like a dream baby!

Ignore your mum OP. You aren't "molly coddling" your DS by giving him a cuddle when he wants one!

Might be teething pain. Painkiller medicine should help if so

Some people find it easier to say a child is naughty than work out what the problem is. Lazy.

I don't think it really matters whether his cry is a tearful cry or an angry one. Either way, he's just trying to communicate with you in the only way he can.

He's not naughty ignore her. My 87 year old gran told my sister in law off last week for holding her 8 month baby, said she was spoiling her. Literally just sitting on the sofa giving her baby a cuddle. Apparently gran didn't have time to cuddle her babies as she was so busy with 5 children and running a house .

A 6 month old doesn't know how to be naughty. It's just not possible. He's communicating the only way he knows how, and it sounds very much like teething as you say.

Of course he isn't he's a baby, probably getting a tooth also with his clingyness and upset.

Babies can't be naughty, that's ridiculous. Their brains aren't developed enough to make choices about their behaviour.

Sounds like teething to me. Can I suggest calpol and popping him in a sling if there are things that need to be done?

Not naughty at that age. I remember being outraged when an old codger told me my 11month-old daughter was "manipulative" because she cried out and was visibly pleased when I picked her up. It's just the only way your baby can "talk" to you right now. Crying is him telling you he's not happy with something, and he wants you to make it better.

I found talking to my babies in proper language, eg "Oh you seem angry about something, you poor thing. I wonder what it is. Mummy will try to make you feel better" etc, whilst trying various things like cuddling, rubbing tummy, medicines etc, helped (no idea if they understand words at 6 months, but at some point - before they can talk - they start to understand words, so best to start as you mean to go on). It helped me stay sane, even if it didn't directly make the baby feel better.

The great thing about little babies is that you know in a matter of weeks they will change and be onto the next thing. This mystery anger will be a thing of the past very soon.

No he's not naughty. My ds was exactly like this coming up to six months old. From about five months old onwards they seem to get really hungry and ready for food. Of course, it's not recommended to wean until 6 months but all of mine were hungry and ratty between 5 and 6 months. Once I started weaning them their mood improved no end. Fingers crossed he will settle once you wean him.

Your baby probably has sore gums and sucking becomes excruciating. Then he's getting angry cause he's still hungry!
I found bongela applied a couple minutes before each feed solved it better than calpol for feeds, but calpol was more useful if the pain keeps him up at night. Hth!
And yea, take grannies "advice" with a pinch of salt! Lol

Of course he's not being naughty or having tantrums. If he doesn't want his bottle, it may be because his mouth is sore ( either teething, or thrush) or swallowing hurts ( sore throat ) or the milk is too hot or too cold. He's crying to be picked up and comforted and given more attention and human interaction from you; this is normal baby development. He's going to need LOTS more attention for about another 18 years.

Your mother sounds useless at babycare, you need to get a better role model.

Also if you're weaning I cannot recommend sweet potato enough, it's tasty, nutritious and really helps keep everything moving iykwim!

My Dsis recommended me the Wonder Weeks App. She found it really helpful and so did I. It gives you an idea of what to expect (typically when to expect a change in behaviour) like @bloodywhitecat says, its probably a developmental leap. Babies aren't naughty, they are learning to understand their world.

Just out of interest at what age do people think babies/toddlers are capable of being naughty in a deliberate way? I am wondering about my 14 month old who is throwing food but he seems to do it out of genuine interest (he has a good look at where it ends up) rather than to get a reaction.

I felt that mine didnt have a lot of control over their actions until they were about 3. Obviously I stopped them from doing anything anti social or unsafe.

My babies sounded desperate and cross when they had colic.

Don't take parenting advice from your mum if that's the kind of thing she's coming out with.

They really aren't capable of being 'naughty' - their little brains don't have the capacity.

@ProfessorSillyStuff, there is a warning on the pack for Bonjela that it shouldn't be used on anyone under the age of 16 years. One of the ingredients can apparently cause a rare serious condition in children.

There is a special bonjela for babies teething, it is from 4 months onward iirc although its been a long couple years since my youngest needed it! I remember it being so useful as he was young i didn't like to give calpol all the time.

I would say a baby can begin to be positively diciplined when he/she can either say or indicate "no" to your requests, the first sign in non verbal child is wriggling away at nappy change!