AIBU or is ma-ma?

[VioletRoar]

She's refusing to let me play "door handles". It's quite a simple game; I point at a door handle, and she holds me at just the right height for as long as I decide is appropriate. I need to be able to touch the door handle with both hands, for exploring. About 40minutes is usually enough time for a session. I then like to move onto another door handle.
I've tried communicating this to her using my extensive knowledge of baby sign language. (I squeal while pointing and gesturing vaguely, just as I was taught.....I think. I usually bugger off to play with the other babies while our mums awkwardly sing and sign while trying to avoid each other's eye contact).

Sorry for the essay, I am just wondering if my ma-ma is the only one like this. Is there anything I can do to improve her behaviour?

Thanks in advance

Interested to read any advice.

I'm 10.5 months and despite weighing a measly 12 kilos my mother will not hold me at the height of light switches for the time required to clumsily fumble them whilst a river of drool pours over her hands. A mere 20 minutes would suffice.

I wonder if I've spoilt her?

lunge for each and every door handle as mama carries you through the doors

Freezer I've already tried this one with the afore-mentioned light switches. Can you explain why each time I've felt a strange hard banging sensation on my head which has caused me to scream no end? This does result in cuddles but I have yet to get the light switch :(

freezer I will take that on board, thanks. Ma-ma is truly unreasonable today. I thought she'd be happy that I wanted to alternate door handles with "light on sky box" but even THAT has irritated her. What a fool.

Of course if she really doesn't want to play ball, you can follow my example!

Locate phone from the side and dial a number repeatedly! if your lucky you will get 999 or 000.

Hopefully your mummy will notice in time to snatch the phone off of you and you can then scream like you are being murdered!

The dispatcher on the other end of the line will not believe mummy that you dialled by accident and (as there are children involved) they will send out two burly officers who will march into the house to check on you.

Cue a very embarrassed mummy who in front of the police officers (and any nosey neighbours) will ensure that she is seen to be the epitome of mummy perfectedness and take you to the park happily licking an ice-cream!

Sounds like my Mama OP

I love her dearly, I really do, but she does struggle to keep. The poor thing.

Lately she can't seem to grasp that I like to stand in my high chair to eat thank you very much. Also what is difficult to grasp about whether or not I like eating something? A thousand times I've shown her that if I like something I will throw it at her or on the floor and if I don't like something I will throw it at her or on the floor! Honestly! The woman keep trying to put the food I like in the bloody bin!

Also she keeps trying to get me to wear a "bib" at meal times . A BIB! She refuses to see the simplicity in simply changing my outfit after every meal instead (incidentally I enjoy 10 small meals throughout the day).

Finally, teeth brushing . This nonsense has been going on since I was six months old for god sake. When will she realise I will NEVER agree to this?! It's sheer madness!

Yanbu and thank you for the inspiration. At only 8 months old I'm always looking for fun ways to entertain my mumum. My favourite today is chewing at her top to get to the milky then only drinking for 47 seconds. Then shouting at her because she put the milky away. Naughty mumum, I shall be forced to clap at her to communicate my displeasure

My ma-ma is laughing hysterically at this thread. I don't know why. We are all deadly serious 😡

Violet Don't let her laugh at you!

She needs to understand how serious you are. Try pulling her by her hair until she is down on your level and explain how you feel by saying "BA! BAAA! MA! MAAAAA! BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

My ma ma categorically refuses to hold me at the correct height for me to grab door handles for more than twenty minutes. Some pathetic excuse about her hips or back or something.
She also insists on coming at me with beastly damp flannel after mealtimes.

I'm sleep training her by waking every twenty minutes. It's hard to watch them cry but you have to be persistent or they'll just take the piss.

I would suggest that you try playing with the bin. She will find that much more fun. Pop her phone in there.

I can see that there are a lot of frustrated and bewildered babies out there. It is so good to know I am not on my own, and can turn to you lot for advice. I wonder whether we should set up a web site or discussion forum where we can help each other out? I propose BABYNET - what do you think?

Gah, the damp flannel!! Do they all do this??

Also, there's this big round ceramic thing in the bathroom which, being bang-on mouth height, is obviously for slobbering. Why does mother shriek hysterically and lurch at me when I go to chew it?? She behaves very strangely if I so much as wrap my pudgy fingers around the plastic flappy ring bit. Should I consult my health visitor?

I'm sleep training her by waking every twenty minutes. It's hard to watch them cry but you have to be persistent or they'll just take the piss.

Yes, crankyblob there are schools of thought that say it elevates their cortisol but I've always been a believer in discipline.
You've just got to be persistent. Set a clock if you have to. They'll submit in the end. If they manage to sleep I find a firm kick in the kidneys and repeated loud 'mama. Mama. MAMA!' Does the trick.

The flannel based abuse continues thrice daily. I may have to deal firmly with her for this. Perhaps I can use these new 'teeth' I have?

What does everyone do when a stranger peers into the buggy?

Do you favour screaming hysterically in fear or lunging forward joyfully to grab their face/glasses/hair with the steely grip of a terminator?

I do not "do" buggys! I arch my back until mummy uses whatever limb available (normally her knee) to secure the straps!

I give her all of 5 minutes satisfaction before putting doing my best Houdini impression and escaping! She then gives in as we are usually late for the school run in which I refuse to walk and insist on being carried anyway!

As a mere 5 month old whippersnapper, I am taking careful notes. I would like to nip any unreasonable maternal behaviour in the bud. I'm already seeing worrying signs of recalcitrance. For instance, today she refused to spend 20 minutes jumping me up and down like a cut price Jumperoo, because she said her arms were going dead. I only weigh 8kg, what is she on about? Now she is muttering about buying a Jumperoo on eBay. I shall refuse to use it. On principle.

YY to refusing the Jumperoo.

And be very careful not to fall for the classic "old phone" or "remote control that doesn't really do anything" trick. If it doesn't light up when you bash it on the coffee table or make reassuring ringing noises followed by the distance confused tones of someone at the other end of the line do not waste your slobber on it. She WILL try this one, I assure you.

I'd say that your Mama is being very unreasonable!

My Nanny ALWAYS plays these games with me. Mama NEVER does and then wonders why I only want to be with my Nanny! I mean, it ain't rocket science!

she WILL try this one, I assure you

yy to this. It's a script, OP. If you don't believe me just have a look at so-called 'parenting websites'. It's really shocking how they all follow the same script, but if you learn to recognise it, that might help you.

Oh, the "faux remote". Ma-ma spent £20 on a remote, keys and phone set from elc. Oh how I LAUGHED before hurling it at my big brother. Hard.

doom I like to greet strangers with an icy glare. The fun part about this game is they will then look at mummy suspiciously as if she's trained me to do it. It's such a hoot!

Has anyone here done or is doing nappy off time? How long do you usually give them?

My usual routine is two to three seconds before peeing in the floor but once mama was so tired so I waited a whole minute. Then moved my bowels.

furiosa, I like to flip, turn and crawl away at speed whilst leaving a trail of pee. Mama loves it.