To worry about my DS cousin's behaviour?

[BlueThesaurusRex]

I have very little experience of children and don't know what is or isn't normal...

I have a 10 month old son and his (just turned) 5 year old cousin is very interested in him, which at first I thought was lovely.

However, on a few occasions I've caught his cousin being what I would describe as overly aggressive with my LO - I've seen him poking at his eye on a few occasions. Each time I've told him this is wrong and he shouldn't do it as he could hurt LO. His mum has seen him do this too but didn't seem particularly bothered.

I feel very disturbed by this behaviour and think that a 4/5 year old should know better.

AIBU?

It sounds fairly normal to me, just curiosity and not really understanding.

Thanks cuckoo- for once I am hoping that I am BU!!

I think 4/5 year olds probably know better in theory but have very poor impulse control, find it hard to predict consequences in real time and haven't developed much empathy. In other words, they're terribly young.

Thanks Mrs!

Errrr no a 4 year old knows not to poke a baby in the eye FFS and they definitely should have empathy.
I have a 2 (nearly 3) year old that would know better than this?
It's normal for kids to squabble or fight with each other, but I'd keep an eye (no pun intended) on him around your baby

Some children are a little ghoulish and curious. I imagine this child has not been encouraged to care for animals etc or develop empathy, its quite common especially with boys. Remind him that the baby is a person and if an action would hurt him (the boy), then it would also hurt the baby. Encourage him to help you with baby care activities where you can, to enable him to learn more about babies as humans.

I'm more worried the mum didn't do anything. That's the real problem here.

If your DN has been the baby of the family until now it may be jealousy. Definitely bad behaviour, but within the realms of normal, i would say

Thank you all

You should flag this with the authorities.
A 5 yr old knows not to poke someone in the eyes.
Has he got special needs?

Don't worry I used to lock little blonde girls in the cupboard when I was 4. To this day I have no idea and nor do I know why it was just blondes. But I never happened again after I was 5 and I'm perfectly nice now and not a psychopath in the slightest. I think I was just going a little bitch period 😂. So I'm sure it's likely he's just going through a stage.

Flag it with the authorities? Seriously?

Normal. Keep an eye on him as you would with any child around a baby but I'd expect it's just curiosity.

By 5 I'd expect him to understand that he could be hurting his cousin. His parents should be addressing his behaviour when he is rough or annoying.

All you can do is supervise them together and firmly correct him.

I wouldn't 'call the authorities' though, I'm guessing that PP was joking.