To be at my absolute wits end with my 1 year old?

[Rochyella84]

Ugh. Ladies, my beautiful 13 month son has pushed me to the absolute edge. He was such a happy, easy to please little boy and since turning one it’s like a switch flicked and his default setting is miserable. From the moment he wakes up until he goes to bed for naps and night time he whines, moans, and screams. He is happiest if I am carrying him around which I can’t do all the time (but he doesn’t like the sling which is not an option) or if we go out which again isn’t possible to do all the time. I am on my own for most of the week and therefore he cannot be held by me 24/7 as I have to make food, tidy up and look after his older sister too. He crawls and is beginning to stand unaided. He definitely wants to walk but he can obviously get around just fine with crawling for now so he can get to things he wants.

I’ve had him checked over by the doctor for ear infections etc and he is totally fine. Teeth also not the cause as none coming at the moment (he already has loads).

I am finding my temper getting shorter and shorter and my previous patience is replaced by me wailing “what do you wannnnnnnttttt?” before I inevitably end up in tears. My husband is great when he is here but he is only really around at weekends so he doesn’t get the full brunt of it.

I don’t know why my baby is so unhappy and I don’t know what to do. Has anyone been in the same boat?

I have. She got better. It’s a normal phase and I think it’s ‘grit your teeth and bear it’.

Although she’s going through a Renaissance of “what do you waaaaaaant?” at the moment, and generally driving me up the wall.

I have a 14m old and can relate. I think it's purely frustration. They can NEARLY walk and NEARLY talk. Once they are walking and communicating it seems to get easier again.

All of mine have got really cranky at the early standing and walking stage too.

Is he sleeping enough and eating enough? Sometimes when they are having a big developmental change they need more of something and that doesn't help.behaviour.

It's a hard age sometimes, especially when you have another child to care for at home. I spend a lot of time at playgroups and in the park. That way there's usually less shouting from all of us, we're not causing mess, and I don't have to see all the jobs that need doing...

Thanks ladies, thankfully sleep is good. So at least I get a break when he goes down, and he eats well. My older one had cranky days but nothing like this relentless ongoing misery!

This too shall pass.

Try to get regular mini breaks. Put him outside with a washing up bowl a bit of water and some yogurt pots while you have a coffee and a read

Or sit him in his pushchair at the back door for ten minutes

Any little break you can decide will help your sanity. This is what smoking was invented for IMHO 😀