To be demented with my 1yo...!

[KeepOnKeepingOnAndOnAndOnAndOn]

I am so tired as she is waking at 5 lately. She then spends the day wanting to play with things she shouldn't, even at the park or soft play she would rather play with my handbag than go on a swing. She watches no tv (which is good i know, but hard as I never get a minutes rest), rarely plays with toys. She is also having tantrums lately - she is 13 months and not walking yet (though gettig there) so I think she may be frustrated? She is obviously the light of my life and is hilarious in her ways, but this past week or so I have struggled to keep her amused and feel like I am always saying no as she goes for things she shouldn't.

I am also pregnant and ill so I am exhausted ! I guess I just need some reassurance that one year olds are like this and it will pass please ladies? Seems all my mates dc's play more/ will watch a bit of tv etc etc

I feel quiet tearful for feeling so stressed with her this past week. I try and remain calm with her etc but still have guilt that I find motherhood hard work ! (As much as I love it)

I have definitely had weeks like that. My kids can be so annoying! although also the light of my life as you say!

My youngest is two now, I can't even remember what he was doing at one. This too shall pass.

I fins mine seem more angelic when I have been away from them foe a bit and had a break, otherwise it can berrelentless. Do you get time to yourself?

Also, trying to have some time just doing things they like with them. So forget about the washing/cooking/emails you haven't sent and focus solely on the child. And let them lead. Your dd isn't bothered by soft play or park. You say she wants to unpack your handbag (if you google schema, you will see she is probably learning loads from this) can you give her one of your old handbags and fill it with interesting but child-safe items for her to root through? Not necessarily toys but things she won't hurt herself with.

You are probably right about the walking, once she cracks it she will probably be more cheerful, although other types of chaos will ensue!

Good luck with your pregnancy. Just think, in a couple of years you will be in the enviable position of having two dc close in age to entertain each other!

I if I remember correctly bought different bags in a charity shop Mummy does not share her handbags or shoes and filled one with toy hair make up set another with kitchen stuff and another with random noisy things The bags were not freely available and given in times of desperation so became a beloved long list friend when handed out Toy house kitchen etc were passed on long before she out grew them as they were cluttering the place not used

Mine are 11 and 9 now but I just wanted to say I found being pg and having an 18 month old the hardest thing in the world. You are so exhausted and if you feel sick too (as I did, for the whole pregnancy, both times) it can be indescribably hard. It will pass. Hang in there.

It might not be the worst thing ever to let her watch half hour of cbeebies so you can at least have a cuppa.
I totally know where you are coming from though x

Completely sympathise. I did the same as canyou and gave my bag obsessed toddler an old handbag full of stuff which went everywhere with us for a couple off this until she got bored of it.
They can be so intense at this age, it's tiring enough without being pregnant! A bit of cbeebies or similar as a distraction while you have a rest won't hurt at all. It usually does get better when they're more independent and walking.

Thanks for all the reassuring feedback :) I helps, it really does. I do feel very tired and sick right now so it is a hard mix! Dh works two jobs so I am basically doing this alone right now (though do have family help at times ) i also work part time but I am cutting that down now, its just all too much ! I shall feel better soon I am sure.

I love the suggestion of an old handbag! Why didnt I think of that? Genius!

I have nothing against dd watching cartoons, but she wont ... She cannot sit still - even wen eating!

I remember when my DD turned one - I was so glad to get back to work (part-time) just to be able to have a break. And I felt so guilty for feeling like that. She was also such hard work when she was 2 and I was pregnant so I can't imagine how much worse things are for you. But I will say that being tired and pregnant meant she wound me up more and more and I ended up doing lots of drawing and playdoh play with her so I could sit down whilst she had my attention.
Being a mum is so tough. I have found that having like-minded mummy friends who are happy to share how tough they find it has always made me feel reassured that it isn't just down to me being crap!

Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy and talk to your midwife about how you are feeling.

And I remember having those pop up play house tunnel thingy and I had it in the house every so often again I made it a novelty it bought me time for a cup of coffee,

Does she like long baths with lots of bubbles and toys (thats what im doing this a.m with my up every two hours last night but also relentless 8mth old)! I can make a bath last ages now.

Sounds like most 1 year olds to me! I second the suggestion of an old handbag, but don't fill with toys because they're boring. Another thing that worked with mine was a cardboard box with holes cut in the sides and interesting bits of material and things inside to feel and pull out. My niece had a box of empty bottles, metal bangles, other bits and pieces known within the family as 'DNs box of crap' Google treasure baskets for ideas. Or fill a kitchen cupboard with plastic boxes, cups, bowls and let her unpack it. If all else fails put her in water!

I can only repeat what some posters said about giving your little one an old bag or two, filled with stuff. My little granddaughter, now four, still loves playing with these.

Thanks all. She likes the bath, but her favourite game in it is to try grab the toothpaste (which I have now moved) she tends to get quite bored in there after 10 mins now! She is very inquisitive so I am very blessed , but it can be relentless! I feel at a loss as to how to keep her happy. I already have a cupboard full of plastic boxes for her and she does love that. Thats probably the longest she will be kept entertained. I guess I am gonna have to be more pro active and start making things / buying things she really enjoys.

She is very happy and funny, bless her. Just a real hyper missy! I deffo am going to invest in play doh too! I so love mumsnet. Thanks for all the awesome suggestions.

bardette box of crap is getting made today! Thanks!

Loving the suggestions, my little girl is 17 months and exactly the same. We are going through a spate of 5am wake ups too, so by 10.30 I feel like it should be lunchtime and I've no energy to play! Feel really guilty so it's good to see others having the same thing.

I am afraid for being on the go this is the hard age....i think as pro active as you can be she will always want to know whats round that next corner.

the hand bag is genuis. other things that keep mine amused are an old drink carton ( ribena with a straw) great to chew on, packet and straw then trying to suck and get straw back in, and anything where you can put stuff in and out.

go easy on yourself, let her watch some tv for a few minuets, your making it harder for yourself. My DD watched more TV than most of her peers as I did not have a single person to watch her or help me, at all.
She is now top at most things at school, she is mad for learning, loves books, nature is sporty and very slim....we have no other technology or ipads now, to compensate. ( she is 7) Looking back now, to save my sanity, I have no regrets.
Try and wear her out in the am, with toddler groups, activities, come back, lunch ( tv)....you rest....play at home then out again to park or garden in afternoon.

My 14mo is currently playing with the argos catalogue. Ive had 5 minutes peace (as you can see as I am on mn) she opens it one way, then back again, she is trying to work out how to open lots of pages. Its also heavy so keeps her in one place lol ever so often she asks me what something is, so its educational
as for tv, mine hates cartoons, but loves live action, she adores sooty, and anything with kermit in, so maybe trying something like that might work. I can also keep her happy with the radio she loves to dance about and laugh.
can she crawl? I used to set up cushion obstacle courses to wherever I was, so took her a little longer to get there!! All the bad parenting is coming out now lol!!!
It does pass, mine is better now she can walk

She does sound like a typical one year old. Not that this helps you! I'd let her watch some TV. And maybe get together some things she could play with that aren't run of the mill toys. Like an old handbag she can open with bits and pieces inside it.

Mine is 13 months and appears to be doing slightly better at leaving things alone. Not perfect but I feel like I am not chasing him around saying No all the time. And he's just developing new ways of playing - the beginnings of boxes and building and pulling cars etc which is handy .

You have my sympathies OP. I'm pg and have a two year old so I know how exhausting it can be, I imagine it's much harder with a one year old. They WANT to do so much but can't really do it yet. Two year olds can be hard work too but they do have their great passions and toys they can play with for hours (plus they've usually caught the telly bug by then!).
Here are some of the things my ds loved at 1: digging, sand, and pebbles. If you can't get out to a park or sandpit type place a good substitute is a large Tupperware or lasagne dish full of rice or lentils or uncooked pasta. Obviously you have to watch re putting them in the mouth but this was my son's favourite thing ever. I gave him measuring cups and bun trays, ice cube trays etc and transferring the pastas from one to the other could easily fill 20-30 mins which is a boon at one.
I also had a treasure box full of 'real' adult items eg an old wallet, teaspoon, napkin ring, hair brush etc.
If you have an ipad or similar you might find she enjoys a short you tube clip, my ds liked this ahead of actually cartoons. Barefoot books do some lovely songs with short animated clips, available on you tube but lovely to own (all available with the books on amazon), the CDs play in the car and on computer. Eg Driving My Tractor, Journey home From grandpas, walking in the jungle.
I also had a playpen around this age which was a godsend if I had to answer the phone/door/cook tea - I know not everyone agrees with them but you have to think of your sanity sometimes.
This varies from child to child but my ds got into simple two piece jigsaws at this age, it might be worth a try if she doesn't already play with jigsaws, they often surprise you with what they can do. In ds's case it sparked a long love affair with jigsaws which are brilliant for for keeping small people very busy for quite a long time.
The funny thing about 1y olds is everyone else's seem to be much calmer and more settled, but really you're just catching them on a good day!

Sorry just to reiterate - dd will NOT watch tv!!! Of any kind. It is not my choice, she just will not sit still to watch it :/

Monkey- thanks for all the suggestions! Se loves pasta and I shall def be bringing the playpen down methinks!

Jean- im gonna get the argos catalogue out now!